Two solemne COVENANTS MADE Between God and Man viz. The Covenant of Workes And the Covenant of Grace Clearly laid open distinguished and vindicated from many dangerous opinions the right knowledge of whch will be very profitable to all those that have escaped the first and are confirmed in the second at the Sacrament Rom. 5.18 19. Therefore as by the offence of one judgement came upon all men to condemnation even so by the righteousnesse of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous John 1.16 For the Law was given by Moses but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ January 15. 1646. Imprimatur John Downame London Printed for Thomas Banks and are to be sold in Blackfriers at the top of Bridewell staires and in Westminster Hall at the signe of the Seale 1647. Two solemne Covenants made betweene God and Man viz. the Covenant of Workes and the Covenant of Grace clearly laid open distinguished and vindicated from many dangerous and destructive opinions THere be severall opinions about the Covenant of Works and the Covenant of grace to the great disturbance of many Christians some hold that there be foure Covenants two of Works and two of Grace the two first one with Adam before the fall and the other with Israel at their returne out of Aegypt and the Covenants of Grace the first to Abraham and the other at the Incarnation of Jesus Christ this M. Sympson affirmed before a Committee of the Assembly of Divines in my hearing 2. Others hold that there is but three Covenants the first with Adam the second with Israel at their going out of Aegypt and a third with Jesus Christ the two first of Workes and the last of Grace and this M. Burroughes delivered in his Exposition Sermon in Cornhill in my hearing 3. Others hold that there is but two Covenants the one of Works and the other of Grace yet the first they hold was made with Israel at Mount Sinai and no Covenant of workes before that and now it is vanished away and the other a Covenant of grace yet not made till the death of Christ the testator and this is affirmed by James Pope in a Book entituled the unveiling of Antichrist 4. Others hold that the Law at Mount Sinai was a Covenant of grace implying that there is more then one Covenant of grace and this is affirmed by Mr. Anthony Burgesse in his Vindication of the Morall Law the 24. Lecture text the 4. of Deuteronomy 5. Others with my selfe hold that there is but two Covenants the one a Covenant of Workes and the tree of life was a Sacrament or signe and token of it this was made with Adam before his fall and to all his posterity who come under it as soon as they take upon them his nature for he did bear an Image for himselfe and all his postetity so that if he had stood in his integrity he had conveyed his righteousnesse and holinesse to all his posterity and when he by sin defiled his nature the whole race of mankind was polluted by him and also he received a Covenant both for himselfe and all his posterity and in case he had been faithfull to it all his posterity had stood with him but he breaking that Covenant brought not only guilt upon himself but upon all his posterity with him so that now there is none clean no not one how can he be clean that is born of a woman Job 25.4 thus mans nature is polluted And in regard of the Covenant let every mouth be stopped for all the world is become guilty before God Rom. 3.29 for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God Rom. 3.23 by one man sinne entred into the world and death by sinne and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned Rom 5.12 so then all men by nature lye under the pollution and guilt of Adams sinne and lyable to all the curses and penalties due unto them for breach of that Covenant But then there was a Covenant of grace which God the Father made with Jesus Christ from all eternity to save some of the posterity of Adam and had not this Covenant been prepared ready against the fall of Adam to take place at the very moment of his fall the Justice of God had immediatly seized upon the whole Creation under Heaven and consum'd them to their first nothing but then came Jesus Christ with the covenant in his hand saying be gracious unto him and deliver him from going down to the pit I have found a ransome Job 33.24 now I shall prove that the covenant of grace was made with Jesus Christ from all eternity being a contract or plot of God the Father with God the Sonne from all eternity as mediator for the salvation of the Elect. 1. If God the Father promised eternall life before the world began when as there was no creature as yet made this promise must needs be made to Jesus Christ our mediatour but God promised eternall life before the world began Titus 1.2 Ergo it must needs be made to Jesus Christ our mediator before the world began Secondly if Jesus Christ was set apart from all eternity for this worke then the Covenant of grace was made with him before the world was but saith Christ I was set up from everlasting before the earth was when there was no depths before the Mountaines were fetled when he prepared the heavens when he established the clouds when he gave the Sea his decree then was I by him as one brought up with him Pro. 8.23 to the 30. now this cannot be meant of Christ as God for then who should set him up or appoint him any work then it must needs follow that it was Jesus Christ as Mediatour with whom the Covenant of grace was made for him hath God the Father sealed John 6.27 Thirdly If it was appointed before the world was that Christ should come and die for sinners then the Covenant of grace was made with him to save a certain number from all eternity but saith Peter when that Kings and Rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ it was to do what God had determined before to be done Acts 4.26 27 28. and you are redeemed with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lambe without spot or blemish who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world 1 Pet. 1.18 19 20. therefore the Covenant of grace was made with Jesus Christ before the world began Fourthly if God appointed Christ a time and at the fulnesse of time he came to redeem those that were under the Law that they might receive the adoption of sonnes then the Covenant of grace was made with Jesus Christ from all eternity but this first is true Gal. 4.3.4 Ergo so is the second and it further appears
