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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A42773	The ark of the covenant opened, or, A treatise of the covenant of redemption between God and Christ, as the foundation of the covenant of grace the second part, wherein is proved, that there is such a covenant, the necessity of it, the nature, properties, parties thereof, the tenor, articles, subject-matter of redemption, the commands, conditions, and promises annexed, the harmony of the covenant of reconciliation made with sinners, wherein they agree, wherein they differ, grounds of comfort from the covenant of suretiship / written by a minister of the New Testament.	Gillespie, Patrick, 1617-1675.	1677 (1677)	Wing G766; ESTC R3490	407,671	492

she should be arrayed in fine linnen clean and white for the fine linnen is the righteousness of Saints CHAP. XVII Of the grounds of Comfort and supports of Faith arising to Believers from Christs Mediatorship I Shall shut up this part of the Doctrine of Christs Mediatorship with some grounds of Comfort and supports of Faith which arise thence 1. There is Comfort here and support for Faith to all who are convinced of enmity betwixt God and them and do desire reconciliation with him Lo here are glad tidings there is a Mediator a Peace-maker betwixt God and men 1 He is already long ago designed and appointed for this Office 2. He hath already done the work he hath purchased and proclaimed the Peace even to Rebels who will come in and accept of it Eph. 2.16 17 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the Cross having slain the enmity thereby and came and preached Peace to you which were afar off and to them that were nigh and being now removed out of our sight he hath appointed it to be done by his messengers Rom. 10.15 How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of Peace and bring glad tidings of good things 3. He is now ready to accept of and make intercession for all those that shall come in and declare their acceptance of his offer Heb. 7.25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them Joh. 6.37 And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Why then do you haesitate Why stand you off What aileth you Is there not here encouragement and support of Faith Is there not comfort against the selt-enmity and feared-wrath to come Joh. 1.29 Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the Sin of the World 2. There is comfort and support for Faith from Christs Mediatorship namely to Believers and to those who have come to God through him 1. To all forts of Believers 2. In all the variety of their several conditions 3. Against all their fears and evils wherewith they are afflicted 1. To all Believers I mean sound Believers 1 Pet. 1.1 to the weak as well as the strong to them who have like precious Faith with the Apostles although they have not like perfect and strong Faith he is not a Mediator for the strong only but for all that believe on him Joh. 6.37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out And 17.20 Neither pray I for these alone but for them also that shall believe on me through their word Goodwin Christ set forth And it is well observed by Mr. Goodwin ●●om Heb. 17.25 that the comfort and encouragement proposed there from Christs Intercession is fitted for a Recumbents Faith the proper act whereof as 't is distinguished from the Faith of Assurance is a coming to Christ he is a Mediator for all that have cast themselves on him in their way of coming to God though their Faith be not yet grown up to assurance 2. To all Believers in their several conditions he is Mediator and does the Office of a Mediator not only when Believers can act faith and employ him but when their Faith is well-near failed like a worn week when they are at the weakest and at the worst Luke 22.32 But I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not Not only when his elect people are doing him service but when they are ignorantly opposing him as many times they do especially before their Conversion Act. 9.5 6 I am Jesus whom thou persecutest And he trembling and astonished said Lord what wilt thou have me to do And the Lord said arise and go into the City and it shall be told thee what thou must do Luke 23.34 And Jesus said Father forgive them for they know not what they do Not only when they are in his way but when they are out of the way Heb. 5.2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant and on them that are out of the way Not only when they can pray and wrestle for themselves Rev. 8.3 And another Angel came and stood at the Altar having a Golden Censor and there was given unto him much Incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all Saints upon the Golden Altar which was before the Throne but when they cannot utter their heart before the Lord Rom. 8.26 27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self maketh Intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit because he maketh Intercession for the Saints according to the will of God Isa 59.16 And he saw that there was no man and wondred that there was no Intercessor therefore his arm brought salvation unto him and his righteousness it sustained him Not only when all is well and at peace and when nothing is charged against them