A09990:709
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.
therefore consider with thy self, what thy heart is in this case, whether thou have a heart that hates uncleanness, or whether thou hast yet a swinish disposition, that thou lyest in the mud, and delightest to lye in it.
therefore consider with thy selfe, what thy heart is in this case, whether thou haue a heart that hates vncleannesse, or whether thou hast yet a swinish disposition, that thou lyest in the mud, and delightest to lye in it.
A man may fall into the mud, but he delighteth not to be there; no more will a clean disposition delight in sin. And you may know it by this effect, where the disposition is unclean, there sin abides, till it stain the heart, till it make a man spotted of the world, that is, it causeth him to keep a tract in sin, that a man may say, this is the path he walketh in, it causeth him to wear the livery of sin, that he may be known by it from day to day, it causeth the spot so to sink into the soul, that a man may see he is such a man. This is to have an unclean disposition, when uncleanness ⟨p. 35⟩so cleaves to his soul, that they agree together: whereas in a man that hath a pure disposition, it is not so; as,1 1 Joh. 3. 3. he that hath this hope purifieth himself: The meaning is this, there is a double hope; there is the hope of the hypocrite, that is a dead hope, that doth not set a man on work to cleanse himself from filthiness. There is again,2 a lively hope, spoken of in 1 Pet. 1. 3. that sets a man on work to cleanse himself; that is, when a man hath a true hope, a real hope to have that undefiled inheritance, he considers this with himself, that an impure heart, and an undefiled inheritance will not stand together, and because he hopes for it in good earnest, (it is not a false hope, it is not a dead hope) therefore he sets himself on work indeed to purify himself; he that hath that hope purifieth himself, he cleanseth himself. Who ever therefore doth not purify himself, it is an argument that his hope is dead which he hath of being saved, it is but the hope of an hypocrite; a hope that will stand him in no stead; for it brings forth no endeavour: that is the second thing. I must be brief in this, because this is not the point I intend, but that which follows.