did lively set forth the birth life death resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ so that that this is the last and fullest manifestation of the covenant of grace and if when the ceremoniall law was written they did as it were see the body of heaven in his clearnesse Exod. 24.10 may not we say with Stephen when all the Church Officers are set in their places now I see the heavens not only cleare but opened and Christ at the right hand of God Acts 6.5.7.55 so then preaching of the Gospel the highest and fullest manifestation of Christ in the covenant of grace which was made before the world began Titus 1.2 and saith Paul the preaching of Jesus Christ was kept secret since the world began but now is made manifest by the scriptures according to the command of God to all nations for the obedience of faith Rom. 16.25 26. But some will say when the new covenant is made the old shall vanish away Heb. 8.13 I answer it is true when Christ was sacrificed he put an end to all sacrifices and ceremonies that tipified him crucified for sins all those types and shadowes are done away it is called the first covenant and the manifesting of Christ crucified by the History of the foure Evangelists is called the new covenant see Heb. 8.7 8 9. but some will say when the new covenant is made God will write his lawes in their hearts Heb. 8.10.10.16 I answer it is not said that this shall only be done in the times after the Incarnation of Christ although grace shall more abound then before his death for as the Priestly office of Christ did shew it selfe most before his resurrection by sacrifices so from thence his propheticall office is most seen and shall be to the end of the world so that the knowledge of God now shall be as the waters that cover the Sea Isa 11.9 and from thence his Kingly authority shall be seen clearly and shall never end Luke 1.13 when all humane power is cast down Dan. 7.9 and his own Kingdome rendred up by which he rules the Heathen with a rod of iron 1 Cor. 15.24 Psal 2. in that day shall all be willing to obey him or else made to suffer his will eternally so then although more in number have the Law of God written in their hearts since the coming of Christ yet the same thing was before for saith David I have hid thy Law in my heart that I may not sin against thee the Law of God is in his heart none of his steps shall slide Psal 37.3.119.11.40.8 then the preaching of the gospell is not a new covenant but a clear manifestation of the covenant of grace made with Christ before the world began Now let us see what James Pope hath to say in his unveiling of Antichrist of these two that are called covenants Heb. 8.8 9. namely the ceremoniall law pointing at Christ to come in all those types and shadowes and now the glorious preaching of the Gospell declaring Christ to be already come and finished the work of our redemption with the differences between these covenants with uses and application of those differences to our selves and first by the way he saith to maintain something still that pointed at Christ to come when as he is already come and hath done away those things Gal. 3.24 25. must needs be Antichristian but to men of understanding rather Judaisme for Papists do not use circumcision nor sacrifices tipifying Christ to come but then by his proof he seemes to mean that the morall Law was ended at the coming of Christ being a Schoole-master to them before his coming to bring them to Christ to be justified by faith but I have proved that this morall Law of God is an eternall rule for Saints and Angels Psal 119.89.103.20 and it is still as a School-master to bring men out of liking with their corrupted estate by reason of the misery that attends them both in this world and in the world to come Then he speaks of the ends why God made these covenants which is to take people neer unto himself Exod. 9.5 6. Heb. 8.10 1 Pet. 2.9.10 I ans First if he means the ceremoniall Law and our preaching the Gospell These I have shewed to be but manifestations of the covenant of grace now in that covenant God did intend his own glory in the salvation of the elect but if he speak of that covenant of Works to Adam they were created near unto God in holinesse and righteousnesse before that covenant was made with them which should rather confirm then reconcile them to God as the Angels were that never sinned but I passe on to his differences between these two covenants which are as followeth First In regard of the time when they were made the first of them being made with Israel when God led them out of the land of Aegypt Heb. 8.9 Jer. 11.4.31 32. now these things I have answered already when I shewed the covenant of grace was made with Christ before the world was and the covenant of works to Adam as soon as crerted but if these covenants were not made before Israel went out of Aegypt how comes it to passe that all before Christ came in Adam dyed as well as we and what is become of all those holy men before his Incarnation If the covenant of grace was not then made again would Christ first pay the purchase before he make the covenant and if Adam condemn'd all mankind by his fall what held off the wrath of God all that time before the covenant of grace as he would have it was made we know the Angels that sinned were immediatly cast down then notwithstanding his cavilling the first covenant was not made at their departure out of Aegypt and if he speak of the ceremoniall law it is as old as Abell and Caine But he saith some will object that this covenant of works is the same that God made with Adam but he saith our state is different from this but I say no for while Adam stood we stood when he fell we fell with him then he saith this covenant was to take some of the lost seed of Adam near to himself and the rest were strangers to the covenant of promise Ephe. 1.12 I answer it is true of the covenant of grace and this manifestation of it was a means to bring them into that covenant But he saith some will say was it not made with Abraham Gen. 17. he answers he had the promises of both covenants and the types of both Gal. 4. and vertually he had both but I say if he mean the morall Law as a rule then it was not a covenant or if he mean the covenant of works wherein he was born all the promises are lost by Adams fall and only curses and threatnings remain in it so then he that hath a right to the covenant of grace must be freed from the covenant of works or else he cannot
