vanquish all their Enemies for them Joh. 16. 33. Rev. 12. 11. To heal all their backslidings Hos 14. 4. To work all their works in them and for them Isa 26. 12. To give them Faith and to finish it Heb. 12. 2. To keep them faithful to the death 2 Thes 2. 3. And to secure the promised Fruit of all for them Rev. 22. 12. and therefore sufficiently able to make good Covenant-Promises to them and to fulfill Covenant-duties in them Sixthly Christs engagement to and for his people and his interest in them is another ground for the fulfilling of the Covenant Christ hath promised the Father that he will bring them all to Glory and hath undertaken all their work for them Heb. 10. 7. And he hath promised to them to make good his Covenant when he perswaded their hearts to him Heb. 8. 9 to 13. Isa 55. 11. Again his own interest in them is security enough All the fruit of his death and purchase lies in the fulfilling of the Covenant if that be broken he loseth all his hopes and Obedience he hath dyed in vain his blood and Intercession are to no purpose for herein lies all the travel of his Soul Isa 53. 10 11. In this is the enjoyment of all his delights if this Covenant be not sure then no Soul can be saved and Christ should lose those delights he had in the habitable parts of the Earth before the World was made Pro. 8. 31. Saved Souls are Christs Crown and Glory and how mangled and defective would Christs Crown be should any one Perish who are interested in this Covenant Upon this depends all Christs Mediatory Glory Joh. 17. 4 5. And should there be a failure here he would lose his expected Glory as Mediatour So that you see the fruit of his Purchase the delight of his Soul and his Eternal Glory with the Father are all wrapt up in the accomplishment of this Covenant Seventhly The Immutability of Gods Counsel and the certainty of his engagement confirmed by an Oath renders the new Covenant sure Heb. 6. 17 18. Wherein God willing more abundantly to shew to the heirs of promise the immutability of his Counsel confirm'd it by an Oath These are two immutable things Gods purpose and his engagement and because these could admit of no variation therefore the things Promised must be fulfill'd indue time Heaven and Earth shall pass away but the Counsel of God that must stand 'T is laid upon Infinite Wisdom and all things in order to the fullfiling of it are made so sure that it cannot possibly be frustrated He wants not sufficient Power and faithfulness to reach his own designs and therefore what he hath determined must come to pass and upon this purpose of God is laid his promise He having first resolved upon it is engaged to it Lastly Another reason to prove the certainty of the new Covenant is taken from the nature of the promises they are absolute 't is true there are some conditional promises as the effects of the other but the fundamental promises and those which compleat the Covenant of grace are altogether absolute 't is true also faith is a necessary qualification to interest a Person in these promises but when the Soul comes to have a propriety in them the tenure of them then is absolute Jer. 31. 33 34. Heb. 8. 9. He will put his Spirit within them and will cause them to walk in his Statutes Ezek. 36. 25 to 28. I will be a God to them and they shall be my People Jer. 32. 40. And I will make an Everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good But I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me In which you see the condition is undertaken and secured as well as the promise and things promised had it indeed depended upon conditional promises alone which doubting Souls have most in their eye then the failure of the condition would have forfeited the promises and then they had been null'd But you see the promises of the new Covenant are absolute and therefore sure to all the seed even to every one that believeth in Jesus Christ These are the grounds of hopes the believers have that the Covenant and every tittle of it shall be made good to them but that which doth meritoriously confirm it is the blood of Christ His death and suffering on which account it may be lookt on as the sealing and confirming of it and so believers may see to whom they are beholding and oblig'd for all their new-Covenant stability VSE From this grand and glorious truth The fulfilling and assurance of the new Covenant flows 1. Wonderful Comfort to all true Believers 2. Great Obligations on them to thankfulness and Obedience First This yeilds abundant Consolation to Believers on a double account 1. From the certainty 2. From the Excellency of this Covenant First From the certainty of this Covenant flows these streams of comfort First In that all occasions of Jealousie about the love of God are cut off for if the Covenant be sure then Gobs love is sure and secured from all mutability and cessation this being one great thing contained in it Jer. 31. 