Just. p. 13.14 Quest. Dost thou believe that thou canst not be saved but by the Death of Jesus Christ The sick and distressed person answered yes Then let it be said unto thee go to then and whilst thy Soul abideth in thee put all thy Confidence in this Death alone place all thy Trust in no other thing commit thy self wholly to this Death cover thy self wholly with this alone cast thy self wholly on this Death wrap thy self wholly in this Death and if God would judge thee say Lord I place the Death of our Lord Jesus between me and thy Judgment and other ways I will not contend with thee And if he shall say unto thee that thou art a sinner say I place the Death of our Lord Jesus Christ between me and my sins if he should say unto thee that thou deservest Damnation say Lord I put the Death of our Lord Jesus Christ between thee and all my sins and I offer his Merits for my own which I should have and have not if he say that he is angry with thee say Lord I place the Death of our Lord Jesus Christ between me and thine Anger O Soul here 's thy Relief even in the Blood of this Covenant in Christ's Death under all thy Fears and Temptations of Satan and under the sad Accusations of thy own Conscience O! at the hour of Death how canst thou lift up thy Hands to plead thy own sincere Obedience when thou art just going to stand before the Tribunal of God thy Hands will be weak and thy Heart faint and thy Confidence will deceive thee and fail thee if thy Hope and Desire thy Faith and Dependance be on any thing else then on Christ in this Covenant but here is Succour in his Covenant here is a Salve for every Sore what tho' thou hast sinned what says God in this Covenant I will be merciful unto their unrighteousness and their sins and iniquities I will remember no more Heb. 8. If thy Conscience say thou hast backsliden from God he says I will heal all their backslidings and love them freely Hos. 14.4 If thou wants Righteousness and Strength say Christ is thy Righteousness in the Lord have I Righteousness and Strength thus there is Relief in this Covenant for poor doubting and desponding Souls in all their Troubles and Temptations APPLICATION First by way of Reprehension First THIS reproves those and may serve to convince them of their horrid Blindness and Unbelief that look on Sin as a trivial thing a small matter and so go on in a wicked and ungodly course of life who add Drunkenness to Thrist and yet say they shall have Peace O Souls do you not tremble to think of the evil of sin When you hear nothing but the Blood of the Son of God can atone for it nor satisfie God's offended Justice and injured Law do you think God will spare you pardon you while you live in your sins and make Provision for the flesh to fulfil the Lusts thereof did he not spare his own Son when he stood in our place charged with our Iniquities but let out his Wrath upon him and will he spare you that have your own sins and horrid guilt and pollution charged upon your own Souls if you refuse the Lord Jesus Christ and the Merits of his â—lood and do not fly to him cleave to him imbrace him and the tender â—f God's Grace in and by him but do neglect so great Salvation and the means of it down to Hell you will be brought every Soul of you with vengeance Nothing shews the evil of sin more than the bleeding Sides bleeding Heart and bleeding Hands and bleeding Feet of the Son of God and did he suffer thus to satisfie for our sins for your sins and shall any Soul alive think if they slight him believe not in him he shall escape Divine Wrath how can your hands be strong in any way of Wickedness whilst you look up and see Jesus Christ hang languishing on the Cross and crying out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me 2. This reproves all those and may tend to convince them of their Folâ—y and Ignorance whose hopes lies in something else and not in this Covenant Those whose hope lies in their sober and civil Lives they conclude all is well with them because they are not guilty of those immoral Impieties and greatest Wickedness which others are defiled with Alas what good will this do you when one evil Thought is a breach of that Holy Law that lays you under Wrath and the fearful Curse thereof will you trust to your honest moral Lives and sober Conversations and so slight and neglect the Grace of God offer'd by Jesus Christ in this Covenant Why Sirs do you think God sent his Son into the World if by leading a moral and sober Life Men might be saved 3. This reproves also those who mixt their own Inherent Holiness and Evangelical Obedience with Christ's Righteousness in point of Justification and Acceptation with God who make Faith in the large Extent i. e. Faith withal the Concomitants of it a Condition of Justification who distinguish between Christ doing for us as a Redeemer in the Flesh by dying and render that more extensive than what he does by the Spirit as if he was the Head of all Mankind in dying and all as so consisidered have Union with him but that many of those he dyed for shall never be saved by his Life because they do not answer the Condition of Faith and sincere Obedience intimating that Faith is not a Fruit of Christ's Death but is wrought out by the Creature through the help of the Spirit tho' we have Faith for Christ's sake for Christ's Merits in a remote sense as we have fair weather Pacifick paper p. 5. For had not Christ atoned an satisfied for sin and the breach of the Law of Works we could not have had any Blessings either temporal or spiritual but if it were only thus then the Covenant of Grace is not so well ordered and sure as we believe it is but how do they understand that Text Rom. 5.10 for if when we were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more being now reconciled we shall be saved by his Life VVere not all the Elect or all Christ dyed for vertually as in our Head reconciled to God by the Death of Christ and doth not the Apostle assure us that we shall much more be saved by Christ's Life if he reconciled us to God by his Death was not the Gift of Christ in his death for us a greater gift than the gift of the Spirit to us Did not we all rise from the dead with Christ vertually when he was raised And doth not that give us Assurance that we shall be actually quickned and raised First from a death in sin respecting our souls and also be all raised to Eternal Life and Glory at the last day respecting our
