A09990:657
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.
Last of all,1 God is only able to do it, because he is able to mend the heart where it is amiss:2 A man perhaps may be able to show an object, and to bring it to light: but what if the eye be amiss? the man is not able to see and to discern for all that; If a man• eye be blind, if there be any west in it, he is not able to remove it; So a man may propound arguments, but to make the heart capable of those arguments, he may propound reasons and persuasions, but to make the heart apprehensive of them, it is above the power of the Creature: and therefore it is God only that re•••• us in the spirit of our minds: he that hath ⟨p. 8⟩made the eye, and so he that made the will, and the understanding, he only can heal the breaches of them, he only can elevate them, and put a supernatural light into them, and make them fit to apprehend those spiritual reasons, of any kind, that he objects and propounds to the hearts of men: So that God only is able to persuade, as of all other truths, so of this, that all things are in his hands; that he is All-sufficient.
Last of all,1 God is onely able to doe it, because he is able to mend the heart where it is amisse:2 A man perhaps may be able to shew an object, and to bring it to light: but what if the eye be amisse? the man is not able to see and to discerne for all that; If a man• oye be blind, if there be any west in it, he is not able to remoue it; So a man may propound arguments, but to make the heart capable of those arguments, he may propound reasons and perswasions, but to make the heart apprehensiue of them, it is aboue the power of the Creature: and therefore it is God onely that re•••• vs in the spirit of our mindes: he that hath ⟨p. 8⟩