3. I have loved thee with an Everlasting love Gods love to his People is Eternal therefore sure He doth rest in his love to them Zeph. 3. 17. The word is Jacharish he will be silent in his love Bucer renders it Silebit cum dilecta sua He shall be silent in his Beloved that is saith he He shall cease from contending with her being wholly delighted in her But Montanus renders it in the abstract he shall be silent by reason of his love Propter dilectionem suam But Cocceius and other Interpreters render the letter Beth In He shall be silent in his love or rest in his love alluding to the wonderful excess of affection in a Person that through exceeding amorousness cannot speak or express it for a time Cocceius takes it for the pardoning of their sin and ceasing from those former stroaks of his displeasure And this I suppose may be chiefly intended here to wit The greatness of his love noâ—ed by silence and exuberant Joy with a remove of all tokens of his anger and this to be fixt and perpetual so the Apostle assures Believers that the love of God in Christ is irremoveable Rom. 8. 35. All the World cannot withdraw Christs heart from his People where he once loves he loves to the end Joh. 13. 1. This a believer may be assured of in the New Covenant that Gods love changeth not his heart is still towards his people however his dealings may be with them Secondly Then all the grounds of tormenting fear are now removed If the Covenant of grace be confirmed to believers then there 's no Just ground for them to entertain slavish fear Rom. 8. 15. For ye have not received the Spirit of Bondage again to fear
this Covenant O what manner of Love is this if duly weighed That the Son of God should come down and be made man take upon him the form of a Servant engage to the Service of the first Covenant to make good all the violated conditions thereof by his sufferings and all the precepts thereof by his Obedience That he should be made a Curse and taste of death and all to make this Covenant sure That he should shed his blood to make firm this Covenant in all the parts of it That he should come and melt himself to death that the seal might be put upon this new Covenant O what wonderful Love is this for nothing could make it sure but the Testatours blood and that he would shed his Blood to make it sure Now then there 's no greater constraints to duty than the sense of the Love of Christ 2 Cor. 5. 14. The Love of Christ constrains us Arguments of Love are irresistible it silences the Believing Soul in all his resistances When Arguments fetch'd from the Law do only drive the Soul to Duty nay sometimes bind back from duty That at such a time the sense of the Love of Christ doth draw yea post the Soul away to Obedience Draw me and we will run after thee Cant. 1. 4. that is Let out the potent influences of thy sweet Love upon me and then I will hasten after thee or further my Obedience of thee Secondly Another reason for Obedience is taken from the certain blessed Ends and Fruit of new-Covenant Obedience which is no less than Eternal Life Rom. 6. 22. All the blessings of the everlasting Covenant are ensured to such Ps 103. 17 18. The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him to such as keep his Covenant to them that remember his Commandments to do them Mercies in the way mercy in the end are all ensured to them that fear him to them that Evangelically keep his Covenant Psa 25. 10. All the paths of the Lord are Mercy and Truth unto such as keep his Covenant and his Testimonies There 's great reward in the very keeping his Commandements and reward in the latter end O what promises are entail'd to Gospel-Obedience Nay you will not only have the Fruit of your own Graces but you will have the Fruit of Christs Grace the Fruit of his Obedience and his Righteousness too Therefore O what reason have such to obey seeing the Covenant is made sure they cannot miscarry their labour shall not be lost considering the Love of God that should engage them to Obedience and the blessed Issue of it Thus much of the sixth Branch and Item of Chist's Inventory and the Riches of his Purchase CHAP. XXI The Heavenly Inheritance is the Fruit of Christ's purchase WE shall briefly add one particular more of the Purchase of Christ that is The Consummation and compleating of all the Believers happiness and comprehension of his chiefest treasure which is the purchased possession of Glory Eph. 1. 