Christ stept in and undertook for us and put his Name into our Bond and Obligation Jesus Christ was made a surety of a better covenant Heb 7.22 Reverend Dr. Owen most excellently resolves this Doubt viz. Whether Christ be a Surety to God for us or of us to God and shews God needs no Surety nor is he capable of having any Surety properly so called neither do we need any on his part to confirm our Faith in him But we on all Accounts stand in need of a Surety for us or on our behalf neither without the interposition of such a Surety saith he could any Covenant between God and us be firm and stable or an everlasting covenant ordered in all things and sure Dr. Owen on the Hebr. 7.22 p. 223. God never broke at first with Man therefore needs to give us now no Surety but we broke and failed in our Covenant with him The First Adam had indeed no Surety and hence it was that he failed therefore God hath found out a way to prevent the like danger of Miscarriage on our part any more And evident it is that God entered into this Covenant with us in Christ before the World began and substituted Christ then in the Covenant our Surety and Mediator c. The Assembly in their Catechism confirm this blessed Doctrine Take their Words Quest. With whom was the Covenant of Grace made Answ. The Covenant of Grace was made with Christ the second Adam and in him with all the Elect. Thus Christ and his Seed are but one Party in the Covenant of Grace as it was primarily made between the Father and Son who was set up from everlasting as our Head And thus in Christ Grace was gave to us before the World began as the Apostle saith 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 which was given to us in Christ before the world began Christ therefore became Surety for us to make firm and sure all Covenant Blessing to us indeed if Man could not did not stand but break Covenant with God when he had no Sin no depraved Nature when he had Power to have performed his Covenant with his Maker How unlikely was it that we who are so corrupted so weak and feeble so depraved in every Faculty no Power to do that which is spiritual Good that are attended with such a Body of Sin and Death Rom. 4.24 to undertake to enter into Covenant with God any more or What Reason is there for us to think God would trust us without Security and the Suretyship of another Person whom he knew well could not fail He said That he would lose nothing that was given him none of his Sheep shall perish Joh. 10.38 and ver 28. 2. This Covenant is made upon the unchangeable Decree and Council of God and his Decrees are compared to Mountains of Brass Psal. 89.28 to the 34 My mercy will I keep with him for ever and my covenant shall stand fast with him his seed shall endure for ever c. ver 28 29. My covenant I will not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my mouth ver 34. If you can break my covenant of the day and night then may also my covenant be broken with David Jer. 33.20 21. 'T is the free Promise of God like the Covenant of Day and Night and this stands upon the Pass of God's eternal Counsel therefore 't is sure 3. 'T is confirmed by the highest Witnesses in Heaven and Earth 1. God the Father is a Witness to it himself he bore Witness to Christ in the Gospel and to every Precept and Promise therefore the Father himself which hath sent me hath born witness of me Joh. 5.37 2. The Son also though the Surety of the Covenant yet he is a Witness to this Gospel-Covenant also tho' this is not so cannot be so among Men i. e. The Surety can be no Witness but 't is otherwise here To this end was I born and to this end came I into the world that I should bear witness unto the truth Joh. 18.37 That he is a King and Head of his Church that he is Mediator and Surety that he is our Saviour and that the Covenant of Salvation is made with him and established in him This he is a Witness of and to these and other great Truths of the Covenant he was Born and came into the World to bear Witness to and he is called The Faithful and True Witness Rev. 1.5 And Jesus said Though I bear record of my self yet my record is true for I know whence I came and whither I go 3. The Holy Apostles were also Witnesses to this New Covenant touching the Truth thereof in the execution declaration and publication of it And we are witnesses of all things that he did Act. 1.39 and again they are called chosen witnesses ver 41. Whatsoever Precept or Promise is made in the Gospel or Threatning they Witnessed to the Truth thereof as well as to the sufferings and resurrection of Christ God speaking of Paul saith he shall be a witness unto me Act. 26.16 4. All those wonderful Miracles our Saviour wrought bear Witness to Christ and the Truth of the Gospel and in them the Holy Spirit is a Witness also as well as many other ways The works that I do they bear witness of me Joh. 5.36 4 thly 'T is a sure Covenant because it was confirmed by Blood even ratified and confirmed by the Blood of the Testator Jesus Christ Certainly that Covenant that is ratified by the Blood of Christ must needs be sure to all the Seed Hence we have for a Sign and Token of this Confirmation the Ordinance of the Lord's Supper This is the Blood of the New Covenant that is shed for you to make Peace for you to procure Justification Reconciliation Pardon of Sin and eternal Life for you and 't is Sealed to you by my Blood This is a Sign or Token of it as if he should so say There is no altering a Covenant that is confirmed by the death of the Testator all the Legacies bequeathed in this Covenant are sure to the Legatees as the Ordinances of Heaven by this means 5 thly The Covenant of Grace is sure and all the Blessings thereof because the Execution of Christ's last Will and Testament is put into the Hands of the Holy Spirit he is the great Executioner of this Covenant I have not time nor room to open this 6 thly The Covenant is sure by vertue of the Promise of God the Father he promised Christ That he should see his Seed This was Abraham's Title to the Blessings of the Covenant of Grace Heb. 6.13 and so to David and in them to all the true Heirs of the same Grace and Promise 't is promised by God that cannot lie to Christ and to us in him For all the Promises of God in Jesus Christ are