but when they are under Challenges and condemning-things are laid to their charge Rom. 8.33 34 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect it is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us Not only in time of peace but when wrath and destruction is gone forth against his people Ezek. 9.4 And the Lord said unto him Go through the midst of the City the midst of Jerusalem and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof Zech. 1.12 Then the Angel of the Lord answered and said O Lord of Hosts how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the Cities of Judah against which thou hast had indignation these Threescore and ten years Not only at their first coming but in all their after-addresses to God through him Heb. 7.25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make Intercession for them With 4.14 16 Seeing then that we have an High-priest that is passed into the Heavens let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace that we may obtain mercy and find Grace to help in time of need 3. The Comfort and support of Faith flowing from Christs Mediatorship reacheth to all the evils wherewith Believers can be afflicted Namely 1. It may comfort against the daily infirmities wherewith believers are compassed these shall not make a breach betwixt God and us for as much as Christs Mediation is intended to prevent that 1 Joh. 2.1 2 And if any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous and he is the propitiation

believe and to believe to the end to draw forth these habits to act lively sound faith the first act whereof is a performance of the condition of the new Covenant Joh. 6.37 All that the father giveth me shall come to me Joh. 12.32 And I if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men unto me 2. He stands engaged for the preservation of these habits of grace that howsoever they may be weakened and it may be also dimnished through our ill using of that stock yet they shall never be lost neither shall the stock of habitual grace come to nothing Luk. 22.32 But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not 1 Joh. 3.9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God 3. He stands engaged for our using and exercising habitual grace after that he hath freely given it that he shall by actual influences make us trade with those talents and not suffer them to lie by us without making use of them Ezek. 36.27 And I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my Judgments and do them Psal 119.32 35 I will run the way of thy commandments when thou shalt enlarge my heart Make me to go in the path of thy commandments for therein do I delight 4. Christ is engaged for the liveliness of our graces that he shall not only keep them from dying but shall keep them in good condition fresh and green Psal 1.3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season his leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever he doth shall prosper Joh. 4.19 Yet a little while and the world seeth me no more but ye see me because I live ye shall live also Psal 92.12 13 14 The righteous shall flourish like the Palm-tree he shall grow like a Cedar in Lebanon Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God They shall still bring forth fruit in old age they shall be fat and flourishing 5. Christ is engaged for the encrease and growth of these habits of grace to make our stock to grow among our hands to make our faith love diligence in duty delight in God knowledg of himself c. to grow and our fruit to abound and to grow in quantity and quality in bigness and ripeness more fruit and sweeter fruit more savory to his taste 2 Cor. 9.8 And God is able to make all grace abound towards you that ye always having all sufficiency in all things may abound to every good work Joh. 15.4 5 Abide in me and I in you as the branch cannot bear fruit of it self except it abide in the Vine no more can ye except ye abide in me I am the vine ye are the branches he that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me ye can do nothing 2 Thess 1.3 We are bound to thank God always for you brethren as it is meet because that your faith groweth exceedingly and the charity of every one of you all towards each other abundantly 6. Christ stands engaged for our up stirring when we have given his work in us a back-set and brought grace to a low ebb when we have contracted laziness and a numness of spirit upon our selves so that we either drive heavily or cannot stir at all in his ways he is engaged to oil our wheels that we may recover a sweet facility and easiness in his ways and to blow upon us when we are calmed and cannot fetch the wind to our selves Song 4.16 Awake O North wind and come thou south and blow upon my garden that the spices thereof may flow out let my beloved come into his garden and eat his pleasant fruits Song 5.4 My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the dore and my bowels were moved for him Song 6.12 Or ever I was aware my soul made me like the charrets of Aminidab Isa 64.5 Thou mettest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness those that remember thee in thy ways Behold thou art wroth for we have sinned in those is continuance and we shall be saved I say that Christ stands engaged not only for our