14. Vntil the Redemption of the purchased Possession unto the praise of his Glory that is unil we come to inherit this glory purchased by Christ O what a blessing is this All that have been treated of already are but little parcels of this total sum of a Believers happiness O when the whole treasury of Christ shall be opened and set forth to the view and enjoyment of saved Souls When all Christ's personal Glory as Mediator shall be discovered to them and become their Glory when all his purchased Glory for them also shall then be entred on by them all that he hath received for himself and all he hath procured for them shall all be made over to them This will be a blessed Eternity indeed when their Crowns of Massy Glory shall be set upon their heads and when they also shall be set down upon Thrones of dignity honoured with the reflections of Christs Majesty and unconceivable grandure This is a mystery indeed but a real truth to all Believers O blessed purchase indeed who can tell over this sum when the Saints shall be so enriched with the Riches of Christ cloathed with the beautiful Garments of his praise O wonderful Glory indeed Deckt with the Jewels of the Graces of his Spirit and fill'd with his holiness brim full When they shall be satiated with his pleasures but never tyred sit down at the Well head and drink full draughts of pleasure Take in their fill of the highest consolations and unknown Sweetness Love and delight from Christ O this must needs be wonderful enriching when they be ever ever ever with the Lord where no clouds can darken their sights of their blessed mansion and their blessed God where no vail can intervene between them and their Beloved Where Rust Moth Worms Time and Death can never come to wear out their enjoyments O blessed Treasure indeed Where Eternity shall be the Date Immensity the Bounds and Immutability the fixation of their happiness But so it shall be with saved Souls in Heaven when they are got through the Sea of Christ's blood to Glory O Believers Do not your hearts leap within you What no kind of affection at all to these things Is all this as a dream to you Where are your Hearts O be affected at this wonderful blessedness Christ hath procured in Heaven for you O blessed blessed Eternity where saved Souls shall wear a Crown that fadeth not away where their Garlands shall be ever fresh and green their joys ever new and their enjoyments never wearing where all their sown seed of Spiritual-Duties and Gospel-sufferings shall spring up to Glory to a full crop of blessedness to an harvest of pleasure proportionable to all the Love of God to them to the utmost measures of their Graces and acts of their Faithfulness the large extent of divine promises yea suited to the infinite deservings of Christ for his saved ones Glory as much as can be claimed This will set forth the Treasures of Christ to be boundless bottomless endless without all circumference higher then all Altitude broader than all Latitude deeper then all profunditude O treasures indeed Saints and Angels may look into them but can never see the bottom In comparison of which Riches in Heaven all the warmest Apprehensions all the sweetest tastes all the highest enjoyments of Saints here are no more than a drop to the Ocean like one ear of Corn compar'd with all the fields in the world cloath'd with fruitfulness No more then a single Dust to all the Beds of Sand in the whole Sea O what is glory Christians are these Jewels so valuable that you can bear about with you here O what a Cabinet then is Heaven O what are the Treasures laid up there O wonderful large indeed Weigh the utmost pleasures and delighting ravishing consolations that all the Believers in the World can get by this side Heaven all the graces all the Joys of all the Saints in
in Righteousness and will hold thy hand and will keep thee and give thee for a Covenant of the People for a Light of the Gentiles To open the blind eyes to bring out the Prisoners from the Prison Here 's the result of Christs Mediation in the behalf of fall'n Sinners He doth treat with the Father that he would be pleased to shew pity to fall'n man and the Father returns this Answer That he will consent to the terms of Jesus Christ for the saving of Sinners that he shall be a Covenant for the People and give out Salvation to perishing Sinners So Isa 49. 