A09990:713
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.
Beloved, 1I answer; He may keep them constantly, that is, he may do the outside of the duty, he may perform the duty in a formal manner; and many times men are deceived with this, it is an usual case, (nothing more usual in the Church of God,) for a man to content himself with a perfunctory, ordinary performance, a customary performance of good duties▪ But herein Satan deceives men, as we deceive children, ⟨p. 37⟩when we take from them gold and silver, that is truly precious, and give them Counters, things that have no worth in them; only they have a good gloss upon them, which quiets them, because they be children, because they cannot put a difference between things of show, and things of true worth; for even thus Satan usually quiets the Consciences of men, with these bare forms of piety, because they are not able to discern, not able to distinguish between the precious duties, and the right performance of them, and between the formal and empty performance, which hath an outward splendour and glittering show of performance; but in truth he cozens and deceives men with it; therefore, I say, a man may do these duties, he may be constant in prayer from day to day, he may be constant in hearing, and performing all the ordinances of God, in sacrificing (as the Wise man speaks here,) yet for all this, not be one of these good men, according to this note, because he doth not perform them in a holy and spiritual manner.
Beloved, 1I answer; He may keepe them constantly, that is, he may doe the outside of the dutie, he may performe the dutie in a formall manner; and many times men are deceived with this, it is an vsuall case, (nothing more vsuall in the Church of God,) for a man to content himselfe with a perfunctory, ordinary performance, a customary performance of good duties▪ But herein Sathan deceiues men, as we deceiue children, ⟨p. 37⟩when we take from them gold and silver, that is truely precious, and giue them Counters, things that haue no worth in them; onely they haue a good glosse vpon them, which quiets them, because they be children, because they cannot put a difference betweene things of show, and things of true worth; for even thus Sathan vsually quiets the Consciences of men, with these bare formes of pietie, because they are not able to discerne, not able to distinguish betweene the precious duties, and the right performance of them, and betweene the formall and emptie performance, which hath an outward splendour and glittering shew of performance; but in truth he cozens and deceiues men with it; therefore, I say, a man may doe these duties, he may be constant in prayer from day to day, he may be constant in hearing, and performing all the ordinances of God, in sacrificing (as the Wiseman speakes here,) yet for all this, not be one of these good men, according to this note, because he doth not performe them in a holy and spirituall manner.