performance of Gospel-conditions and commands but also for our obeying and performing the preceptive part of the Law for clearing of this I shall lay down these five assertions 1. The Law as it commandeth and directeth obedience according to the will of the Law-giver is not repealed annulled or abrogated by Christ and by the Gospel though the Law considered as a Covenant holding forth obedience to the commands thereof as a possible way of Life be annulled and abrogated See Rom. 3.20 23 28 Therefore by the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight for by the law is the knowledg of sin For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law Rom. 8.3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh c. 2. The Law which first commanded perfect obedience as a possible way of life may be and is continued for other uses and ends than for that such as to direct command prohibit promise threaten and to prove the loyalty even of Christs Subjects Rom. 3.27 31 Where is boasting then it is excluded by what law of works nay but by the law of faith Do we then make void the law through faith God forbid yea we establish the law Rom. 7.7 9 12 Nay I had not known sin but by the law for I had not known lust except the law had said Thou shalt not covet For I was alive without the law once but when the commandment came sin revived and I died Wherefore the Law is holy and the commandment holy and just and good 3. The Law as it is continued and in force towards believers is reduceable to the new Covenant and doth more properly appertain to it than to the Covenant of works For 1. It is the law as 't is delivered up and put into the hands of Christ to be managed and used by him for the advantage of his Subjects and Kingdom by the new Covenant and that is for other uses and ends than those for which it was first given Gal. 3.19 21 24 25 Wherefore then serveth the law it was added because of transgressions till the 〈◊〉 should come to whom the promise was made and it was 〈…〉 by Angels in the hand of a Mediator Is the law 〈◊〉 against the promises of God God forbid for if there h●●●een a law given which could have given life verily righteousness should have been by the law Wherefore the law was our School-master to bring us unto Christ that we might be justified by

another whether Faith the eminent Gospel-condition or other Gospel-obedience required of us or to be performed upon our part all these were undertaken by Christ's act of Suretiship in the Covenant betwixt God and him and were ensured to him by Jehovah to be successfully performed See Eph. 2.10 For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them 2 Thess 2.13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to Salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth Isa 53.11 And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand He shall see of the travel of his soul and shall be satisfied by his knowledg shall my righteous servant justifie many for he shall bear their iniquities 3. In personal Covenanting with God and the engaging of particular Souls to him in the way of the Covenant of Grace Christ's Suretiship is the ground of all proceeding till this be eyed and in some measure believed there is no possibility of advancing one step toward a new Covenant-state for how can fallen broken man who understands his condition to be such think of dealing with God unless he bring a Cautioner with him or how shall he bring to God Christ a surety of the better testament who hath not heard of and believed his eternal act of Suretiship Rom. 10.14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher This Covenant of Surtiship therefore must needs be the foundation of the Covenant of Grace and reconciliation hence 't is that David and Hezekiah flee to this act of Suretiship and lay the weight of their dealing with God on it Psal 119.122 Be surety for thy servant for good Isa 38.14 O Lord I am oppressed undertake for me 4. The Covenant made with us hath its stability from the Covenant of Suretiship made with Christ and therefore this must be the foundation of that I say upon the stability of the Covenant made with Christ doth depend the stability of the Covenant with us because that stands firm and sure therefore doth this stand fast also therefore the mercies of the Covenant with us are sure mercies and the promises of the Covenant are yea and amen because they are the sure mercies of David which were first promised to Christ Isa 55.3 and because the promises were made to us in him 2 Cor. 1.20 For all the promises of God in him are yea and in him are amen Therefore the Covenant made with us is an everlasting Covenant because of the Covenant by which he was given to his people Isa 53.3 4 I make with you an everlasting Covenant even the sure mercies of David Behold I have given him for a witness of the people a leader and commander of the people therefore our faith and perseverance and salvation are sure as sure as Heaven and Earth can make them because of the act of Christ's Suretiship and his undertaking for them because they hang upon Christ's fulfilling his Covenant of Suretiship with God and upon condition of his doing the work that his Father gave him to do Joh. 17.4 8.15.24 I have glorified thee on earth I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me