5. to the 10 vers The Persons for whom the Lord Jesus Christ mediates are Jews and Gentiles and under these are comprised all the Elect of God And the Father treats and concludes with Christ about the saving of these two Parties In an acceptable time saith he have I heard thee and I will give thee for a Covenant of the People All the Elect of God both among the Jews and Gentiles shall be called and saved by this Mediation of Jesus Christ But what are the terms upon which the Father consents to the Mediation of Christ that there shall be Peace for all that come to him First One thing concluded upon between the Father and the Son is That the Lord Jesus Christ shall make up the Breach of the first Covenant There 's a Righteous Covenant of God broken by the Sin of Adam and upon the breach of this Covenant God is bound in Justice to lay Death upon Adam Condemnation upon all fall'n Mankind Now that this Blessing may be procured which Christ mediates for the Sentence of Death is to be reversed and this cannot be till the Punishment of the broken Covenant be borne Now the Lord Jesus Christ voluntarily undertakes to do this Heb. 10. 7. Then said I Lo I come All other ways were ineffectual to make satisfaction to the Justice of God for Adam's Sin Now when no way could make up this Breach then Christ comes and consents to pay the price himself to be a Sacrifice for Sinners Lo I come to do thy Will What is the Will of God Why that Mercy and Justice be reconciled Justice was all for Punishment Justice would not be satisfied till the Penalty was executed Now Christ must come in the Sinners room and undergo the Penalty of this broken Covenant Sayes God In the day thou breakest this Covenant thou shalt dye therefore Christ must come and dye This is one of the terms If the Lord Jesus Christ will be a Substitute in the room of the Offender and undergo the Punishment then he will take off the Condemnation Rom. 8. 3. For Sin condemned Sin in the Flesh that is in the Flesh of Christ Justice must be satisfied The Law could not do this God sends his Son and he must undergo the curse Gal. 3. 13. And this the Lord Jesus Christ did consent unto Secondly Another thing required is That the Lord Jesus Christ should obey the Precepts of this Covenant perfectly in his own Person in the behalf of all his Seed That God might have no Quarrel with the Children of the Covenant Christ must dye to make up the former Breach of this Covenant He must obey to fulfill the End of the Covenant he was not only to undergo Sufferings but he was to complete all active Righteousness and this the Lord Jesus Christ consented to Hence he saith It behoveth us to fulfil all Righteousness Mat 3. 15. God sent forth his Son made of a Woman made under the Law Gal. 4. 4. The Lord Jesus Christ as Mediator becomes obliged to the preceptive Law of God and must in his own Person fulfil all the parts of this Law and must work out a perfect Holiness and Obedience that the first Covenant might be fulfilled if Salvation be obtained Thirdly Another thing which the Father and Jesus Christ agree upon about this Work of Reconciliation is That the first Covenant to all its demands being fulfilled and there being nothing now to lay in against the Believer from this Covenant that Salvation may be sure he concludes to make a new Covenant which that it may be faultless Jesus Christ should now become the Surety of another and better Covenant The first Covenant God found fault with and therefore he thinks upon a second that may be effectual to all the ends of salvation-Salvation-grace Heb. 8. 7 8. For if that first Covenant had been faultless then should no place have been sought for the second for finding fault with them he saith Behold the dayes come when I will make a new Covenant with the House of Israel and Judah As if the Lord should say to his Son The first Covenant will never answer thy Proposals to save fallen Man and that thy Seed may be blessed therefore there shall be a new Covenant drawn that shall be effectual to the ends of Salvation and thou shalt be the Head and Mediator of this Covenant this was the agreement between the Father and the Son Now Jesus Christ becomes the Angel of this Conant God agrees with Jesus Christ for fallen man Jesus Christ covenants with the Father in the behalf of all his Seed that he will bring them to Life He promises to work in them and for them all that is required to Salvation and that they shall be saved to the uttermost Heb. 7. 22 25. By so much was Jesus made a Surety of a better Testament wherefore he is able to save to the uttermost Thus he becomes an Engager to the Father in the behalf of all Believers O Friends this is a glorious Mystery I fear too few are insighted in the glorious Work of the Mediatorship of Christ The Lord Jesus Christ becomes a Surety not only to pay the Debt but to perform the Condition A Surety or a Sponsor is one that promises and undertakes in the behalf of another to fulfill what he was bound to do Tâ—us the Lord Jesus Christ hath performed this first Office of a Mediator by drawing up an Agreement between God and fallen Man by bringing the Father to terms of Reconciliation Secondly The terms being thus concluded upon the second part of this mediatory work of Christ is that he actually set about this Obedience and Suffering and make good the Agreement between the Father and himself and this he did in the fulness of time he comes and actually accomplishes all his Promises to the Father in point of Merit and Satisfaction There are two great things Jesus Christ is to do in order to the fulfilling of this Promise to the Father in behalf of his Seed First meritoriously procuring the things for them and Secondly efficaciously applying what he procures Heb. 9. 