A09990:655
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.
Secondly,1 God is only able to do it; because he only knows all the windings and turnings of the heart of man.2 It is said in Jer. 17. 9. that the heart of man is exceeding deceit full, who can know it? That is, no man in the world can know his own heart,3 much less can any man else know it, there are so many windings, so many turnings in it, there is such a labyrinth in the heart, such a depth in it, that no man is able to search his own heart, to find out the bottom of it: oh but who is able to do it? Saith he, in the next words, it is God ⟨p. 7⟩that searcheth the heart and trieth the reins: That is, he only knows the several inclinations of the will, and therefore he only is able to persuade.
Secondly,1 God is onely able to doe it; because he onely knowes all the windings and turnings of the heart of man.2 It is sayd in Ier. 17. 9. that the heart of man is exceeding deceit full, who can know it? That is, no man in the world can know his owne heart,3 much lesse can any man else know it, there are so many windings, so many turnings in it, there is such a labyrinth in the heart, such a depth in it, that no man is able to search his owne heart, to finde out the bottom of it: oh but who is able to doe it? Sayth he, in the next words, it is God ⟨p. 7⟩that searcheth the heart and tryeth the reynes: That is, he onely knowes the severall inclinations of the will, and therefore he onely is able to perswade.