and they have received them I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am Mat. 16.18 And upon this rock will I build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it 5. The Holy Ghost's leading us so frequently in the Scriptures from the Covenant made with us in all the force efficacy stability eternity standing and perseverance thereof to look up to the Covenant of Suretiship made with Christ is a clear demonstration that this Covenant made with us depends upon the Covenant made with him and that the Covenant made with Christ is the foundation and ground of the Covenant made with us Read Ezek. 16.60 61 Nevertheless I will remember my Covenant with thee in the days of thy youth and I will establish unto thee an everlasting Covenant Then thou shalt remember thy ways and be ashamed when thou shalt receive thy Sisters thine elder and thy younger and I will give them unto thee for daughters but not by thy Covenant Where the efficacy of the Covenant made with us is hanged not upon that same Covenant but another to wit that made with Christ And Isa 22.22 23 And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder for he shall open and none shall shut and he shall shut and none shall open and I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house c. Where under a type of Eliakim's trust the fixing of Christ in the Covenant is stated as the ground of all the gracious efficiency thereof and Psal 89.33 34 Nevertheless my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulness to fail My Covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lye unto David The establishment of the Covenant with Christ's sinful seed there spoke of by the name of David and his seed is reduced to the Covenant the sworn Covenant with Christ as the ground and foundation thereof whom God laid in Zion for a sure foundation to the intent that he who believeth may not make haste nor be suddenly removed from his Faith and steadfastness Isa 28.16 CHAP. II. Of the necessity of the Covenant of Redemption And 1. What kind of necessity for the being of this Covenant 2. In what Respects or to what Intents it is necessary WHen we speak of the necessity of the Covenant of Redemption or Suretiship we are cautiously to understand that necessity The School-men distinguish a threefold necessity Aquin. Sum. 1. Part. g. 19. Art 3 Estius in Sentent li. 1. d. 38. Sect. 7. 1. A most perfect and absolute necessity or a simple necessity when a thing is so that it cannot not be nor be otherwise and that by the power of any Agent whatsoever This necessity belongeth not to the Covenant of Redemption nor to any other the free acts of the will of God for if so it had pleased God he might have not entered that Covenant with his Son for it was not absolutely necessary that man should be redeemed God might have passed by man as he did the Apostate Angels which choice of objects to be redeemed by Christ is mentioned for aggravating God's

after Gods will Phil. 2.13 For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure Psal 110.3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power And how sweet and comfortable is it that Salvation is by the Covenant of Suretiship taken off the mutable will of man the slippery yea and nay of mans free-will and laid upon the immutability of his counsel Heb. 6.17 and will with whom there is no variableness Rom. 9.15 I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion Jam. 1.18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth 4. That by the Covenant of Suretiship the fountain and well-spring of Life and Salvation and of all the influences that must needs act us toward it lay out of our selves and are placed in Christ Psal 8.7 All my springs are in thee Col. 3.3 Your life is hid with Christ in God The Well-head of Life to Adam was in himself and that which was placed in himself went dry he had no other Fountain whence he had assurance to draw and fetch any more but by Christs Suretiship the spring of Life and Salvation to us is placed in him which makes it indefectible to us and O how sweet is that to the believer that his Salvation is fountained in Christ thus when his water fails within he needs do no more but turn the water cock of Faith that is in his own heart and take in fresh supplies from Jesus the resurrection and the life Joh. 11.25 Isa 27.3 Lest any hurt it I will keep it night and day I will water it every moment Joh. 4.14 The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life Joh. 14.19 Because I live ye shall live also 5. By the Covenant of Suretiship our Rights and Charters I mean the promises not of Heaven and Salvation only but of all our concernments are in a surer hand than our own and under better keeping for now by that Covenant they are in Christs keeping to whom the promises are made Gal. 3.16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made he saith not and to seeds as of many but as of one and to thy seed which is Christ He is the first heir of all things Heb. 1.2 to whom the first title and right to the promises which are our Charters doth belong they were first his before they were ours yea and he was the first possessor too upon Christ did all the acts of Gods Covenant-love to us fall first Act. 13.34 I give you the sure mercies of David Most of