15. And for this cause he is the Mediator of the new Testament that by means of Death for the Redemption of the Transgressions that were under the first Covenant they which are called might receive the promise of eternal Inheritance
and perfume them with my Incense not the Excellency of your Duties but the Worthiness of my Intercession shall procure your needed Mercies Secondly Here 's Comfort to troubled Believers such as are in the depth of Soul-misery and cast down with the sight of their Sins guilt of their Consciences and Fears of their Condition that go mourning all the day long forget to eat their Bread feed on Worm-wood and Gall refuse with Rachel to be comforted because their first born their Comforts first Love and Holiness are not Jer. 31. 15. This is the case of some poor Souls from day to day they meet with no Consolation eat Ashes in stead of Bread and mingle their Tears with their Drink they go from Ordinance to Ordinance and their Fear come and go with them they feel little Change by all they do or enjoy their Hearts are harâ— proud vain carnal unbelieving hence they fear they are Hypocrites and shall be cast away to all Eternity Now here 's Comfort to such from Christs Intercession in Heaven he is there pleading thy cause and pressing after thy cure thou hast provoked God but he is appeasing his Wrath 1 John 2. 1. 2. Thou art angring God every day but he is always pleasing him for thee thou art making Breaches upon the Law of God and he is there closing up those Breaches by his Blood and Intercession thou art busie making wounds upon the Glory of the Father and Christ is there presenting the deep Gashes and bloody Stroaks his Justice laid upon him for those very Sins when God is resolv'd to be aveng'd for thy Backslidings Christ is then discovering his constant Obedience and upright Faithfulness for thee he pleads with the Father thus Father shall thy Anger burn for ever and thy Vengeance always wax hot against this Soul My Child Remember what I have borne for him I have already suffered for his Sin and given a plenary Satisfaction to the Demands of Justice and wilt thou charge it on him Father let his Sins be on me as David 2 Sam. 24. 17. Let thy hand I pray thee be against me these Sheep what have they done 'T is I am their Surety and in thy Account the Offender I have answered for their Offences and discharged their Debts why wilt thou pursue them in thy Anger Holy Father in Justice spare these Offenders behold them in my Blood and cloathed with my Righteousness Obedience and Suffering 't is true their Natures are vile but mine is holy and they are Members of my Flesh and of my Bones they are diseased but I have undertaken their Cure and will present them to thee without Spot and Wrinkle And this Intercession of Christ shall certainly prevail with God for thee that thy Iniquities may be pardoned and thy Sins remembred no more Heb. 8. 12. All that is promis'd in the new Covenant Christ intercedes for in Heaven for he is the Angel of the Covenant Mal. 3. 1. The Mediator of the new Covenant Heb. 9. 15. But the Forgiveness of Believers Sins is part of the new Covenant Jer. 31. 34. Mich. 7. 18. where God forgives one Sin he forgives them all Jer. 33. 8. I will cleanse them from all their Iniquities c. He will pardon not only Sins before but after Grace not only small but great Sins Psal 25. 11. Not only Sins that have been once but often committed Jer. 3. 22. Return ye back-sliding Children and I will heal your Back-slidings He doth not say once or twiee but let their Back-slidings be never so great and many upon their Return God will pardon them nay though they be as Scarlet and as red as Crimson Isa 1. 18. Object I did once hope that God had pardon'd all my Sins but now I fear it because I have back-sliden after Mercy and wallowed in Sin after washing and God threatens he will not forgive such Jer. 14. 10. chap. 5. 7. Sol. 1. The Reason why God would not pardon their Sin was not because they were too great for Pardon but because they would not return Jer. 15. 7. I will destroy my People because they return not from their Ways Jer. 23. 