Law given in the 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31. now this ceremoniall Law being in types and shadowes of Christ to come were all ended when Christ was once offered to beare the sins of many although the Priests stood daily ministring and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices but when Christ had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever sate down at the right hand of God Heb. 9.28.10 11 12. so then those sacrifices were not seales of the morall Law but of the ceremoniall which was their Gospell in dark types and shadowes shewing them Christ with whom the covenant of grace was made from all eternity and that it is so observe the morall Law was given with terrible thundrings and earthquakes that the people durst not come neare but cryed let not God speak unto us lest we dye Exod. 20.18 19. but when the ceremoniall Law was given they saw the God of Israel and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a Saphirstone and as it were the body of heaven in his clearnesse also they saw God and did eat and drink see Exodus 24.3.4.10 11. thus the Morall Law was given with darknesse and terors and this with light and comfort then the morall Law is not a covenant of grace His sixt Argument if the Law was the same covenant and the oath which God made to Isaac then it must needs be a covenant of grace but saith he God when he gave the Law made it an Argument of his love and grace to them saying if ye hearken to these judgements and do them that the Lord thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and mercy which he swore unto thy Fathers Deut. 7.12 I answer if this Law at Sinai should be the same which God swore to Isaac then the Law and Gospell would be the same thing but I need go no further then this one text to confute it where God saith if ye hearken to these judgements being the rule of their obedience then God will keep with them the covenant made with their fathers before the Law at Sinai was given this at Sinai is called judgments that is called a covenant this is called judgments in opposition to the other being an oath and promises then the copy of the morall Law given at Mount Sinai for a rule of obedience was not a covenant of grace But then saith M. Burgesse there are strong objections against these Arguments from Rom. 10. Gal. 3.18 Rom. 4.14 and it seems they are too strong for him for I heare no more of them only he saith if it should be rigidly and universally true then the Doctrine of Socinians would prevaile that there was no grace nor faith nor nothing of Christ vouchsafed to the Jewes but what necessity is there of this Christ was held out to them by the brazen Serpent John 3.14 and Moses complains for their want of faith saying they are a froward generation a people in whom there is no faith Deut. 32.20 and they were punished at Meribah because they beleeved not yea they could not enter into the promised laid because of their unbeliefe Heb. 3.19 but then I say Christ was tendred by the ceremoniall Law and faith in Christ is required from that and not from the morall Law yet I will neither exclude the Law nor Gospell nor will I divide them in the working grace in the elect for by the law we see our misery and by the Gospell our remedy and they are enemies to the truth 〈◊〉 deny either in the work of a sinners conversion but all this will not prove that the Law at Sinai was a covenant of grace But then he saith as the law worketh death so the gospell to some is the savovr of death and if Christ had not come then men had had no sin and they shall have greater judgements that despise Christ then they that despised the Law and this effect is accidentall through our corruption and then he saith that God doth not vouchsafe grace and justification in a legall way by that Law at Sinai but evangelically but I say then it was by the ceremoniall Law and not from the morall Law or at least the morall Law did shew them their misery and the ceremoniall Law shewed them Christ their only remedy then the morall Law is not a covenant of grace Thirdly He saith that the Apostle speaks these derogatory passages and they seem to be as well the ceremoniall law yet all do acknowledge here was Christ and grace held forth but by his good leave Paul was not willing to be found in his own righteousnesse which is of the law but that which is of the faith of Jesus Christ only Phil. 3.9 because that which comes only by the morall law is but our inherent righteousnesse when as the other by the gospell is not in us but in Christ and imputed to us and by this we stand just in the sight of God the one we have by the first Adam and the other we have by the second Adam then if these do but seemingly differ let the Reader judge and that other place Rom. 4.13 14. where it is said the promise to Abraham was not to him and his seed through the law but through the righteousnesse of faith for if it had been by the law the promise of Christ or the covenant of grace had been void so that here also is more then a seeming difference and so Gal. 3.18 if the inheritance were by the law it is no more of promise if grace were had at Sinai it could not be had by the covenant of grace to Abraham made by promise then are these but seeming derogatories no they are such objections that seem to be too strong for him therefore it still holds good that the morall Law at Sinai was no covenant of grace Fourthly He saith it is true that the law is a killing letter to those that take it without Christ and so is the gospell but I would know how any can take Christ from the morall law at Sinai when as he was never tendred by that law Christ only is tendred in his own covenant of grace made from all eternity and the promises in Christ are yea and amen 2 Cor. 1.19 but he saith if any had said to Moses your doctrine is but a killing letter and not a doctrine of life he would have been judged a blasphemer against the law of Moses I answer as the Law at Sinai was a rule to beleevers if any man despised this Law he dyed without mercy because by Christ it was made a rule for them to walk by and such a one shewed plainly that he was not a believer and so not in the covenant of grace confirmed before to Abraham so then the law at Sinai was a rule of life but the gospell is the chiefe instrumentall cause of life and therefore he that sins against the gospell shall have the great punishment yet all this will not make the