the promises were made formally to Christ even those which directly relate to our Calling Justification Salvation Isa 53.10 11 And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand He shall see of the travel of his soul and shall be satisfied By his knowledg shall my righteous servant justifie many for he shall bear their iniquities And these that were not made formally to him such as the promise of a new heart a new spirit remission of sins yet these were made to him eminenter they were laid down in him and consigned in his hand for Christ is not only the fountain and original cause of all the promises who merited by his Blood Remission Righteousness and Life which the Lord makes ours by free promise but he is also the first subject of the promises Christ receiveth all the Covenant-promises which are our Rights and Charters and he keepeth them and manageth them for our use as may most tend to our good Christ is made by his Suretiship that excellent Ark which keepeth the tables of the Covenant and the book of the Law and Covenant Deut. 31.26 1 Kings 8.9 How sweet and satisfying is it that our Rights of Heaven is in such a Charter-chest and in the hands of such a keeper even under Christs custody who shall give a good account to his Father of all that is committed to him Joh. 17.12 Those whom thou gavest me I have kept and none of them is lost and whose keeping is in high account with all those who know him 2 Tim. 1.12 For I know whom I have believed and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day 6. By the Covenant of Suretiship Christ and the believer are in a manner in one Writ for notwithstanding that there be differences between the Covenant made with him and that which is made with us as is before shewed yet it may be said that Christ and the believer are some way in one Writ 1. Because these two Covenants are all of a piece they are to be distinguished but not divided it is the same design of Grace the same business of redeeming and saving lost Man that is carried on in both 2. Although Christ and the believer be not formally and as parties in this Writ of Christs Sureti-covenant to God yet they are virtually and as to their interests and concernments It is Christs business and concernment and the believers too even all his eternal concernments that are in that Covenant and ours these meet together and are transacted in one Writ and thus even among men a person may be said to be in a Writ where his concernments are handled 3. Because of the contexture and interweaving not only of Christ and the believers interests but also of their Names in the same Writ For in the Covenant where his Name is put alone as undertaker and which is his single bond to wit the Covenant of Suretiship even there is the believers Name put as being the person for which he payed a price and for whom he undertook and who were promised to him for a seed as a satisfying-sight for the travel of his Soul And again in the Writ given to us we stand not alone in Covenant-dealings with God but in the same Writs of the promises made to the believer Christs name stands as principal party Covenanting for us and receiving the promises as is manifest from what is already said 4. There is not only a contexture but a commutation with Christ and the believers Name in the Covenant-writs for his Name is put in our Bond for he wrote himself the sinner legally and in the sinners place under the Law accursed and our Name is put in the Writ of Justification given to him and the new Law of Faith writes the believer righteous and blessed 2 Cor. 5.21 For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him Gal. 3.13 14 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentles through faith Rom. 3.22 Even the righteousness of God which

justifie many for he shall bear their iniquities 4. By this Suretiship beside all that he hath fulfilled and done in his own person he is under a Covenant to work in his people what God requireth condition-ways of them Joh. 6.37 All that the father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out O how comfortable is it that Christ is under a Covenant to enjoy his Elect people not for any thing they can do for themselves but for the work that he hath wrought and the conditions that he hath fulfilled in his own person and is obliged to fulfil and work in them And indeed the promises are fulfilled to us not because we fulfil the condition but for Christ in whom they are made to us and who by his Suretiship did perform all conditions that the law doth require 9. That in the Covenant of Suretiship the Believer is undertaken for by both the parties 1. Jehovah undertakes forasmuch as he promises a redeemed seed to Christ and engages that he shall see them Isa 53.10 He shall see his seed Now he who undertakes for this must needs undertake that they shall be born again so that the Lord is undertaker for our believing Justification Perseverance and Salvation then Jehovah is engaged by Covenant with Christ to make sure our believing and Salvation as he will be true to his Son to whom he gave this promise and to himself and his holy nature for he cannot deny himself 2. Christ hath undertaken for us also He is made surety Heb. 7.22 He hath given Bond for our believing and Salvation he hath by an eternal act