A09990:794
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.
For I have seen that the race is not always to the swift, but sometimes to him that is not swift; the battle is not always to the strong, but sometimes to him that is weak; and bread, and favour, and riches, are not always to men of understanding and skill, but sometimes to men that are weak, and foolish, and want skill, &c.
For I haue seene that the race is not alwayes to the swift, but sometimes to him that is not swift; the battaile is not alwayes to the strong, but sometimes to him that is weake; and bread, and favour, and riches, are not alwayes to men of vnderstanding and skill, but sometimes to men that are weake, and foolish, and want skill, &c.
I have chosen this Text, that I may add this to the other, that even in those things also, all things come alike to all. There is then another caution to be used, and to be taken heed of in this doctrine of Gods All-sufficiency. Though God dispense those comforts to them that serve him with a perfect heart, yet there are certain times to be observed by the sons of men, and if you miss of those times, that are allotted to every purpose and action, if these be hid from men, if men take not their opportunity, though God be ready to dispense his blessings to those that seek him, yet that occasion makes men miss of them; therefore is it that he saith in the twelfth verse, Man knows not his time; that is, there is a time for every purpose, and action, and if he take that time, he shall be successful; but if that be hidden from him, and he take it not, evil times fall upon him, as the snare upon the birds, and as the net upon the fishes.
I haue chosen this Text, that I may adde this to the other, that even in those things also, all things come alike to all. There is then another caution to be vsed, and to be taken heede of in this doctrine of Gods All-sufficiencie. Though God dispence those comforts to them that serue him with a perfect heart, yet there are certaine times to be observed by the sonnes of men, and if you misse of those times, that are allotted to every purpose and action, if these be hid from men, if men take not their opportunitie, though God be readie to dispence his blessings to those that seeke him, yet that occasion makes men misse of them; therefore is it that he sayth in the twelfth verse, Man knwes not his time; that is, there is a time for every pupose, and action, and if he take that time, he shall be succesfull; but if that be hidden from him, and he take it not, evill times fall vpon him, as the snare vpon the birds, and as the net vpon the fishes.