A09990:620
The new covenantThe nevv covenant
The new covenant, or the saints portion A treatise unfolding the all-sufficiency of God, and mans uprightness, and the covenant of grace. delivered in fourteen sermons upon Gen. 17. 1. 2. Whereunto are adjoined four sermons upon Eccles. 9.1. 2. 11. 12. By the late faithful and worthy minister of Jesus Christ John Preston. Dr. in Divinity, chaplain in ordinary to his Majesty, master of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolns Inn.The nevv covenant, or the saints portion A treatise vnfolding the all-sufficiencie of God, and mans uprightnes, and the covenant of grace. delivered in fourteene sermons vpon Gen. 17. 1. 2. Wherevnto are adioyned foure sermons vpon Eccles. 9.1. 2. 11. 12. By the late faithfull and worthie minister of Iesus Christ Iohn Preston. Dr. in Divinitie, chaplaine in ordinary to his Maiestie, maister of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolnes Inne.
London: printed by I. Dawson for Nicolas Bourne, 1629
Part › Sermon 14: THE FOURTEENTH SERMON.Part › Sermon 14: THE FOVRTEENTH SERMON.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The meaning is this, when a man receives a Commandment from God, (mark it) when a man knows it is the Lords will, that I should walk thus, and thus before him, that I should abstain from such and such sins, I cannot deny but this is his Commandment; well, when a man comes to the keeping of it, & his heart finds out excuses, and saith in such and such a case, I hope I may be somewhat excused from a strict performance of it; I say, when the heart at any time deliberates, and yet that word is not sufficient to express it, but when the heart works according to its own proper inclination, and then disobeys the Lord in any Commandment, certainly then it casts God away. Beloved, it is not such disobedience, as when a man is transported with a strong affection, a strong temptation, when he is not himself for a time, and his sin be discovered, he easily returns, and will be the same man he was; but, I say, when a man deliberately commits sin, when a man considers himself well, and he is not transported with the strength of temptation, but his heart works at liberty, so that he acts himself, in this case he doth as Saul did, he casts God away, and God sent him word that he had cast him away.
The meaning is this, when a man receiues a Commandement from God, (marke it) when a man knowes it is the Lords will, that I should walke thus, and thus before him, that I should abstaine from such and such sinnes, I cannot deny but this is his Commandement; well, when a man comes to the keeping of it, & his heart finds out excuses, and saith in such and such a case, I hope I may be somewhat excused from a strict performance of it; I say, when the heart at any time deliberates, and yet that word is not sufficient to expresse it, but when the heart workes according to its owne proper inclination, and then disobeyes the Lord in any Commandement, certainely then it casts God away. Beloued, it is not such disobedience, as when a man is transported with a strong affection, a strong temptation, when he is not himselfe for a time, and his sinne be discouered, he easily returnes, and will be the same man he was; but, I say, when a man deliberately commits sinne, when a man considers himselfe well, and hee is not transported with the strength of temptation, but his heart workes at liberty, so that hee acts himselfe, in this case he doth as Saul did, hee casts God away, and God sent him word that he had cast him away.