THE Everlasting Covenant A Sweet CORDIAL for a drooping Soul Or The Excellent Nature of the Covenant of Grace Opened IN A SERMON Preached January the 29th At the FUNERAL of Mr. Henry Forty Late Pastor of a Church of Christ at Abingdon in the County of Berks. Who Departed this Life Jan. 25th 1692 3. and was Interr'd at Southwark WHEREIN The ARGUMENTS urged to prove the Covenant of Redemption a distinct Covenant from the Covenant of Grace are Examined Weighed and found Wanting To which is added An ELEGY on the Death of the said Minister PSAL. 89.33 My Covenant I will not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my Lips By BENJAMINE KEACH Pastor of a Church of Christ Meeting at Horsly-down Southwark London Printed for H. Barnard at the Bible in the Poultrey 1693. To the Congregation at Horsly-down who were the Auditors of this Sermon the Author wishes all the Blessings of the Everlasting Covenant even the sure Mercies of David Beloved THE Subject treated on in this ensuing Discourse is of the highest Concernment and tho' the Substance of what is herein contained you have heard from the Pulpit yet I am persuaded it will not be unpleasing to you to see those great Truths presented to your view from the Press Some of you know that I had not time to go through the Whole of my Work the first time therefore I insisted again on it the Lord's Day following and yet some Things I have added which was at neither of those seasons delivered the better to perfect the Work I told you the Text was left me by our honoured Brother deceas'd on his Death-Bed this Covenant being all his Support Salvation and Consolation as it was David's both in his Life and at his Death Nothing like Experience no Doctrine like to this to die in as some of the Papists themselves have confessed Men may talk of their own Righteousness and Gospel-Holiness yet I am persuaded they will not dare to plead in Point of Justification on their Death-Beds nor in the Judgment-Day No no 't is nothing but Christ and his Righteousness his Merits can give Relief to a wounded and distressed Conscience I have endeavoured to shew That the Distinction some Men make between the Covenant of Redemption and the Covenant of Grace is without Ground being but one and the same Covenant and That the Covenant of Grace comprehendeth that between God and Christ for us as Mediator about our Redemption which was as full of Grace in the first making of it as in the Revelation and Application thereof according to what was promised thereupon 2 Tim. 1.9 Tit. 1 2. its Rise and Constitution was from Eternity tho' the Revelation and Publication was in Time Christ did not as one observes purchase a Covenant of Grace for us to enter into with God for the Covenant it self Christ and all the Grace and Glory thereof lay in the eternal Counsel of God's Will and accordingly transacted with Christ as the Representative of all the Elect. This Covenant is the only City of Refuge for a distressed Soul to fly to for Sanctuary when all the the billows and waves of Temptations run over him or Satan doth furiously assault him If We fly to this Armory We can never want Weapons to resist the Devil nor doubt of Success against him And now that it may be of Use to you all who shall read it shall be the Prayers of your unworthy Servant in the Gospel BENJAMIN KEACH THE Everlasting Covenant A Sweet CORDIAL for a drooping Soul OR The Blessed Nature of the Covenant of Grace Opened Beloved THE Solemn Occasion of this Assembly may put us all in mind of our Mortality Death is certain all must dye as the Psalmist says What Man is he that liveth and shall not see Death Can he deliver his Soul from the Hand of the Grave Psal. 89.48 Wicked Men dye so do the Godly and as do the People so do their Ministers The Fathers where are they and the Prophets do they live for ever Yet there is a vast Difference between the Death of the Ungodly and the Death of the Godly c. But to proceed the Text I am to speak to was left me by our Honoured Brother deceas'd which shews the comfortable Hopes he had in Death which is that in the 2. of Sam. 23.5 Although my House be not so with God yet he hath made with me an everlasting Covenant ordered on all things and sure for this is all my Salvation and all my Desire although he make it not to grow My Text contains some of David's dying Words or Words which he uttered upon the near approach of his Death see vers 1. Now these be the last Words of David the Son of Jesse and the Man who was raised up on high the Anointed of the God of Jacob and the sweet Psalmist of Israel Tho' it may be doubted whether these Words contained in the First verse were uttered by David or not but rather by the sacred Pen-man of this Book yet the Words following 't is evident were spoke by him verse 2. The Spirit of the Lord spake by me and his Word was in my Tongue I utter not these Words as if he should say as by my own Spirit but the Matter is dictated and given to me by God's Spirit which is the great Teacher of his Prophets and People vers 3. The God of Israel said the Rock of Israel spake to me he that ruleth over Men must be Just ruling in the Fear of God Here are laid down the Two great and principal Parts of the Duty of Kings and Supream Rulers of People and Nations Justice towards Men and Piety towards God vers 4. And he shall be as the light of the morning when the Sun riseth even a morning without Clouds as the tender Grass springing out of the Earth by clear shining after Rain These Words may be applyed to the Good and Righteous Government of any Godly King c. but chiefly no doubt they contain a Prediction of the blessed Effects of the Reign and Kingdom of the Messias of whom David but more-especially Solomon his Son and his Peaceable Kingdom was a Type or Figure of And thus I hasten in order to my Text with what speed I well could Although my House be not so with God a little first by way of Explication Although my House be not so with God how is that i. e. 'T is not as a Morning without Clouds nor as the tender Grass springing out of the Earth by clear shining after Rain for my Morning as if he should so say has been over-cast dark and dismal Clouds seem to attend my Kingdom and my Children have not hitherto been like the tender Grass springing out of the Earth by the sweet Influences of the Sun and distillation of Rain but rather like the Grass that withereth away or is cut down before its due time I have not so walked with God as his
