A09990:809
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 on the other side, the more grace, the more substance you shall find in them, and the less vanity; For that which immediately brings the vanity is the curse, and sin is the immediate cause of every curse. I say, the immediate cause of vanity is the curse; of God. When God bids such a thing wither, when he bids it not prosper with such a man, when he bids it do him no good, (as he bad the fig tree wither,) that makes every thing vain to a man, even the curse that lies upon the creature, and sin is the cause of the curse.
As on the other side, the more grace, the more substance you shall finde in them, and the lesse vanity; For that which immediatly brings the vanitie is the curse, and sinne is the immediate cause of euery curse. I say, the immediate cause of vanitie is the curse; of God. When God bids such a thing wither, when he bids it not prosper with such a man, when he bids it doe him no good, (as hee bad the figg tree wither,) that makes euery thing vaine to a man, euen the curse that lies vpon the creature, and sinne is the cause of the curse.
Again that which gives a substance, that which gives a filling to the creature, that which causeth it to give down that milk of comfort, that is in it, is the blessing of God upon it, when God shall say to such a creature, go and do such a man good; it is the blessing which doth it immediately, but grace is the cause of the blessing. Therefore, let us look on sin, as the cause of all this vanity, and on grace, as the cause of the contrary, let us labour to excel in the one, and to resist the other. So much for this first use.
Againe that which giues a substance, that which giues a filling to the creature, that which causeth it to giue downe that milke of comfort, that is in it, is the blessing of God vpon it, when God shall say to such a creature, goe and doe such a man good; it is the blessing which doth it immediatly, but grace is the cause of the blessing. Therefore, let vs looke on sinne, as the cause of all this vanitie, and on grace, as the cause of the contrary, let vs labour to excell in the one, and to resist the other. So much for this first vse.