A09990:626
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.
And as I say for sin, so in the second place you are to make use of the Covenant, as put the case there be some strong lust, some violent temptation, that thou art not able to outwrestle, it is too strong for thee, thou wouldest fain be rid of it, but thou art not able, why what shalt thou do in this case? remember that it is a part of the Lords Covenant, that he will deliver thee from all thine enemies, that thou mayest serve him in righteousness and holiness all the days of thy ⟨p. 228⟩life. It is a part of his Covenant to remember it, he hath sworn to remember it, he hath said he will write his Law in thy heart, and that can never be, without he obliterate all old writing, he hath said he will give the Holy Ghost, he hath promised to give thee a new heart, and a new spirit▪ now consider this, it is a part of his Covenant, go to the Lord, and beseech him to make good his Covenant, this is the way for thee to overcome it; if thou go about it any other way, thou shalt never be able to out-wrestle it. Beloved, for a man to think thus with himself, to say, I have received grace, I hope I have some strength, therefore I will be bold to venture upon such a temptation; or, at least, I hope by my promises, by my vows, & prayers, and reading, one way one way or other to master it, and overcome it, this is not the way; thou must go to GOD, and make use of this Covenant, and beseech him to give thee strength: for, mark it, GOD would not take this upon him, to give us new hearts, and new spirits, to sanctify us, to make us new creatures, to crucify the flesh, to weaken the dominion of sin, he would not take this upon him, and make a promise, if we were able to do it: but he knows it is in his own power, and he must do it for us; and therefore in such a case we must go to him, and beseech him to do it: for know this, when a man is in CHRIST once, when he is in the Covenant, he lives by a principle without himself, and not by one within himself, as Paul saith, I live by Jesus ⟨p. 229⟩Christ, that is, he is without me, and it is he still that gives me strength, therefore go to him.
And as I say for sinne, so in the second place you are to make vse of the Couenant, as put the case there bee some strong lust, some violent temptation, that thou art not able to outwrestle, it is too strong for thee, thou wouldest faine be rid of it, but thou art not able, why what shalt thou doe in this case? remember that it is a part of the Lords Couenant, that he will deliuer thee from all thine enemies, that thou maist serue him in righteousnesse and holinesse all the dayes of thy