A09990:724
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.
The last expression is, He that sweareth, and he that feareth an oath. That which is said of this sin,1 may be applied likewise to all others, and so here is a fourth difference betwixt the good and bad. A man who is within the Covenant, hath this property, that he fears sin, and dares not meddle with it, that is, he will not neglect looking to his heart, he will not be negligent in keeping a Watch over his heart, and over his ways, but hath a continual eye upon sin, as we say Timor •igens oculos, &c. what a man fears, he will be sure to have a continual eye unto it.
The last expression is, He that sweareth, and he that feareth an oath. That which is said of this sinne,1 may be applyed likwise to all others, and so here is a fourth difference betwixt the good and bad. A man who is within the Covenant, hath this propertie, that he feares sinne, and dares not meddle with it, that is, he will not neglect looking to his heart, he will not be negligent in keeping a Watch over his heart, and over his wayes, but hath a continuall eye vpon sinne, as we say Timor •igens oculos, &c. what a man feares, he will be sure to haue a continuall eye vnto it.
- 1Difference.
If a man be about a business, and there be any thing that he fears, he will neglect his work to have an eye upon that, whatsoever it be. If a man fear sin, he will be very diligent in watching ⟨p. 41⟩himself, in taking heed that sin come not upon him by the by, with some by-blow, that he looked not for; such a man hath a continual eye upon sin, he is exceeding diligent in looking to his heart and ways; when another man neglects it, and therefore easily slips into sin, now into an oath, now into Sabbath-breaking, sometimes to the omission of prayer, sometimes to the lust of uncleanness, sometimes to lying and dissembling, sometimes to one sin, sometimes to another; and the reason is, because he is negligent. The foolish goes on and is careless, that is, he fears not sin, and therefore he neglects, having an eye to sin.