A09990:725
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.
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.
If a man be about a busines, and there be any thing that he feares, he will neglect his worke to haue an eye vpon that, whatsoever it be. If a man feare sinne, he will be very diligent in watching ⟨p. 41⟩himselfe, in taking heede that sinne come not vpon him by the by, with some by-blow, that he looked not for; such a man hath a continuall eye vpon sinne, he is exceeding diligent in looking to his heart and wayes; when another man neglects it, and therefore easily slips into sinne, now into an oath, now into Sabbath-breaking, sometimes to the omission of prayer, sometimes to the lust of vncleann•sse, sometimes to lying and dissembling, sometimes to one sinne, sometimes to another; and the reason is, because he is negligent. The foolish goes on and is carelesse, that is, he feares not sinne, and therefore he neglects, having an eye to sinne.
Now that you may find out more distinctly, what this fear is, consider this, he that fears, he doth not only fear the sin it self, but he fears any thing that he hath a suspicion of, he fears any thing that is doubtful; if it be such a thing, as may be evil to him, he fears it; So, a man that fears sin, though it be not clear to him, though he be not fully convinced that such or such a thing is a sin, yet if he be one that fears sin, he will not meddle with it.