A09990:770
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.
And so he did with the Midianites; They ploughed the Church for a time, (as through the whole story of the Judges we see) they ploughed them for a certain season, till they were ploughed enough; and when they were humbled, repented, and cried to the Lord, (as you shall see every where) then, saith the Text, the Lord heard them, and cut the cords of the wicked, he suffered them to plough no longer.
And so he did with the Midianites; They plowed the Church for a time, (as through the whole storie of the Iudges we see) they plowed them for a certaine season, till they were plowed enough; and when they were humbled, repented, and cryed to the Lord, (as you shall see every where) then, sayth the Text, the Lord heard them, and cut the cords of the wicked, he suffered them to plow no longer.
But these places will be the clearer, if you compare them with Isa. 28. 24. saith the Lord there,1 Doth the plough-man plough all the day? Rather, saith he, when he hath ploughed enough, (mark it) when he hath broken the clods, then he casts in the seed, &c. And who hath caused the plough-man to do this. Is it not I the Lord? If the Lord hath put this wisdom into the plough-man, that he ploughs not all day, but when he hath ploughed the ground enough, he stays the plough, and sows the seed, ⟨p. 61⟩will not the Lord do so with his Church? therefore, Beloved, be not discouraged, let not your hearts fail, though you see him ploughing of the Church, though he suffer the enemy to prevail against it; for in due time the Lord will cut their cords. You have a clear place for it Deut. 32. 35. 2