Angels 3ly God's Divine Love Mercy and Goodness to lost Man to admiration is displayed hereby God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son c. Joh. 3.16 rather than Mankind should be utterly lost he will enter into a Covenant with his own Son and substitute him our Mediator Head and Surety to satisfie for our Sins and be made a Curse for us that so by his own Free-Grace through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ we might be reconciled justified and eternally saved i. e. by his Merits and Righteousness imputed to us there was nothing in Man to oblige God to pity him we were his Enemies when Christ died for us and he offered and propounded this glorious Contrivance of his Wisdom to his Beloved Son in the Covenant of our Peace out of his infinite Love and Goodness as seeing us fall'n and lying in our Blood it was as we were in that woeful Condition he first loved us and as the Effects of that Love entered into a Covenant with the Son for us 4thly His Divine Justice and Infinite Holiness shines forth hereby also that God might be Just and the Justifier of him that believeth in Jesus Rom. 3.26 that is that God might appear to be Just as well as Gracious true God had been just if Mankind had been left for ever under his divine Wrath and Vengeance as it is upon the fall'n Angels but then his Mercy had for ever been veiled and had never appeared to any of his Creatures and yet that Justice might not suffer the least Eclipse or lose any of its Glory Christ shall bear our Sins upon his own Body on the Tree and suffer that Wrath that Justice denounced upon the Sinner for the Breach of the Holy Law God can as soon cease to be God as cease to be Just nor could any Justice or Righteousness justifie us but that which is Pure and Spotless or without Sin Justice is not to be consider'd in God as 't is in Man who can forgive without requiring Satisfaction wherein he hath been wronged The Law was but a Transcript or written Impression of his Holy Nature and discovers what a Righteousness it is we must be found in if we are ever justified in his sight If God had not been gracious he had not accepted of a Substitute and if his Justice had not been satisfyed and his Wrath appeased he had never raised this Substitute from the dead This Crucified Redeemer saith Reverend Charnock only was able to effect this Work he was an infinite Person consisting of a divine and humane Nature the Union of the one gave Value to the Suffering of the other the Word of God was past in his threatning his Justice would demand its right of his Veracity a Sacrifice there must be to repair the Honour of God c. Justice must have Satisfaction the Sinner could not give it without Suffering eternal Punishment Christ then puts himself into our place to free us from the Arrest of Justice So that now God can pardon the Sins of Believers with the Glory of his Righteousness as well as of his Grace and legally justifie a believing Sinner without the least impeachment of his Justice 5thly God's divine Power and Omnipotence also is exalted by this Covenant in his raising up a poor fall'n and lost Creature sunk as low as Hell under the weight of fearful Guilt and Wrath lying under the powers of infernal Spirits to dwell with him in the highest Heavens for ever but God's Power doth not only appear in respect of that glorious Conquest Christ obtain'd over Sin Satan and Death at his Resurrection in the actual Execution and Accomplishment of his holy Compact with the Father without us but also in working in us by his putting forth his Almighty Power in working Faith in our Souls after the same manner that he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the Dead Eph. 1.19 20. he raised us with Christ from the Dead when Christ was rais'd vertually as he was our Head and also doth actually quickens us and raises us up by his Spirit Eph. 2.1 2. destroying those evil and vicious Habits Sin and Satan had infused into us and so bingeth us out of Darkness into Light and from the power of Satan unto God 6thly God's Veracity and Faithfulness shines forth also hereby his threatning is made good upon us in Christ's undergoing Death and the Curse due to us for our Sins as also in making good what he sware to the True David and promised to his Seed in sending of his Son when the fulness of time was come made of a Woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law Gal. 4.4 the Woman's Seed hath bruised the Head of the Serpent so much as to this But Secondly In this Covenant there is a clear Revelation or Manifestation of the Three Persons in the Deity and their Glory doth equally and joyntly shine forth every one acting a part in it under the Old Covenant there was but a dark Discovery of God personally considered tho' it was made known as soon as the Covenant of Grace was manifested to Man in the Gospel is a full Declaration of their distinct Personality the Father sending the Son as a Mediator the Son dying for our Sins and the Spirit sanctifying our Souls the Father by eternal Generation begetting the Son the Son begotten of the Father and the Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son yet all Three are but one and the same God But to proceed 1. The Glory of God the Father shines forth in the Covenant of Grace for the Father is holden forth as the Primary and efficient Cause in his Wisdom Grace and Love of our Salvation and of all those Blessings of Peace and Reconciliation we have therein All things are of God who hath reconciled us unto himself by Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 5.18 19. God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself Tho' the whole Trinity are concerned in our Salvation yet as our Protestant Writers observe each Person acts a distinct Part in it the Father chose and substituted Christ to do this glorious Work and accepted him in our stead as our Surety and Saviour God the Father prepared him a Body a Body hast thou prepared me Heb. 10.5 he sent him also into the World as our Saviour asserts many times in the Gospel Recorded by St. John the Father anointed him with the Holy Spirit above his fellows to undertake for us in this Covenant the Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to Preach the Gospel to the poor c. Luk. 4.18 the Father calls him his Servant whom he upheld and strengthened in doing that great Work and he is said to be raised up from the Dead by the Power or Glory of the Father the Father is indeed represented as the injured Person he had therefore the only Right to offer and fix on such Terms
