A09990:82
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.
Besides. As I told you then, the creature is §6finite,1 and therefore is not able to fill the soul; God is infinite, and therefore is able to do it. That no creature can do it, we see in continual experience. Take any comfort that you find in the creature, and, when you have enjoyed it, still you want somewhat, and you would have more: But when you come unto the Lord, & enjoy him, when your hearts are filled, still there is somewhat beyond in him, there is no stop, there is no restraint. And, therefore, he only can make the soul happy. Now the ground of it, why he is only able to do it, is, because the soul is made for ⟨p. 46⟩him, the soul is fitted for him, and therefore there is nothing else answerable, there is that constitution of the mind, that it will not be filled with any thing besides. The Lord might have put the mind into such a frame, he might have so constituted the soul of man, that the creature might have filled it, and satisfied it, and have bin an adequate object to it, but he hath not done so: for he made it for himself, and therefore, it is not filled but with himself. So much for that, that the creature in the matter of happiness is able to do nothing.
Besides. As I told you then, the creature is §6finite,1 and therefore is not able to fill the soule; God is infinite, and therefore is able to doe it. That no creature can doe it, we see in continuall experience. Take any comfort that you finde in the creature, and, when you haue enioyed it, still you want somewhat, and you would haue more: But when you come vnto the Lord, & enjoy him, when your hearts are filled, still there is somewhat beyond in him, there is no stop, there is no restraint. And, therefore, he onely can make the soule happie. Now the ground of it, why he is onely able to doe it, is, because the soule is made for ⟨p. 46⟩him, the soule is fitted for him, and therefore there is nothing els answerable, there is that constitution of the minde, that it will not be filled with any thing besides. The Lord might haue put the minde into such a frame, he might haue so constituted the soule of man, that the creature might haue filled it, and satisfied it, and haue bin an adaequate obiect to it, but he hath not done so: for he made it for himselfe, and therefore, it is not filled but with himselfe. So much for that, that the creature in the matter of happines is able to doe nothing.