A09990:784
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.
As it is true on the other side, that holy men, though they be taken away betimes, yet they are taken away, when they have finished their days; he doth prolong his days, though he die when he is young, because he is ripe before he is taken from the tree; he is now in a fit season. And this is the meaning of that, when he saith, certainly it shall be ill with him, that fears not God, though he do prolong his days, though execution should be deferred. I should add more, as this for another; but I will but name it.
As it is true on the other side, that holy men, though they be taken away betimes, yet they are taken away, when they haue finished their dayes; he doth prolong his dayes, though he die when he is young, because he is ripe before he is taken from the tree; he is now in a fit season. And this is the meaning of that, when he sayth, certainely it shall be ill with him, that feares not God, though he doe prolong his dayes, though execution should be deferred. I should adde more, as this for another; but I will but name it.
Doth one condition fall to all,1 both good and ⟨p. 67⟩bad? Then you may gather hence,2 that all the good things, and all the evil things, that befall us in this life, they are neither truly good nor truly evil, they are but shadows of both; for if the Lord send adversity upon good men, if he send prosperity to evil men; If there were true evil in adversity, God would never do it, if there were any true goodness in prosperity, he would never do it, but when he dispenseth these things so promiscuously, it is an argument they are not such as men account them, they are but shadows of good things, and of evil, Larvae et spectra, &c. that is, they are not the substance of good things, neither of good nor evil. Let not righteous men therefore say they are miserable, when they fall into any kind of outward misery, whatsoever the condition be, it is not evil, if it were, it should never befall thee. Again, let not a wicked man say, he is happy, because of his outward condition, for if it were truly good, thou shouldest never enjoy it. When God dispenseth those things so promiscuously, it is an argument, that they are neither good nor evil, that is, that there is no substance of true good or evil in them.