Justice of God and which as a King he applies by his conquering of the Power of Sin and Satan Can a Man be redeemed and saved from Slavery in Turkey by a Ransome paid or laid down and yet he abides under the power of a cruel Tyrant that holds him in strong Chains and will not let him go untill the Redeemer hath subdued his merciless Master Now sinners are in Satan's Chains and Fetters and under the power of Sin and until Christ destroys and overcomes those cruel Enemies they are not redeemed this Salvation therefore in this Covenant is compleat i. e. we are not only redeemed out of the Hands of Justice and Divine Wrath but out of Satan's Hands likewise and from the power of Sin nay redeemed from a vain Conversation by Christ's Blood 1 Pet. 1.18 for as a Priest he purchased subduing and cleansing Grace for us tho' as a King he applies that Grace to us To this very purpose Christ gave himself i. e. to redeem us from all Iniquity and purify'd to himself a peculiar People zealous of good Works Tit. 2.14 Sirs assure yourselves all that Christ came to redeem shall be redeemed he cannot be said to be a Redeemer of such who never were nor shall be redeemed by him not one drop of his Blood was shed in vain he will have his whole purchase Here is Grace the Holy Spirit A broken Spirit a new Heart Justification Adoption Regeneration final Perseverance and Eternal Life and all we want is in this Covenant therefore 't is a compleat and full Salvation and so all our Salvation 4 thly This Covenant is all our Desire all our Hope and Salvation because there is no Relief no Justification no Pardon no Salvation any other ways there is no Water of Life but in this Fountain no Justification but by this Righteousness nor Riches but in this Treasury no Corn but in this Garner no Light but in this Sun of Righteousness that is given to us for a Covenant and to be a Light unto the Gentiles No pardon of sin but by this Redemption no Grace but at the Throne which God hath Erected in this Covenant No Strength but by this Arm of the Lord no Cure but by the Balsom of this Covenant and Covenant Physician no Sanctification no cleansing from Sin and Pollution but by washing in this River 5 thly This Covenant is all our Desire Hope Delight Consolation and Salvation because 't is a try'd Covenant it never failed one Man that ever laid hold of it or applyed the Blood thereof by Faith to his own Soul he that believeth on Christ builds on this precious Stone this sure Foundation shall never be ashamed nor confounded he that builds on this Covenant or doth venture his Soul thereon must be saved and ever were saved Let them be never so great sinners it will not fail them this Covenant hath provided for the chiefest of Sinners and for the weak Saints here is a Pardon for all manner of Sinners and Blasphemers against both the Father and the Son O what black what guilty what filthy and what bloody sinners have been saved by the Grace of and Blood of this Covenant Such were some of you what an abominable Such were they see 1 Cor. 6.9 10 11. 6 thly This Covenant is all a Believer's Desire Consolation and Salvation because of those glorious and mighty Gifts that are given to them in this Covenant nothing can the Holy God give which is greater for he hath given us himself and all he is and all he has as far forth as it is communicatable he gives himself to them by way of special Interest not as he was the God of the whole house of Israel in that legal Covenant made with them as they were the natural Seed of Abraham as such God gives himself and in himself his Son his Spirit his Ordinance his Ministers Paul Peter all is â—rap'd up in this Covenant Grace here and Glory hereafter all is yours â— Christ in this Covenant is yours you have God and Christ and God for â—â—er Christ for ever You shall not lose him again the Covenant is ordered in all things and sure and so are all the Gifts and Blessings thereof such that can't be lost they are even the sure Mercies of David 7 thly Because this Covenant is so comfortable in all States and Conditions a poor Child of God can be in 't is suited to relieve us under all outward afflictions Tryals and Calamities we meet with here in this World O this â—ur honoured Brother deceas'd found by sweet Experience this was all his Hope and all his Desire all his Comfort under all his former sore Sufferings when for more than Twelve Years he lay in Prison for Jesus Christ's sake and under all his late heart-breaking Sorrows and bodily Distempers that but a few were acquainted with had it not been for this Covenant he had â—ainted in his Afflictions This bore up the Spirit of poor David he found all his Relief and Support lay in this Covenant When Saul pursu'd him when his Friends forsook him and talk'd of stoning him here and in this Covenant and in his God given to him in this well ordered Covenant he comforted and encouraged himself 1 Sam. 30.6 8 thly And lastly all the Desire Hope Consolation and Salvation of a Believer lies in this Covenant because 't is so well ordered and suited for our Support and Comfort under all inward Trouble Fears Doubtings Temptations and spiritual Dissertions whatsoever No Cordial like what this Covenant hath provided for us to bear up and revive our drooping Spirits and whoever you are that under your Fears Doubtings Temptations or Despondings that seek Relief any where else will but deceive your own poor and deluded Souls will your own Righteousness chear your Spirits Dare you plead it at God's Bar Will you venture your Souls upon it Will you plead your sincere Obedience your fervent Prayers you have made the many good Sermons you have heard the many good Works and good Deeds you have done will not Satan shew you notwithstanding all your sincerity you have in your Hearts great Hypocrisie and for all your Faith and constant trusting in God you have much Unbelief and many Fears and Doubtings arising in your Spirits tho' you have prayed often and have not fainted yet with what Deadness with what Coolness with what Wanderings of Heart and Vanity of Thoughts and tho' you have done much good will not your Consciences tell you you might have done much more you gave a Shilling may be to this poor and that poor and distressed Object when may be you ought to have given a Pound O Sirs your Relief lies in Christ and in the Covenant of Grace in Christ's perfect and compleat Righteousness in his Death or you have none nor never will You must take the Directions that Anselm gave to a poor sick and tempted Soul as I find it quoted by Reverend Dr. Owen on