of cautionry acted himself for all them who shall believe on him body for body life for life soul for soul that his life shall go for theirs that his soul shall be in their souls stead Isa 53.10 When thou shall make his soul an offering for sin And by the Mediatory office that he took upon him he hath laid Bonds upon himself and made a necessary duty of his office to save his people to become a Captain of Salvation to them to bring many sons to glory Heb. 2.10 And that he will be faithful in this office he hath taken Bonds upon him that by vertue of his office and place he must do whatsoever is for his peoples welfare See Heb. 3.1 2 Consider the Apostle and High-priest of our profession Christ Jesus who was faithful to him that appointed him Chap. 2. v. 17 Wherefore in all thingsit behoved him to be made like unto his brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful High-priest in all things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people How comfortable is this to the weak Believer and how strengthening to Faith to consider that Jehovah gave Bond from eternity to Christ and stands engaged to him for the bowing of our rebellious wills and for such a frame of heart to us as our Redemption and Salvation necessarily requires And that Christ stands engaged to be to all his own a merciful and faithful High-priest and that by the Bonds he hath laid upon himself it behoved him to be so Heb. 2.17 O consider he can no more be unconcerned with our concernments he can no more be untouched with and want a feeling of our infirmities than he can cease to be a merciful and faithful High-priest which qualifications he behoved to take upon him by taking on that office Heb. 5.2 3. Chap. 2. v. 17. Chap. 4. v. 15. Christ can no more fail in any thing pertaining to our peace with God and our Salvation than he can break his faith of Suretiship and fail in Covenant-faithfulness and the Bonds that he hath given to Jehovah 10. By the Covenant of Suretiship passed betwixt Jehovah and Christ the believer is in a sure confirmed state he is not in a tottering slippery mutable condition as were the Angels that fell and like to Adams first Covenant-state but the believer is in a sure confirmed state as sure as the Elect Angels who never fell 1. By the Covenant of Suretiship the believers help is laid upon one that is mighty Psal 89.19 A potent person is his helper for their Redeemer is strong Deut. 33.27 The eternal God is thy refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms Isa 40.28 29 Hast thou not known hast thou not heard that the everlasting God the Lord the Creator of the ends of the earth fainteth not neither is weary there is no searching of his understanding He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he encreaseth strength 2. By this Covenant there is a great juncture of undertakings for the believers standing to wit by both the parties of that Covenant 3. By this Covenant the believers standing and perseverance is taken off the creatures mutable will and is now upon the gracious immutable counsel of Gods will Heb. 6.17 Wherein God willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel c. Luk. 12.32 Fear not little flock for it is your fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom 4. By this Covenant-salvation the weight of Salvation is taken off the creatures acting and laid upon Christs Isa 49.6 That thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth Joh. 17.2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him 5. The same confirming-grace that is given to the Elect Angels is by Christs Covenant of Suretiship ensured yea given in Christ to the believer in whom ye are compleat Col. 2.10 2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began 6. The honour of Christ Mediator by this Suretiship of his lies at the stake for the weak believers standing Joh. 17.10 All mine are thine and thine are mine I am glorified in them How should this comfort the believers heart and support his saith that though he be not yet without the reach of dangers yet by Christs Suretiship he is in a confirmed state that he can no more fall quite away from his state of Grace and Faith than Jehovah can break to Christ or Christ break to his Father which is impossible Psal 89.35 36 Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lye unto David His seed shall endure for ever Rev. 1.5 And from Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness That the faith of the least of them that believe on Christ can no more fail than Christ can want his reward which is impossible Isa 53.11 He shall see of the travel of his soul and shall be satisfied Christ cannot be left unsatisfied which he should be if the saith of any of his should fail in regard of Christs Suretiship the weak believers legs can