have it no man can be under both the covenants at once which are as contrary as life and death grace and sin the way to heaven and hell all at once but then he saith the types and promises go before the thing tipifyed and promised I grant it for God promised eternall life before the world began and the Lambe of God was tipifyed by Abels Lambe then he saith the second covenant was actually made at the death of the testator Heb. 9.16 17. but I have sufficiently proved that this was made with Christ before the world began but if any ask what benefit those had that were before this covenant was made he saith they had the efficacy of his death by faith beholding Christ in the promises before any was made but if his faith hath no better foundation it will not stand in the fiery tryall for what ground is there for faith before the covenant was made it is presumption to believe without a promise His second difference the first covenant was made with Israel after the flesh the second in relation to Christ Gal. 3.29 it seems by him that neither was made with Christ immediatly for both were made to men although one hath relation to Christ yet the foundation is men and then to Christ as the Papists themselves will be the agents to take Christ as an instrument to save them but the ceremoniall law and our preaching the Gospell serve both to shew forth the covenant made with Christ eternally they had divine ordinances Heb. 9.1 then not fleshly His third difference is in regard of the conditions of the covenants the first saith doe this and live but this I have answered already that a surety is not here denyed and there is an Evangelicalll doing the whole Law in their desire and endeavour as a rule to them in the covenant of grace already but saith he the new covenant requires nothing by way of condition of the creatures part and yet he saith the Lord will put his lawes in their mind and write them in their hearts what are those but conditions for then the covenant followes I will be their God and they shall be my people Jer. 31.33 His fourth difference the promises of the first covenant are only of temporall things Deut. 28.1.10.15 Jer. 11.5 but the promises of the new covenant are all spirituall Jer. 31.32 Heb. 8.9 10 11. but saith the Lord I have established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan and I will take you to me for a people and I will be to you a God Exod. 6.4.7 is here nothing but temporall things and saith Paul Godlinesse hath the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come 1 Tim. 4.8 and if he mean the ceremoniall law it shewed them Christ if he speak of the morall law it was not given them as a covenant but as a rule of obedience His fifth difference is between the mediators of these covenants the mediator of the first he conceives to be Moses from these scriptures Heb. 3.25 Gal. 3.19 Exod. 32.11.14 Psal 106.23 but the mediator of the new covenant between God and man is Christ Jesus Heb. 8.6 I answer if he speak of the morall law it was not given to them nor us as a covenant but as a rule of life and so they did reverence it at the hand of Moses representing Christ the only mediator for when Christ came he took the Law in his first Sermon and gave it with his own hand saying you have heard thus but I say thus yet not as a covenant but as a rule of life and if he mean the ceremonialI Law Moses did not at all mediate for it we have but one mediator the man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2.5 and Moses did no more but pray for the people as Hezekiah did for Jerusalem and as many other men may do His sixt difference is between the bloods of the covenants the first but the blood of Calves and Goates Heb. 9.19 20. and yet called the blood of the covenant Exod. 24.8 but the blood of the new covenant is the blood of Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 11.25 I answer if he mean the morall law that requires no blood at all neither to Adam when it was a covenant for he had no sin neither at Sinai for then it was but as a rule to those already in covenant and for the ceremoniall law the blood of calves and goates was no more the blood of that covenent then wine is the blood of our Sacrament for it did but signifie the blood of Christ and when Moses bids the people behold the blood of the covenant Exod. 24.8 he doth not mean the blood of calves and goates but the blood of Christ which is called the blood of the covenant see Heb. 10.29.13.20 His seventh difference is in writing the law of the covenants the first was written in tables of stone Ex. 32.15 16. but the law of the new covenant in the heart Heb. 8.10 1 Cor. 11.25 I answer as before the law that was written in tables of stone was the morall law and was not given as a covenant but as a rule of life to Israel and both the morall law and the Gospell are written with paper and ink in the bible and he that hath the law of God in his heart none of his steps shall slide Psal 37.31 when men by nature do the things of the law they shew some remainders of it in their hearts as a covenant of works Rom. 2.15 but when it is written in the heart not as a covenant but as a rule of life this is sanctification His eighth difference is in regard of the obscurity of the one and the plainnesse of the other I answer it is true the morall law was given with blacknesse and darknesse Heb. 12.18 Exod. 20.21 when as the ceremoniall law in comparison of it was as it were the body of heaven in his clearnesse Exod. 24.10 and now by preaching the Gospell we doe not only see a clearnesse of the heavens but heaven opened and Christ at the right hand of God Acts 7.56 they had but dark types and shadowes of Christ and now he hath manifested himself unto us John 14.22 in this we do not differ only he holds them to be two covenants when as it is but a more dark and a more clear manifestation of the same covenant of grace His ninth difference is about the worship that did appertain to these covenants that which did belong to the first covenant did consist of types and shadowes of good things to come Heb. 10.1 but the worship of the new covenant declares them to be already come to this let my last answer suffice His tenth difference is that the first covenant is done away that the second might be established 2 Cor. 3.11 Heb. 8.13.10.9 this I grant if he mean the dark ceremoniall law in types and shadowes of Christ this is done away that the