14. The Lord promiseth to such as have gone aside from his Ordinances even from their Youth that if they will return to him he will return to them Mal. 3. 7. Jer. 4. 1. Secondly If God will pardon all their Sins then he will pardon their Relapses after Mercy be they never so great upon their returning to him God speaks indefinitely I will cleanse them from all Iniquity Jer. 33. 8. Thirdly If God will pardon their Sins before Grace much more those after Grace if he will forgive them when Enemies then much more being reconciled the Apostle useth the same Argument Rom. 5. 8. 9. Fourthly If there be no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus then God will surely pardon all their Sins that ever they commit for there is never a Sin but will condemn the Soul if it be not pardoned but the Soul that is in Christ is never no not one Minute of time in a condemned State Rom. 8. 1. Fifthly If the Lord Jesus haâ—h satisfi'd for all the Sins of Believers then they shall furely be forgiven otherwise God would be argu'd of Injustice and Christ would shed his blood in vain but the Lord Jesus hath satisfied divine Justice to the full for the Sins of all his People Isa 53. 5. 6. The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Ransome 1 Tim. 2. 6. paid by Christ was a full and sufficient price and therefore his Satisfaction is compleat for all their Sins if this were not so he could not have cleans'd them from all Sin but he cleanseth them from all Sin 1 Joh. 1. 7. Christ could not have saved them to the uttermost that come to God by him were his Satisfaction imperfect but this he doth Heb. 7. 25. Lastly If the Lord should not pardon all the Sins of his People he would be unjust and unfaithful 1 Joh. 1. 9. but that he cannot be Zeph. 3. 5 He will not do Iniquity he is the faithful one that cannot deceive or be deceiv'd Isa 45. 21. Let God be true and every man a Lyar. Thirdly Here 's Comfort to Believers that are dejected in the sense of their strong Corruptions and unsubdued Lusts The Body of Death in some doth make them doubt the truth of Grace and fills their Lives with Bitterness and Terrours The badness of their Hearts and vileness of their Natures makes some conclude their final Ruine But here 's Comfort to such Firstly In that it hath been and is the case of the dearest Children of God their Corruptions like the Sons of Zerviah have been too hard for them Abraham accounts himself Dust and Ashes Gen. 18. 27. Job cries out I am vile Job 40. 4. David says Mine Iniquities are gone over my head as a Burden too heavy to bear Psal 38. 4. Isaiah from a reflex View of God's Glory concludes he
Inheritance in Glory Eph. 1. 14. But nothing that defileth shall enter within the Gate of the new Jerusalem Rev. 21. 27. So much for the first Head That Jesus Christ hath Purchased Holinesse We shall now enquire Secondly For whom hath the Lord Jesus Purchased Holinesse Answ For all his feed for every Soul the Father hath given him Joh. 17. 9. Christs Purchase death and Intercession is only for those the Father hath given him and every one of them for all his seed that belong to him as the second Adam And in this sense is that Scripture to be taken Rom. 5. 18. As by the offence of one Judgment came upon all Men to Condemnation even so by the Righteousnesse of one the free gift came upon all Men to Justification of life That is As death came by Adams fall to all his seed so life comes by Christ to all his seed neither can it be stretched further as the Apostle affirms 1 Joh. 5. 12. He that hath the Son hath life but he that hath not the Son hath not life Neither will any affirm that all Men are justified unto life nor any but those that believe in Christ which are his seed The Lord Jesus tells us Joh. 17. 20 'T is for all them that believe on him through his word Gal. 3. 22. That the Promise by Faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe The Apostle speaks here of a double Promise made to Abraham and through him to Believing Gentiles 1. The Promise of Righteousnesse in Justification ver 18 19. 2. The Promise of the Spirit in Sanctification ver 14. That we might receive the Promise of the Spirit through Faith and both these are made over to Believers You that come to Christ in truth and receive him into your hearts by faith and take his Yoke on your shoulders obey his Laws sincerely give up your all to him and are no more your own but though you see your want of Holinesse yet are really willing to be Holy as God is Holy submitting to all the appointments of Christ in order to it you are the seed of Christ the people to whom the Promise of Holinesse doth belong Thirdly What is the Holinesse Christ hath Purchas'd for his People Answ First The truth of Grace in opposition to Hypocrisie The Lord Jesus never shed his blood for counterfeit grace His purchas'd Treasure consists not of Counters but tryed Gold Rev. 3. 