all Covenant Mercies be offered to you a Feast of fat Things provided for you and will you make light of this Offer and gracious tender of Salvation 2. You heart-broken Sinners be exhorted to look up to Christ behold him whom the Father hath chosen and laid help upon one mighty to save look to your Physician he is come to ease your burthened Consciences to heal your wounded Souls to pour in his Oyl and Wine he will do it all freely tho' you have no Money no Price or Mony-worth yet in this Covenant here is Wine and Milk for you also and your Souls shall live and you shall be taken into his Covenant and have Interest in the sure Mercies of David Isa. 55.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. 3. Let such be exhorted to lay to heart and repent who darken the Doctrine of God's Free-grace and eclipse the Glory of the Everlasting Covenant that turn it into a Law of conditional Obedience and mixt Works done by the Creature with Christ's Merits have they not stumbled many an honest Christian already and filled others with many Fears and Doubtings whilst they set them to seek after-Justification by their own sincere Obedience and Gospel-Holiness and join that some way or another with the Merits and Righteousness of Christ and would have them not to count their own personal Holiness as Paul did even Dung that they may be found in Christ not having their own Righteousness but the Righteousness of God which is by Faith whether their Doctrine tends most to promote true Gospel-Holiness and the Honour of God or ours will appear at the last day I hope they may mean well but may they not fear they mistake in going about to remove the Ancient Land-mark why should that glorious Doctrine of Justification that shone forth in the days of Martin Luther and has been the Ground of so many godly Christian's Hope nay Martyrs now be struck at and by which means new Animosities and Divisions are let in among God's People to the Reproach of his Holy Name and Grief of Thousands of faithful Christians 3. Consolation This may be much improved in the last place by way of Comfort and Consolation to Christians in every Condition both in Life and at the Hour of Death 1. Is the Covenant of Grace made with Christ for us and has he undertaken for our Souls as our Surety is it ordered in all things and sure Then poor doubting Soul here is a Foundation of Comfort for thee O! how doth the Love of the Father abound towards us as to enter into a Covenant for us with his own Son here 's infinite Love and Condescenâ—â—on know Christ equally engaged for all the Father gave him Care is â—â—ken for the weakest Saint as for the strongest nay Christ therefore â—â—rries his Lambs in his Arms lays them in the Bosome of his Covenant Souls â—emember God calls it his Covenant where is it called our Covenant we may break with God but he will not break with us Altho' my house be not 〈◊〉 with God yet he hath made with me an Everlasting Covenant This Covenant stands firm this Foundation of God is sure it was Eâ—tablished from all Eternity by an Eternal Act of God that cannot be Repealed Altered or Changed God is thine Christ is thine if thou hast Union with him all is thine and the Oath of God the Truth and Faithfulness of God is engaged for the making good all the Blessings that are contained in this Covenant God is thine and Christ is thine for ever Thou art given to Christ and Christ will not lose any one Soul the Father gave unto him none can pluck thee out of his hands Joh. 10.28 2 Art thou afflicted for thy sins Look into this Covenant here is a Cordial for thee His Seed also will I make to endure for ever and his Throne as the days of Heaven Ps. 89.29 If his Children forsake my Law and walk not in my Judgments v. 30. If they break my Statutes and keep not my Commandments v. 31. then will I visit their transgressions with the Rod and their iniquities with stripes v. 32. But my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulness to fail v. 33. My Covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my mouth v. 34. Is not here Relief for thee if thou art afflicted 't is a sign thou art beloved t is for thy profit than thou mayest partake of his holiness Heb. 12.10 3. Art thou backsliden from God see that in Hos. 14. I will heal their backsliding I will love them freely for mine anger is turned away from him v. 4. 4. Art thou like a dry withered Tree see his promise in this Covenant I will be a dew to Israel he shall grow as the Lilly and cast forth his root as the Lebanon they shall revive as the Corn and grow as the Vine v. 7. Tho' I walk in the midst of trouble thou wilt revive me saith David this he saw was in God's Covenant Psal. 138.7 5. Do thy sins appear grievous to thee he has as you heard promised in this Covenant to be mercifull to their unrighteousness their sins and iniquities will I remember no more Heb. 8 12. Heb. 10.17 6. But O the Power of them Soul mind his promise in this Covenant sin shall not have dominion over you because you are not under the law but under grace Rom. 6.14 7. Art thou tempted look into the Covenant there hath no temptation taken you but such that is common to man and God is faithfull who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able but will with the temptation make way to escape that ye way be able to bear it also 1 Cor. 10.13 Christ having suffered being tempted is able to succour them that are tempted Heb. 2.18 8. Art poor and afraid thou shalt want Bread either for thy Body or for thy Soul see that in Psal. 111.5 He hath given meat to them that fear him he is ever mindful of his Covenant he will abundantly bless her provision and satisfie her poor with bread Psal. 132.15 9. Art thou afraid thou shalt sometime or another depart from God or fall away from him mind his Covenant I will put my fear into their hearts and they shall not depart from me Jer. 32.40 Tho' they fall they shall not utterly be cast down for the Lord upholdeth him with his right hand Psal. 37.24 10. Dost thou fear Satan will be too hard for thee Look into this Covenont God shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly Rom. 16.20 O the Comfort this Covenant affords to us in every Condition he will give Grace and Glory and no good thing will be with-hold from them that walk uprightly Christians what remains for you to do that you may have the Comfort that is in this Covenant but to go to God by Christ your Mediator he pleads his own Merits and
Righteousness for us I took flesh O my Father I suffered death according to thy good Pleasure in their stead I gave my Soul a Ransome for them I was made a Curse for them wounded to heal their Wounds I bore their Sins and carried their Sorrows O condemn them not for their Iniquities which met in me they are my Purchase my Members I have paid their Debts and brought in everlasting Righteousness for them he is heard all ways O! pray in his Name and all your wants shall be supplyed 2. let the Fruits of God's Grace shine forth in your Lives what shall we render to God for all his Covenant-Blessings You are bought with a price and are not your own therefore glorifie God in your Body and in your Spirit which is the Lord's 1 Cor. 1.19 20. Quest. But methinks I hear some poor sinner crying out How may I come to be in this Covenant Answ. Soul it is by thy being united to Christ or by Union with him through the Spirit 't is by Faith O close with Christ cry to God for his Spirit attend on the means of Grace see if thou canst find in thy heart to love Christ to espouse him enter into an Holy Contract with him to this end he sends his Ministers