clear manifestation of Christ might remaine by preaching the Gospell but if he mean that the morall law that was given with blacknesse and darknesse as he saith Heb. 12.18 this I deny for it is a rule of Saints and Angels eternally Psal 109.80.103.20 so much in answer to his differences now let us see what uses he makes of these differences In the use of his first difference he saith if the first covenant was made when Israel returned out of Aegypt then all actuall sin is not against the first covenant as some think for then it should be made with all nations which he denyes from that text Psal 147.19 20. and to be made before it was and to be still in being whereas he saith it is done away I answer the first covenant being that of works was made with the whole race of mankind in Adam and while he stood all stood but when he fell all the world became guilty before God Rom. 3.19 for in Adam all dye ver 15.22 sin and death passed upon all by his sin Rom. 5.12 then the first covenant was made before Israels going out of Aegypt and all mankind are born under it and all actuall sin is against it only when it was given as a rule of life in the hand of a mediator it did more nearly concern them and not to other nations till they have it all in writing as israel had which may answer that text Psal 147.19.20 but then he denyes that all sin is done away by Christ and yet by and by he saith all those sacrifices were not sufficient to do it they must look beyond all those things to Christ and yet in his sixt difference he said the blood of calves and goates was the blood of the covenant then he saith some hold that unbelief is the only sin against the new covenant and he hath nothing to the contrary therefore I passe on to the use of his second difference where he saith if the first covenant was made with Israel after the flesh and the second with Israel after the spirit then to affirme that Infants are holy by their parents believing is to hold forth still a covenant in the flesh which he understands is to deny Christ to be come in the flesh I answer he that denyes the doctrine of Christs Apostles denyes Christ but he denyes the doctrine of Paul who saith if but one of the parents be a beleever the children are holy 1 Cor. 7.14 then in all wise mens judgment James Pope denyes Christ to be come in the flesh to this he saith we are to mind the scope of the place which was to answer a doubt to wit whether a beleeving husband might dwell with an unbelieving wife his answer is they may for else the children were unclean as under the first covenant but see how this man contradicts himself now he saith the Heathens were under the first covenant which lie denyed before from that text Psal 147.19 20. then he seems to grant it a thing out of question that if believers children dwell with their parents then they are holy but if the Anabaptists grant this why will they not baptize those that dwell with their believing parents but the truth is this when the husband was converted to the Christian faith and not the wife or the wife and not the husband and so baptized it seems this was their great question shall my children be baptized the answer is secretly implyed they may for though thy husband or thy wife be an Infidell yet being made one flesh by marriage with a Christian they are sanctified to a holy use so the children being holy by this means they are and ought to be baptized now this is not a reall holinesse but only set a part as the Elements from a common to a holy use to enjoy the ordinances of the visible Church and Ismaels posterity being out of the Church were the seed of the flesh Gal. 4.29 and those in the visible Church may be thus called holy that is taken from a common to a holy use as members of the visible Church although they have not reall holinesse and by vertue of this holinesse their children have a right to the visible ordinances in the publike worship of the Christian Church then he runs into a large degression but I do not list to follow him then he saith to hold a nation as England Scotland Germany c. to be the Church of God in covenant denyes Christ to be come in the flesh and so is Antichristian but I say again to deny Christ to be come in the flesh is Judaisme but not Antichristianisme again if Christ sent out his Apostles to teach and baptize or disciple whole nations then he that opposeth this is Antichrist for he opposeth all that is called God 2 Thes 2.4 but here this man opposeth Christ in his work to disciple and bring in nations to the Christian Church Ergo he is Antichrist the major proposition none will deny and the minor is proved in denying any nation as England and Scotland who have received the Christan faith to be the Church of God but he saith the Jewes being under the old covenant were but one Church and when the Christian Church was set up there were many Churches even in Judea 1 Thes 2.14 I answer the severall Congregations in Israel before Christ be called Congregations but being put together it is called a Congregation for both these Psal 74.2.4 and so in the new testament Churches make a Church Rev. 2.1.7 then if he oppose a nationall Church is rather Antichristian then they which plead for it against factions The use of this 3. difference if the conditions of the first covenant was do this and live then this shewes us the reason why God dealt so sharply with them in outward things when they sinned against him because it was according to the conditions of his covenant with them I answer those that are still under Adams covenant are still liable to all kind of punishments whether Jewes or Christians yet it will not follow that all who are punished in outward things are still under that covenant of works although they may and are still under the Law given at Mount Sinai yet not as a covenant but as a rule of life and for sin against it may be punished in outward things in love to reclaime them from their sinne Then he saith the people of the new covenant live to doe and not doe to live they do not act to be kept in Gods favour that so they may acknowledge to the praise of God that all is of grace election Rom. 11.5 6. and Christ dyed Heb. 2.9 and justified Titus 3.7 to believe Acts 18.27 and hope 2 Thes 2.16 and saved Ephe. 2.8.9 all of grace to the praise of the glory of his grace Ephe. 1.6 all these I grant are of grace but to say we may not act to be kept in Gods favor is not at all
