A09990:676
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.
Thirdly;1 He hath done it, that it might be sure to us: for if the Lord had made an immediate Covenant with the sons of men, there had be•ne little hope for us: We should have broken it, as ⟨p. 18⟩Adam did, when the Covenant was made with him; but he hath put it into the hands of a Mediator, whom he hath made the Angel, or the Messenger of his Covenant, that it might be sure to us, that is, that the Lord might perform all his promises to us, and that we might keep likewise the Condition on our part: for therefore Christ is said to be the Messenger of the Covenant, to dispense to us that which God hath put into his hands, partly, because he is able to reconcile the Father to us, (and therefore he is the Priest, that is entered into the holy of holies, that is, into the very heavens, to make intercession for us,) partly also, because he is able to bring us in, as a Prophet to enlighten us in the knowledge of him, and as a King, to subdue the stubbornness of our hearts, and enable us to obey him; So that the Covenant is immediately made with him, and not with us; therefore, all things being put into his hands, he being the Messenger of the Covenant, it is made sure to us, that otherwise had not been.
Thirdly;1 He hath done it, that it might be sure to vs: for if the Lord had made an immediate Covenant with the sonnes of men, there had be•ne little hope for vs: Wee should haue broken it, as ⟨p. 18⟩Adam did, when the Covenant was made with him; but he hath put it into the hands of a Mediator, whom he hath made the Angell, or the Messenger of his Covenant, that it might be sure to vs, that is, that the Lord might performe all his promises to vs, and that we might keepe likewise the Condition on our part: for therefore Christ is said to be the Messenger of the Covenant, to dispence to vs that which God hath put into his hands, partly, because he is able to reconcile the Father to vs, (and therefore he is the Priest, that is entred into the holy of holies, that is, into the very heavens, to make intercession for vs,) partly also, because he is able to bring vs in, as a Prophet to enlighten vs in the knowledge of him, and as a King, to subde the stubbornnesse of our hearts, and enable vs to obey him; So that the Covenant is immediately made with him, and not with vs; therefore, all things being put into his hands, he being the Messenger of the Covenant, it is made sure to vs, that otherwise had not beene.