A09990:93
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.
Now the ground of it, why the creature is not able to do this, is from hence, that all the comfort that ariseth from the creature, proceeds from that suitableness and that agreeableness which is between the mind and it. That is; when the blessing and the mind are fitted one to another, as the sword to the sheath, or as the mere to the palate, then the creature comforts; but, if there be an unsuitableness, a disagreement, a disproportion, between the creature and the mind, now thou receivest no comfort from it: for what is it to thee? for comfort lies not simply in any thing; but that is comfortable that agreeth with the appetite, and the desire of a man. Whatsoever it is, let the desire be what it will, if that which thou hast, suit with that desire, it is comfortable; when a mans heart is sad, such actions as are suitable to the disposition, are pleasant; weeping is pleasant, and complaints are pleasant; music grieves, because that is not suitable to the present disposition. And so in every thing else. It is no matter what thy condition is, but what suitableness and agreeableness is between thy mind and thy condition; if thou be in never so good condition, yet, except God make that and thy mind to agree, thou shalt receive no comfort from it; if a man be in mean condition, if he be in prison, if he be ⟨p. 57⟩in the lowest estate, if he be in bondage, if he be in exile, wheresoever he is, if the Lord make but that condition and his mind to agree, it will suit well enough. And therefore, hence comes the discomfort that is in the creatures, when a man hath them, and enjoys them, it may be, those things which thou hast, are such as suit not with thee, somewhat there is that thou affectest, something that thou desirest, that thou hast not, and that thou canst not get. As, for instance, Haman had an estate full of comfort, and of all kind of blessings, yet there was not a suitableness between his mind and that estate, one thing came between, Mordecai sate in the Gate, and, therefore, this availed him nothing.1 Hest. 5. That is; Though there were all this together, yet since there was not a conjunction of the faculty and of the object, this availed him nothing. Why? because it was not suitable to his desire, there was something that he would have, that his affections and appetite were set on, that if he had he should be well.