O that thou didst but see the wâ—â—t of him and behold the Beauty that is in him he that has the Son has Life he is actually in this Covenant but know this is the Work of Christ 't is he must make thy heart willing and dissolve those Bonds thou hast ty'd with other Lovers Thou art not first to enter into a Covenant with God or offer thy Terms of Gospel-Faith and Holiness so as on that Condition to oblige God to enter into a Covenant with thee no Christ is first given and then God gives us to him nay himself with him Christ's Love is first set on us before we can love him and when we were in our blood not washed that was the time of his Love and then he entered into a Covenant with us Ezek. 16. Reverend Mr. Cotton saith The Lord is the first thing that he giveth by his Covenant and with himself all things else Rom 8.32 and there is the Precedency Christ is given and in him all spiritual Blessings Eph. 1.3 and this for the Order of Nature in giving in the Covenant not Obedience first nor Faith first nor any thing else first but himself Donum primum primarium and in him all his Goodness p 14. on the Covenant Art thou weary dost thou thirst art a wretched sinner then take Christ go to him and drink Thou art not O sinner first to wash thy self from thy Wickedness and get a clean heart and then come to the Fountain of Christ's Blood but as a poor vile lost sinner to come unto him believe in him that justifies the ungodly Rom. 4.5 Also 't is Christ who is thy Physician 't is he that has undertaken thy Cure and must apply the Remedy and none can do it but he and tho' thou hast no money yet this Physician is to be had and his Medicines too and all freely Isa. 55.1 2. But to close Let us reflect a little on the Deceased my Brethren whose Corps is it we are to follow to the Grave this Evening Sirs 't is the Corps of a godly Man nay a Minister an ancient Minister one who long and faithfully served Jesus Christ under many Afflictions great Tryals and Sufferings O how many of late have we lost and how few raised up in their stead the harvest is great but the labourers are few one drops here and another there some by Distempers of Body made unable to labour before death comes as it was with our honoured Brother deceased while others are taken away in their full strength have we not cause to fear what is coming on See that in Isa. 57.1 2. God calls home his Ambssadours a-pace what may we expect O look for approaching Judgments God hath given us divers ways warning before Wrath breaks out upon us the sins of the Nation are near fully ripe and the sins of God's people tend to fill up the measure But tho' we must all die as well our painful Ministers as the people yet in this Covenant death is ours 1 Cor. 3.22 't is a Blessing it is Gain the Sting is taken away by the Lord Jesus so that we ought not to mourn for our godly Friends that die as such who have no hope for the righteous in this Covenant have hope in their death This God is our God and he will be our Guide even unto death Thus is the Covenant of Grace all the Desire Hope and Consolation of Relievers both in Life and Death Our honour'd Brother is fall'n asleep in the Lord i. e. in Union with Christ and as Death has put an end to all his Sorrows so now his Spirit possesses all eternal Joy and Comfort for tho' he as well as we was attended with weakness and many Infirmities yet he could say God had made with me an everlasting Covenant ordered in all things and sure and this is all my Salvation and all my Desire altho' he makes it not to grow FINIS AN ELEGY Upon the Death of That Reverend and Faithful Minister of the Gospel M r. Henry Forty Late Pastor of a Church of Christ at Abingdon in the County of Berks who departed this Life in the 67 th Year of his Age and was Interred in Southwark Jan. 27 th 1692 3. MOurn mourn O Sion thou hast Forty lost Wave upon wave with Tempest thou art tost Our Sorrow's great and worser things draw near Sad Symptoms of most dismal Days appear Christ's blest Ambassadors are call'd away And few these things unto their hearts do lay Many we lost before for which we mourn And shall we Forty lose without a Groan Shall we not sigh for him who lately fell Or not deem him a Prince in Israel Say if you can what cause gave he to fear He was not ev'ry way a Man sincere How many years did he his Master serve And never from Christ's Truth did start or swerve Shall Envy then his Name or Glory stain Or Prejudice wound him to death again O let his Name his precious Name still live And to his Ashes no Abuses give Near Twelve long Years he did in Prison lie As Exeter can fully testifie For witnessing unto God's holy Truth Which he most dearly loved from his Youth An Instrument was he in Jesus Hand In his Converting many in this Land Nay his own Father and his Mother were Ev'n both Converted by him I do hear I think without offence I may declare Few godly Preachers gone more spotless were Or with more Clearness did the Gospel Preach And in his Life shone forth what he did teach He was no flasâ— he lik'd no upstart Strains New Schemes he loath'd which now our glory stains By the Text he left to be insisted on And opened when
he was dead and gone You may perceive on what Foundation he Did build his Hope of bless'd Felicity Altho' my house is not ev'n so with God My Heart is dead and I under the Rod Tho' Grace in me do's greatly seem to fade And many Deaths and Sorrows me invade Tho' friends seem strange and wants do theaten me And Pain and Anguish much increased be Altho' I faint for the sweet water Streams And feel not those Soul-warming Sun-like Gleams Tho' in my Father's House I can't appear To have Communion my poor Soul to chear At the bless'd Table of my dearest Lord Which formerly did so much Strength afford Tho' I sit all-alone and weep each day And nights seem grievous rest b'ing took away Altho' my Heart is alost broke with Grief Sin so abounds and Sion wants Relief Her Sorrows still abide on ev'ry hand Her Sons divided are so is the Land Sad Wars without and Wars also within Such Wars 'mongst Saints has scarcely ever been Both Earth and Heav'n too now shaken be Plain signs of some dismal Catastrophe Altho' my Faith is small and Love is cold And am distressed by what I behold And tho' the Pillars of my house do shake My Eyes grow dim and Hands grow very weak And tho' in my own self I nothing am And for my Sins God might me justly damn Yet he a Covenant hath made with me Which is Eternal cannot broken be For it is order'd well in ev'ry thing And 't is from hence my Hope and Joy do's spring Nay this is all my Hope and my Desire 'T is this that raises up my Soul yet higher