17. What he offers to Sinners that he purchased and dyed for but Christ offers tryed gold to invited Souls Any thing short of saving grace is not worth the shedding of the blood of the Son of God That which Christ Promiseth to his people is the same with that he hath purchased but he promiseth true grace Ezek. 36. 26 27. He Promiseth a new heart and a new heart is a truly sanctified heart 'T is his Spirit he will put within them and his Spirit is a Spirit of truth Joh. 14. 17. There is never a Soul whose heart is made willing to be the Lords but Jesus Christ hath purchased sincerity for him Christ never dyed for Lies and Untruths but seeming grace is a lye and not of the truth This is wonderful comfort to poor troubled Souls that are always doubting of the truth of their graces and would give a thousand Worlds to be sure that their gold is tryed gold and their graces true graces Now if ever thy Soul were brought to desire Christ in truth and to receive him with a lively Faith thou mayest be sure thy graces are true because the Lord Jesus hath purchas'd this for all Believers Now this truth of Grace consists in a through change of the Soul even of the whole Man which may be distinguished into these two parts 1. The taking away of Sin 2. The giving of Grace the delivering the Soul from the power of Satan and the reducing it under the power of God and into his Kingdom The purging the Soul from Lust and possessing it with Grace the destroying the works of the Devil and creating it the workmanship of God In freeing the Soul from the Ruling Power of sin in every part and implanting the Nature and Image of God on every Power and Faculty of it Acts 26. 18. 1 Cor. 6. 11. Tit. 2. 14 Rom. 6. 14. Secondly Perseverance in Grace Their continuance in a state of grace And the abiding of the seed of God in them 1 Joh. 3. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 't is the same word that signifies the Spirits abiding with Believers which Christ saith shall be for ever Joh. 14. 16. 1 Joh. 2. 27. This he hath Promised in the new Covenant and therefore this he hath purchased Jer. 32. 40. And therefore the sanctified are called the preserved in Jesus Christ Jude ver 1. And the Saints are said to be kept by the Power of God through faith unto Salvation 1 Pet. 1. 5. This Christ stands engaged to the Father to do Joh. 17. 12. If Jesus Christ hath not purchased perseverance in Grace to the end for all his people but leaves their continuance in the truth to their free-will then he leaves them in the same state in which they were under the first Covenant For the standing of Adam in the first Covenant was upon his own choice and will but this cannot be because Christ hath taken away the first Covenant from Believers and Established the second which makes the Commers thereunto perfect Heb. 8. 6. to 11. Chap. 10. 9 10. Thirdly Growth in Grace What he calls them to that he hath purchased for them for Christ cannot invite his people to uncertainties or disappointments what he exhorts them to he promiseth to work them to Phil. 2. 12 13. Work out your Salvation with fear and trembling For 't is God that worketh in you both to will and to do Now he bids them to grow in Grace 2 Pet. 3. 18. And this he Promiseth also Hos 14. 5. 7. I will be as a dew unto Israel and he shall grow as the Lilly and cast forth his roots as Lebanon they that dwell under his shaddow shall revive as the Corn and grow as the Vine Psa 92. 12. The Righteous shall flourish as the Palm-Tree and grow as the Cedars in Lebanon What God Promised under the new Covenant Christ hath dyed for for this Covenant is wholly Confirmed by blood by the death of the Testator Heb. 9. 14 17. Quest Then what is the reason Gods People grow no more in Grace this day Answ First All are not Israel that are of Israel Many passe for Saints in the Judgment of Men which were never sanctified in Christ Jesus nor will appear to be so in the approbation of God and therefore some in whom you see no growth are no contradiction to this truth at all they being none of the seed of Christ Secondly The Lords Trees as well as the Trees of the Wood have their growing times The Winter is no time to
