A09990:805
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.
But take places of great authority, wherein a man hath much opportunity to do good,1 as,§4 Princes, Magistrates, and Rulers; This also is a vanity. I have seen men ruling one over another, says the Wise man, to their hurt, to the hurt of the ruler, ⟨p. 74⟩and to the hurt of them that are ruled. So that all things under the Sun, look which way you will, they are subject to vanity, as these which here he names, for a man to make himself strong, for a man to get wisdom, and skill, and to be diligent in his business, &c. For let a man use the likeliest means to bring his enterprises to pass, yet, saith Solomon, I have seen, that the battle is not to the strong, nor favour to men of knowledge, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding. So that which way soever he turned himself, still there was a vanity. We will make some brief use of it, and so come to the next point.
But take places of great authoritie, wherein a man hath much opportunitie to doe good,1 as,§4 Princes, Magistrates, and Rulers; This also is a vanitie. I haue seene men ruling one over another, sayes the Wiseman, to their hurt, to the hurt of the ruler, ⟨p. 74⟩and to the hurt of them that are ruled. So that all things vnder the Sunne, looke which way you will, they are subject to vanitie, as these which here he names, for a man to make himselfe strong, for a man to get wisedome, and skill, and to be diligent in his busines, &c. For let a man vse the likeliest meanes to bring his enterprises to passe, yet, sayth Salomon, I haue seene, that the battaile is not to the strong, nor favour to men of knowledge, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of vnderstanding. So that which way soever he turned himselfe, still there was a vanitie. We will make some briefe vse of it, and so come to the next poynt.
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