A77360:1034
Christ and the covenant the work and way of meditation
Christ and the covenant the work and way of meditation. : Gods return to the soul, or nation; together with his preventing mercy. : Delivered in ten sermons, (viz.) 1. Christs personal excellencies, the object of our love. 2. Christ crucified, the object of our faith. 3. The new covenant of grace opened. 4. Christ the mediator of the new covenant. 5. The way and spirit of the new covenant, or New Testament. 6. The blood of sprinkling. 7. The sweetness and profitableness of divine meditation. 8. The work and way of this meditation. 9. Gods return to the soul and nation. 10. Preventing mercy. / By W.B.
London: printed for N. Ranew, 1667
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.
2. As God doth prevent us, thus in reference to our own deservings, so he doth prevent us also in reference to his own proceedings of common providence. Look when God doth give in a mercy, that is beyond the reach of the second cause, that is stronger or greater then the root of the second cause will bear, or beyond common providence, then God is said to prevent us with his mercy: Now thus God doth many times give in a mercy, ⟨p. 482⟩that the Root of the second cause cannot bear. So he gave Elizabeth a Child, and Sarah a Child, when they were old; With this staff came I over this brook (says Jacob) and lo, I am become two bands. And thus Israel said, A Syrian ready to perish was my Father (Deuteron. 26.5.) and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a Nation, Great, Mighty, and Populous. A Syrian ready to perish was my Father: As if a man should say, I came here to London poor, having but my Pen and Inkhorn by my side, and now I am risen up to a great Estate, beyond all my own Parts, Wits, and Endeavours, for the Lord hath prevented me with the blessings of his goodness. Thus God doth sometimes prevent us with his mercy, in reference to his own proceedings of common Providence, or the course of Nature.
2. As God doth prevent us, thus in reference to our own deservings, so he doth prevent us also in reference to his own proceedings of common providence. Look when God doth give in a mercy, that is beyond the reach of the second cause, that is stronger or greater then the root of the second cause will bear, or beyond common providence, then God is said to prevent us with his mercy: Now thus God doth many times give in a mercy, ⟨p. 482⟩that the Root of the second cause cannot bear. So he gave Elizabeth a Child, and Sarah a Child, when they were old; With this staff came I over this brook (sayes Jacob) and lo, I am become two bands. And thus Israel said, A Syrian ready to perish was my Father (Deuteron. 26.5.) and he went down into Aegypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a Nation, Great, Mighty, and Populous. A Syrian ready to perish was my Father: As if a man should say, I came here to London poor, having but my Pen and Inkhorn by my side, and now I am risen up to a great Estate, beyond all my own Parts, Wits, and Endeavours, for the Lord hath prevented me with the blessings of his goodness. Thus God doth sometimes prevent us with his mercy, in reference to his own proceedings of common Providence, or the course of Nature.