A09990:650
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
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.
It is a very hard thing to be persuaded, that all things are in the hands of God, it is a hard thing to persuade our selves, it is a hard thing to persuade others, that is, I shall not deliver the point fully to you, except God himself teach you, except God himself declare it; it is so hard for a man to see all things in the hands of G•d, to know that he is able to do all, that, except God teach it to a man, he is not able to know it, that is, he is not able to know it to purpose, he is not able to know it so, as to have the use of it, he is not able to know it in a practical manner, except the Lord teach it him.
It is a very hard thing to be perswaded, that all things are in the hands of God, it is a hard thing to perswade our selues, it is a hard thing to perswade others, that is, I shall not deliver the poynt fully to you, except God himselfe teach you, except God himselfe declare it; it is so hard for a man to see all things in the hands of G•d, to know that he is able to doe all, that, except God teach it to a man, he is not able to know it, that is, he is not able to know it to purpose, he is not able to know it so, as to haue the vse of it, he is not able to know it in a practicall manner, except the Lord teach it him.
The ground of which is: because,1 it belongs to the holy Ghost to persuade, it belongs to God to persuade, not only to persuade this truth to the hearts of men, but also to persuade all saving truths of what nature soever; And therefore we see when Christ sends out his Disciples, his Apostles, he bids them, Go, preach the Word to the Jews, and Gentiles; and whereas they might object in that case;2 How shall we be able to persuade ⟨p. 5⟩