A09990:654
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.
First,1 because God only is the general,2 and universal worker, he only is universally wise, he only knows all things, and therefore he only is able to teach all things; men know but in part, and therefore they are able to teach but in part, (now he that is persuaded of a thing but in part, though ⟨p. 6⟩he may acknowledge the thing to be good, yet his heart is not wrought to practice it; for there is something yet behind, some objections, that are not yet answered.) It is only God that hath an universal light, that is a general worker, and therefore he is said to be only wise; for a man is not said to be wise, except he know all things that belongs to such a business; If there be any part, or corner of it hid from him, he is not wise, that is, he is not able to proceed aright, he is subject to error: but God, who hath abundance of light, God, that knows all things, is only wise, and therefore his is only able to persuade. Hence it is that men are able to persuade, that such graces are good, that such ways are excellent in themselves, that it is good to take such courses, but yet to answer all the secret objections of the heart, to persuade fully, to turn all the wheels of the soul, this is that, that a man is not able to do, to enlighten all the corners of the heart, he is not able to convince fully.
First,1 because God onely is the generall,2 and vniversall worker, he onely is vniversally wise, he onely knowes all things, and therefore he onely is able to teach all things; men know but in part, and therefore they are able to teach but in part, (now he that is perswaded of a thing but in part, though ⟨p. 6⟩he may acknowledge the thing to be good, yet his heart is not wrought to practice it; for there is something yet behinde, some objections, that are not yet answered.) It is onely God that hath an vniversall light, that is a generall worker, and therefore he is said to be onely wise; for a man is not sayd to be wise, except he know all things that belongs to such a busines; If there be any part, or corner of it hid from him, he is not wise, that is, he is not able to proceede aright, he is subject to errour: but God, who hath abundance of light, God, that knowes all things, is onely wise, and therefore his is onely able to perswade. Hence it is that men are able to perswade, that such graces are good, that such wayes are excellent in themselues, that it is good to take such courses, but yet to answer all the secret objections of the heart, to perswade fully, to turne all the wheeles of the soule, this is that, that a man is not able to doe, to enlighten all the corners of the heart, he is not able to convince fully.