And when on this I do contemplate I neither matter Mens nor Devils Hate This Covenant affords me such Relief It strengthens me and kills my unbelief I hereby see and know God is my God And tho' I for my sins do bear his Rod Yet he his Loving-kindness won't remove Altho' he doth me fatherly reprove After this sort methinks I heard him speak Whilst he was here and lay so sick and weak But now he 's gone to that sweet place of Joy Where Sin nor Sorrow shall him more annoy He fell asleep in Jesus and shall lie In his sweet Arms unto Eternity This Covenant hath set upon his Head That glorious Crown his Saviour merited A Morning without Clouds his Soul do's see Which so shall last unto Eternity Like to the Sun 's sweet shining after Rain Or like a Captive Prince turn'd home again That has in Bondage been for many year And when Christ comes his Glory will appear Which now approaches and draws very near His Body therefore tho' Intomb'd in Earth Shall quickly rise and gloriously shine forth Awake ye Virgins then and sleep no more Prepare with speed the Bridegroom 's at the door O watch look out ye little think or know What things the mighty God's about to do EPITAPH HEre Forty lies a little while asleep 'T will not be long before he shall awake Forbear therefore his Friends and do not weep For of great Glory does his Soul partake He 's gone before see you as ready be For Joy above and bless'd Felicity ADVERTISEMENT NEanomianism Unmask'd the 1 st 2 d. and 3 d. Part being an Answer to Mr. D. William's Book Entituled Gospel-Truth Stated and Vindicated by Isa. Chauncy A Rejoynder to Mr. D. William's Reply Examen Confectionis Pacificae or a friendly Examination of the Pacifick Paper by the same Author The Banquetting-House or a Feast of Fat Things Opening many Sacred Scripture Mysteries profitable for all who would attain to the saving Knowledge of Christ. By B. Keach Sold by H. Barnard at the Bible in the Poultrey The Ax laid to the Root on Mat. 3.10 in two Parts Printed for J. Harris at the Harâ—â— in the Poultrey By B. K. Reader These Errata's that have escaped the Press thou art desired to correct with thy Pen. PAge 14. line 19. blot out the. p. 14. l. 30. for he read the. for are r. is in p. 32. l. 29. for pass r. basis p. 33. l. 38. blot out not in p. 35. l. 7. for wonderment r. wonderment in p. 35. l. 30. blot out and. l. 35. for applies r. implies p. 34. l. 28. for Everlashing r. Everlasting p. 36. l. 32. for were r. be saved p. 40. l. 27. for nor r. nay in p. 42. l. 19. add hear hear and your Souls shall live hear is left out p. 40. l. 26. for silled r. filled There are also many false Pointings that greatly spoil the Sense which Reader likewise thou art desired to correct with thy Pen. These BOOKS next following are published by Benjamin Keach SInging of Psalms proved to be a Gospel Ordinance Price Bound One shilling Six pence 2. Rector Rectified and Corrected being an Answer to Mr. William Burket's Treaty of Infant Baptism Rector of Mildin in Suffolk Price Bound One Shilling 3. Answer to the Athenian Society concerning Infant Baptism 4. The Counterfeit Christian containing Two Sermons Being an Exposition of that Parabolical Text Mat. 12.43 44. When the unclean spirit is gone out c. These Four Printed and Sold by the Author at his House near Horsly-down 5. The Everlasting Covenant A Sermon Preach'd Jan. 29 th 1692 3. at the Funeral of Mr. Henry Forty Minister of the Gospel Printed for H. Barnard at the Bible in the Poultrey 6. The Ax laid to the Root 1 st Part Containing Two Sermons by way of Exposition on Matth. 3.10 Proving That God made a Two-fold Covenant with Abraham and That Circumcision doth not appertain to the Covenant of Grace but to the Legal Covenant God made with Abraham's natural Seed as such 7. The Ax laid to the Root 2 d. Part Wherein the last Arguments of Mr. John Flavell in his Reply to Mr. Philip Cary are Answered also A brief Answer to Mr. Rothwell's Book intituled Paede-Baptismus Vindicatus as to what seems most Material To which is added some Reflections by way of Reply in confutation of a New Book called Plain Scripture Proofs That John Baptist did certainly Baptise Infants as the Adult Written by one Mr. Exell Minister of the Gospel These Two Sold by John Harris at the Harrow in the Poultrey 8. The Marrow of Justification Two Sermons on Rom. 4.5 But to him that worketh not but believeth c. Printed for Dorman Newman at the King's-Arms in the Poultrey These Six last in Quarto stitched may be had all bound together and sold by John Harris and H. Barnard 9. Mystery Babylon proved to be the Present Church of Rome Together with the Time of the End Price Bound 1 s. Sold by N. Crouch and the Author 10. The Old Man's Legacy to his Daughters Wherein the Hidden Mysteries of Faith and Experience are briefly discussed and laid down In a plain and familiar Dialogue in Six several Conferences betwixt the Authors Two Daughters Elizabeth and Margaret To which is added some Choice Discoveries of the Author 's most excellent Experiences In Two Parts Written by N. T. Deceased when near Ninety Years of Age for the Private Use of his Daughters aforesaid and now made Publick at the Request of many 11. Chirurgus Marinus Or The Sea-Chirurgion Being Instructions to Junior Chirurgic Practitioners who design to serve at Sea in this Imploy In Two General Parts The First Part contains Necessary Directions how the Chirurgion should furnish himself with Medicines Instruments and Necessaries fit for that Office together with a Medicinal Catalogue and an Exemplary Invoyce The Second Part contains the Surgions Practice at Sea both Chirurgical and Physical which Practical part serves as well at Land as at Sea By John Moyle Sen. One of their Majesties Superannuated Sea Chirurgions 12. The History of Madamoiselle de St. Phale Giving a Full Account of the Miraculous Conversion of a Noble French Lady and her Daughter to the Reformed Religion With the Defeat of the Intriegues of a Jesuite their Confessor Translated out of French 13. Christ alone Exalted in Dr. Crisp's Sermons Partly confirmed in Answering Mr. Daniel William's Preface to his Gospel Truth stated by alledging Testimonies from Scripture and the Doctrine of the Church of England in the Book of Homilies establish'd by Law and other Orthodox Authorities Shewing How he had wronged as well the Truth as the said Doctor in the great Point of Justification by the Neonomian Doctrine These Four last Books are to be Sold by Henry Barnard at the Bible in the Poultrey Where is to be Sold at the same place the Book Entituled Christ made Sin Reader This Head is added it was not deliver'd in the Sermon