ours Heb. 7.22 by this key of faith we fetch daily new grace out of his treasury of grace to sanctifie us more and more till at last we have our full measure according to the gift of Christ Thus I have shewed with whom the two covenants were made the covenant of works with Adam a meer man but the covenant of grace with Jesus Christ both God and man and also the time when they were made one with Adam as soon as created but the other with Jesus Christ from all eternity also I have shewed how all men enter into these two covenants first all men enter into Adams covenant by nature but the Elect only enter into Christs covenant by grace also I have shewed how that Adam by his breach of covenant defil'd all his posterity and also brought guilt upon them for it but Jesus Christ sanctifies by the holinesse of his nature all in his covenant and acquits them and justifies them from all their guilt by his active and passive obedience fulfilling the covenant of works perfectly now if all the whole race of mankind be contained in one of these two covenants then it must needs follow that God never made any other but these two touching the eternall estate of mankind but I have proved that all men by nature enter into Adams covenant save Jesus Christ that did not come into the world by the ordinary course of nature and so they all continue till Jesus Christ free them from that covenant of works and so state them in the covenant of grace therefore God never made any other covenant touching the eternall estate of mankind but these two Now some will object and say God made a covenant with Abraham Gen. 17. and another with Israel at their return out of Aegypt Jer. 11.3 4. Deut. 4.13 and a third or new covenant at the death of Christ the testator Heb. 8.8.10 and some deny the covenant of works with Adam in the time of his creation and the covenant of grace with Jesus Christ made from all eternity affirming there was no covenant made with man before Israels return from Aegypt and this they call the covenant of works and no covenant of grace made before the death of Christ and this they call the covenant of grace now when I have answered these objections I hope I shall give some satisfaction to those that are troubled with so many severall opinions touching the covenant of grace and the covenant of works made with the two Adams representing all mankind For answer to the first objection if God made a covenant with Abraham and that also a covenant of grace then it will follow that God made two covenants of grace and then we must have two redeemers and if one of them was made to Abraham this is to make him who saith he is but dust and ashes Gen. 18. to be one of those redeemers or saviours who was but a poor creature himself but they will say to Abraham and Christ were the promises made Gal. 3.16 I answer as one King makes a league or covenant with another by an Embassadour so Abraham represented Christ for the promise of eternall life was made before the world began Titus 12. therefore before Abraham had his being or it may be answered thus Abraham received the sign or token of this covenant Gen. 17.10 11. when as the covenant it selfe was made with Christ from all eternity and those elect that fall in every age of the world since Adams fall God hath been in Christ not in Abraham reconciling them to himself 2 Cor. 5.19 20. and if Abraham should stand for all the Elect to receive a covenant for them then he should stand for them with an Image also without sin to answer for their lost Image by Adam but this he could not do because he was desiled with sin as other men then the covenant of grace was not made with him but with Christ who took upon him our nature and our infirmities and yet without sin Heb. 4.15 so then Abraham received circumcision the token of the covenant but himselfe was saved by his faith in Christ for saith Christ Abraham saw my day and was glad John 8.56 it was Christ that was given for a covenant he is the redeemer of Israel that holy one Isa 49.7 8. it was Christs righteousnesse that was imputed unto to him and received by faith when he received the sign of circumcision Rom. 4.11 and Abraham did but receive a further confirmation of the covenant of grace made with Christ before the world was by the sign of circumcision when God took in that Nation into the visible Church so much for answer to this objection Object 2. Some object and say the Law at Mount Sinai was a covenant of grace and others say it was a covenant of works but I shall prove that it was neither but only given to those that were in covenant as a rule of obedience so runs the preface I am the Lord thy God that is by the covenant of grace made with Jesus Christ and confirmed to Abraham therefore thou shalt have none other Gods but me and in all those places where doing is required it is first said I am the Lord your God therefore ye shall keep my Statutes and judgements which if a man do he shall live in them Deut. 18.2.4.5 Exod. 2.1 and saith the Lord God in the day that I chose Israel and made my selfe known to them in the land of Aegypt saying I am the Lord your God then it followes I gave them my Statutes and shewed them my Judgements which if a man do he shall even live in them Ezekell 20.5.11 Thus they were in covenant before the rule of obedience was given for the Law is not of faith but the man that doth them shall live in them Gal. 3.12 that is he that obeyeth that rule being in the new covenant by faith in Christ shall live yet not for his doing but for his believing Rev. 5.1 2. Gal. 3.26 it was given as a glasse to see their sin James 1.23 24 25. by the Law is the knowledge of sin see Rom. 3.20.7.7 it was given them as a schoolemaster to drive them to Christ Gal. 3.24 as the pursuer of blood drove the murtherer to the City of refuge Joshua 20.3 then the Law at Sinai cannot be a covenant of grace 2. If it was a covenant of grace with every particular person in Israel this were to make them all to be their own saviours and redeemers but this cannot be for with many of them God was displeased and their carkases fell in the wildernesse 3. The faithfull amongst them were saved by their faith in Christ crucified which the brasen Serpent signified and they did eat the same spirituall meat with us and drink of the same spirituall drink for they drank of the rock which was Christ and those that were prophane are said to tempt Christ 1. Cor. 10.4.9 4. It is plainly said
