A09990:763
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.
Secondly, this is clear from his immutability: look what God hath done in former times,1 he must needs do the same; Go through all the Scriptures, and you shall find that still the evil in the end were punished, and the good in the end were rewarded; he is the same God still, he is still ⟨p. 57⟩as holy as he was, still his eyes cannot abide iniquity, still he is as powerful as he was, there is no change in him, nor shadow of changing. And therefore think with thy self, he that was so severe against Saul for breaking the Commandment, he that was so severe against Balaam for loving the wages of unrighteousness, he that was so severe against Uzziah for touching the Ark, for meddling with holy things, for drawing near in an unholy manner to him, he that consumed Nadab and Abihu with fire from heaven, because they came with strange fire, (so do we when we come with carnal affections to perform holy duties) he is the same, and though he do it not to thee on the sudden, as he did to them, (for he did it to them for example, that they might be rules for future times, that he might not only deliver precepts, but might second them with examples,) yet being the same God, he will do it to thee at length, if thou fall into the same sin; he that struck Ananias and Sapphira with death for speaking against the truth, and against their Consciences, he will do the same to thee, though he do it not in the same manner, (because it was extraordinary, he drew them out for examples,) and so I may say of rewards, it is certain he will do the same.
Secondly, this is cleare from his immutabilitie: looke what God hath done in former times,1 he must needs doe the same; Goe through all the Scriptures, and you shall finde that still the evill in the end were punished, and the good in the end were rewarded; he is the same God still, he is still ⟨p. 57⟩as holy as he was, still his eyes cannot abide iniquitie, still he is as powerfull as he was, there is no change in him, nor shadow of changing. And therefore thinke with thy selfe, he that was so severe against Saul for breaking the Commandement, he that was so severe against Balaam for loving the wages of vnrighteousnesse, he that was so severe against Vzziah for touching the Arke, for medling with holy things, for drawing neare in an vnholy manner to him, he that consumed Nadab and Abihu with fire from heaven, because they came with strange fire, (so doe we when we come with carnall affections to performe holy duties) he is the same, and though he doe it not to thee on the suddaine, as he did to them, (for he did it to them for example, that they might be rules for future times, that he might not onely deliver precepts, but might second them with examples,) yet being the same God, he will doe it to thee at length, if thou fall into the same sinne; he that strucke Ananias and Saphira with death for speaking against the truth, and against their Consciences, he will doe the same to thee, though he doe it not in the same manner, (because it was extraordinarie, he drew them out for examples,) and so I may say of rewards, it is certaine he will doe the same.