Covenant under the first consideration are all those who are within the visible Church whether Elect or Reprobate and their seed professing obedience to the Gospel-ordinances under which they are as I have at length proved else-where Psal 147.19 20 He sheweth his word unto Jacob his statutes and his Judgments unto Israel He hath not dealt so with any nation and as for his judgments they have not known them But the parties contracters with God in the Covenant considered in the second respect are only the Elect of Christ to whom the spirit is given as well as the ordinances to whom the promise of the new heart is made and in whom it is fulfilled Isa 59.21 As for me this is my covenant with them saith the Lord My spirit that is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed saith the Lord from henceforth and for ever 3. We are to distinguish betwixt Christs act of Suretiship and undertaking and some benefits which by concomitancy redound to them for whom he never was made Surety for many hypocrites and reprobates that have the Gospel preached by concomitancy because they are mixed with the Elect in the habitable parts of the earth and Societies of men where these have their abode yet Christ was never undertaker for them nor doth the preaching of the Covenant come to them from Christ as their Surety but this benefit they have by Christs undertaking and Suretiship for the elect that are among them and for the Elects sake concerning whom Christ undertook to preach the Covenant to them and to fulfil it in them therefore he is a light to the Gentiles Isa 49.6 with Act. 13.26 Men and brethren children of the stock of Abraham and whosoever among you feareth God to you is the word of this salvation sent 2 Cor. 4.15 For all things are for your sakes that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God Joh. 17.19 And for their sakes I sanctifie my self that they also might be sanctified through the truth These things premised we answer to the question 1. Negatively 1. Sure he was not made Surety Cat. Racov. de Prophet Ch. munere Christ did not undertake for all Mankind in whom was ever the breath of life the Reprobate as well as the Elect Cain as well as Abel Judas as well as Paul as Socinians and Arminians tell us for the Apostle's all 1 Tim. 2.6 Jac. Arm. Orat. sacdotio Christi pag. 16 17. Who gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time can be no more than Christ's many Mat. 20.21 And to give his life a ransom for many Heb. 9.28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation 2. Davenant dissect de morte Christi cap. 4. p. 48. Sure he was not Surety nor did undertake for all these who are within the visible Church or within the Covenant externally for many of these were neither given to him by the father nor undertaken for by him 1 Joh. 2.19 They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us Mat. 22.14 For many are called but few are chosen 3. He was not made Surety for all men conditionally to wit if they should believe for 1. His Suretiship was an absolute act of his own will and grace and doth not depend upon our will over which Christ hath the dominion Joh. 6.37 All that the father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Zech. 10.8 I will hiss for them and gather them for I have redeemed them 2. It was part of his undertaking to purchase by the meirt of his death grace to bow our will and to heal our nature Heb. 10.10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all Isa 42.4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged till he have set judgment in the earth and the Isles shall wait for his law 3. God knew them all particularly whom he gave to Christ to be ransomed by him and Christ knew them all by name for whom he did undertake therefore we read of names written in the lambs book of life Rev. 21.27 2. We answer affirmatively That Christ undertakes in his bargain of Suretiship only for the Elect Christ from eternity came under an act of cautionry for all these and no other For 1. No other were given to him by the Father but these were given unto him and without question he became Surety for none but these who were given to him by his father Joh. 17.2 19 That he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him And for their sakes I sanctifie my self Joh. 6.37 All that the father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Joh. 10.28 29 And I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand My father which gave them me is greater then all and no man is able to pluck them out of my fathers hand 2. He became Surety for none but for those for whom he died and in whose stead he answered the demands of the Law and satisfied the Justice of God now he died only for the Elect Rom. 8.33 34 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect it is God that justifieth Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us Joh. 10.11 I am the good shepherd the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep 3. He did undertake for these only for whom he doth pray and intercede with God and these were only the Elect Joh. 17.9 I pray for them I pray not for the world but for them which thou hast given me for they are thine 4. He did undertake for these only for whose believing his father did undertake to him and these were only the Elect Isa 53.10 11 And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand He shall see of the travel of his soul and shall be satisfied by his knowledg shall my righteous servant justifie many for he shall bear their iniquities 5. He did undertake for these only in whom the Covenant is fulfilled upon whose hearts it is really acted so that a new heart is given to them and life eternal and these were only the Elect Jer. 31.32 33 Not according to the covenant that I made with their