law at Sinai to be a covenant of grace Lastly he saith we must retain that distinction of a large and a strict sence of the law but I say let him take the law at Sinai as strict or as large as he will it is not a covenant of grace and therefore cannot state a man in grace only it is given both to them and us as a rule to walk by and we ought still to obey it so far as we are able and yet not as a covenant of grace but as a rule of life In the next place I shall prove that the law at Sinai was not a covenant of works if the Lord had set them upon a covenant of works this would have disanul'd the covenant of grace given 430. years before and if salvation came by works it is no more of grace Gal. 3.17.18 Rom. 11.6 but saith Paul is the law against the promises of God God forbid Gal. 3.21 then the law at Sinai was not a covenant of workes Secondly if the law at Sinai had been a covenant of works this were to make them their own savoiurs but it was the happinesse of Israel to be saved by the Lord Deut. 33.29 then the law at Sinai was not a covenant of works Thirdly If all mankind lye dead in sin under the guilt and penalty of the covenant of works already then they are uncapable of another covenant of works but all men are dead in sins 1 Ephes 2.1 Rom. 5.12.3.19 then the law at Sinai was not given to Israel as a covenant of works but as a rule of life to them being in the covenant of grace before Fourthly If Israel was a peculiar speciall holy people to the Lord and yet born into the world dead in sin uncapable of working then this must needs be done by a covenant of grace but they were such a people Deut. 7.6 then not by working but by faith in that covenant of grace confirmed to Abraham 430. yeares before they became such a people and not by the law at Sinai Fifthly If Israel was married to the Lord as the spous to the husband and in relation of children to their father then this was done by the covenant of grace confirmed to Abraham but Israel was such a people Jer. 3.14 Isa 54.5 Hosea 2.19 20. Psal 103.13 Isa 49.15 then the law at Sinai was only a rule of life but not a covenant of works whereby to make themselves such a people Sixtly If the Lord had put them that were dead in sins and under the curse and penalty of the covenant of works already to work themselves out of that misery by doing the works of that covenant this had been no mercy at all to Israel but that law at Sinai was a great mercy to Israel he had not dealt so with any nation as to give them his lawes and Statutes Psal 147.18 19. then it was not given to them as to Adam a covenant of works but as a rule of life Now some may ask why it is so frequent in the old Testament doe this and live and if ye keep my Covenant then ye shall be a peculiar people unto me above all people Exodus 19.5.6 I answer it is no more then is said in the new Testament he that doth the will of my Father shall come to heaven and he that keepeth my Commandements hath right to the tree of life and shall enter into the holy City the doers of the Law are blessed in the deed see Mal. 7.21 Rev. 22.14 James 1.25 2. This doth not deny the doing of the law by a surety for it is not said that no other shall do it for thee but do this either thy selfe or by a surety and thou shalt live 3. There is an Evangelicall doing of the Law when with our desire and endeavour we obey the whole Law 4. We must understand it to be of those in the covenant of grace who do all in the strength of Christ and his perfect obedience to the law is imputed to them as if they had done it and they obeying the law not as a covenant of works but as a rule of life and God accepting it as done by themselves and that perfectly they that thus do the law shall live yet this doth not make the morall Law to be a covenant of Works Now some it may be will say there is more then two covenants made with mankind for saith the Lord behold the daies come that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah Jer. 31.31 then if it be a new covenant it is neither the covenant of Workes with the first Adam nor the covenant of grace with the second Adam I answer This promise is made to Israel and Judah at their return out of captivity but suppose it is meant now since the coming of Christ yet it amounts but to the same thing which is a new discovery or a larger manifestation of the covenant of grace made with Christ as mediator before the world began which was first declared to Adam immediately after his fall the seed of the woman shal break the Serpentshead Gen. 3.15 after that in processe of time Cain and Abel brought their offerings to the Lord and Abels lambe did then tipifie the true Lambe of God that taketh away the sins of the world for he was slain from the beginning of the world Rev. 13.8 John 1.29 and God accepted Abels offring Gen. 4.3 4. and God commanded Noah to take of clean beasts and foules into the Ark by seavens which was to sacrifice to the Lord and the Lord smelled a savour of rest and said in his heart I will not again ourse the ground for mans sake Gen. 7.2 3.8.20 21. now all this could not be so accepted but as they had faith in Christ the true sacrifice see their faith Heb. 11.4.7 after this when the ceremoniall Law was written through the whole book of Leviticus and from the 24. of Exodus to the 32. then they saw God and did eat and drink they saw the God of Israel with comfort and as it were the body of heaven in his clearnesse Exod. 24.10 11. that is the covenant of grace was manifested more clearly then formerly after this the Lord makes known unto them that a Virgin shall bear a son and call his name Imanuel after this unto us a child is born unto us a son is given and the government shall be on his shoulders it is so in respect of certainty Isa 17.14.9.6 for the covenant was made after the world began after this a further manifestation in Ezekiels vision where the foure estates of Christ are lively set forth his birth mean he had the face of a man 2. His life couragious he had the face of a Lyon 3. In his death sacrificed as an oxe 4. In his ascension like an Eagle Ezek. 1.4 compared with Rev. 4.7 now these are the badges or mottoes of the foure Evangelists for they
against the grace of God saith Elihu if I should give flattering titles to men my maker would soon take me away Job 33.21 and saith David if I regard iniquity in my heart God will not heare my prayer Psal 66.18 therefore one of them durst not slatter nor the other hide iniquity in his heart lest he should lose the favour of God the spouse in the Canticles having smarted for her negligence to Christ when she found him held him fast Can. 3.4 then did she not act to be kept in his favour and David prayed for it saying O visit me with that favour thou bearest unto thy people Psal 106.4 then he saith to hold forth works as the conditions of the first covenant denies Christ to be come in the flesh all this I grant and he that obeyes the Law as a covenant of works is to deny Christ but to obey the morall Law as a rule of righteousnesse doth very wel consist with the covenant of grace as many as obey this rule peace be on them and mercy Gal. 6.16 let us walk by the same rule Phil. 3.16 the tables of the covenant were in the Ark which signified Christ The use of his 4. difference if the promises of the new covenant are only spirituall then this may silence all those that walk not with them in the publike way but I deny the promises of the new covenant to be only spirituall for godlinesse hath the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come 1 Tim. 4.8 and they are to blame that will not walk with them that do obey the rule but those are not Anabaptists who despise the rule and will not admit any poore into their Congregations and receive mony for admittance to my knowledge but they have a salve for this sore they will tell you that the mony which maintains their Minister is spirituall then he is troubled that they are called Sectaries and that any should run or write to Magistrates to have them put to death for denying their authority writing stories of them in Germany as if all were such here then he falls of praising of Anabaptists in England who are in the field with their lives in their hands to maintain a lawfull Magistracy exceedingly blaming those that discover their wicked lives then he returns to his own faction calling them the people of the new covenant and tels them what they must suffer then he seems to envy our Churches happinesse and outward blessings attending it saying their Ministers are Gentlemen and must have tythes of all mens charge and labour all which brings them under the first covenant to deny Christ to be come in the flesh which is Antichristian you see his Logick and I think you will judge it not worth answering then he comforts them in the new covenant against falling away saying if God have writ his Law in their heart who shall raize it out if God have pardoned their sins who shall lay them to their charge if God will not remember them who shall call them to mind but what of this Israel had this promise made to them at the return out of captivity as well as to us Jer. 31.34.32.40 yet if he had meant that first covenant to be made to Adam and this to Christ it had been the truth for Adam brake his but Christ who is both God and Man cannot sin therefore those in his covenant although before his coming in the flesh they could not fall away yea the same person Adam although he fell from the covenant of works yet when he beleeved in the promised seed which was Christ he could not fall away then to be kept from falling is not peculiar to us but as a priviledge of all beleevers ever since the promised Messias to Adam for then by his faith he was admitted into the covenant of grace The use of his sift difference if the covenant of which Christ and not Moses is the mediator be the better covenant then to have any other mediator besides is to deny Christ to be come in the flesh and so is Antichristian I answer this is but course logick to grant that Moses is a mediator and to say he that hath any other then Christ denies his comming in the flesh and is Antichristian happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth Rom. 14.22 but I say it was not a covenant but a rule for those in covenant which Moses received for the people and in that also he did but tipify Christ who as soon as he entred into the mediatorship at least to manifest it he in his first Sermon gave them the law in his own name saying you have heard thus but I say thus Mat. 5. but then he believes so long as Christ appears risen Christ for us and continueth his mediatorship these in covenant with God shall so continue but he seems again to deny this benefit to those before his resurrection The use of his sixt difference if the blood of Christ and not the blood of beasts is the blood of the new testament then here is the priviledge of Saints the blood of the first Testament did only purify the flesh Heb. 9.13 but the blood of Christ purgeth the conscience from dead works to serve the living God Heb. 9.14 I answer from this very text where Christ took the cup and said this is my blood Mat. 26.28 meaning the wine in the cup but that wine cannot purge the conscience no more then the blood of beasts which signified the blood of Christ to come to their faith as the wine in the Sacrament signifies the blood of Christ already shed for many then he speaks highly of their priviledge so that now for the people of God to mourn for sin as under sin is sinfull but here we may see this man who would be thought to be for Christ doth flatly oppose and contradict Jesus Christ who would have us mourn for sin with this motive they are blessed that mourn for they shall be comforted Mat. 5.4 but saith this man to mourn for sin as under sin is sinfull only he hath left here a starting hole as under sin here I grant that they are not under the raigning power of sin but yet many a dear child of God hath a law in his members that leads him captive to the law of sin Rom 7.23 and so they are under sin as under a Tyrant but he saith this undervalues the blood of Christ as if it did need to be affered up yearly I answer although we are wholly justified yet we are not wholly sanctified although our sins be pardoned yet they are not fully taken away in this world then he saith to lye under the guilt of sin hinders duty I grant it but the guilt is taken away though not the being of sin and as grace growes sin dyes and he that is mortally dead is freed from sin Rom. 6.7 1 Pet. 4.1 The use of