This Child-like zeal in Craesus dumb Son open'd his mouth when his Father was in danger to be slain Fifthly A fiducial dependence on his care and faithfulness Psa 23. 1. The Lord is my shepheard I shall not want Rom. 8. 32. 1 Pet. 5. 7. Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you This was the Child-like confidence of Job in his God Job 13. 15. Though he slay me yet will I trust in him This dependence on the Fathers care quieted Musculus when he was forc'd to labour in the Town Ditch for his Maintenance Est deus in Coelis qui providus omnia curat Credentes nunquam deseruisse potest Mat. 6. 32. Your Heavenly Father knows you have need of all these things Sixthly Humble Submission to him Heb. 12. 9. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of Spirits and live 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word notes an orderly subjection according to that order and place in which God hath set a Man that subjection that is in an Inferiour to a Superiour The same word is used of Christ Luke 2. 51. And he went down with them to Nazareth and was subject to them that is submitted himself to that place duty he owed to them as his Parents Seventhly A carefulness to please him Isa 56. 4. That chuse the things that please me to them will I give within my house a place and a Name better than of Sons and Daughters That is such will I own for my Family my Sons and Daughters that chuse the things that please me So did the Lord Jesus evidence his filial duty to his Father Joh. 8. 29. I do alway the things that please him 1 Joh. 3. 22. Eighthly An endeavour in all things imitable to resemble him 1 Pet. 1. 15. As he that called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of Conversation Luke 6. 36. Be ye merciful as your Father in Heaven is merciful Mat. 5. 48. Be ye perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect that is In the grace of love to Enemies Eph. 5. 1. Be ye followers of of God as dear Children Ninthly A labouring to walk worthy of so high relation and nearness unto God 1 Thes 2. 12. That you walk would worthy of God who hath called you to his Kingdom and Glory Worthy of so high a Calling like the Children of a King like Gideons Brethren who all resembled the Children of a King Judges 8. 18. Your duty is to live above the Children of this World who only are wise in their generation Luke 16. 8. But be ye wise in the things of God evidencâ— your highest wisdom to be in keeping â—he Law of the Lord Deut. 4. 6. Live like them that are Adopted Heirs of a Kingdom even the Heavenly Kingdom that fadeth not away O live above the snares and fears of this world Lastly A maintaining a real Love to your Brethren and an endeavour to live peaceably with them 1 Pet. 3. 8. Love as Brethren be pitiful be courteous c. 1 Joh. 5. 1. Every one also that loves him that begetteth loveth him also that is begotten 1 Joh. 3. 11. Gen. 13. 8. Let there be no strife I pray thee between me and thee between my Herdsmen and thy Herdsmen for we be Brethren Chap. 45. 24. See that you fall not out by the way 2 Cor. 13. 11. VSE Thus you see what a glorious Treasure Adoption-grace is view over this Inventory Believer and tell me what thou thinkest of it Is it not a Treasure indeed which all the Gold of Ophiâ— cannot equallize Nor all the glory of the World worthy to be compared with And see all this procured by the Sweat and Blood the Obedience and Death of the Son of God and then say whether Christ be not precious indeed Look upon the Children of this World in all their Glory view their priviledges in their utmost latitude and extent and answer me whether a Believer in rags doth not far surpass them Christ speaks of Solomon that he in all his Glory was not to be compared to one Lilly in the Field So one Saint and Child of God infinitely excels the Great men of this World in all their Grandure and Advancements O then admire the Lord Jesus on this account also for procuring adoption-Adoption-grace 1. Quest But how may I know whether I have obtained this adoption-Adoption-grace Answ This is a point worth the enquiring into and satisfaction in so fundamental a point is very necessary But 't is the Office of Gods Spirit to seal us up to the day of Redemption and bear witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God Rom. 8. 16. Men may lay down marks but 't is God must determine the Quest yet notwithstanding for thy resolution Believer consider First Such are partakers of the Divine Nature and are really Sons as well as Relatively 2 Pet. 1. 4. They have the Image of God instampt upon their Souls They have the seed of Holiness Faith Love Hope Patience and Humility in them 1 Joh. 3. 9. Rom. 8. 29. And they have received of his fulness Grace for Grace Joh. 1. 16. Secondly Such prize nothing in all the world like to Relation to God Ps 73. 25. 1 Joh. 3. 1. Behold what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed on us that we should be called the Sons of God Thirdly Christ is exceeding precious to such in whom they are chosen and by whom this Grace comes 1 Pet. 2. 7. To you that believe he is precious None in Heaven or Earth that they value like to Christ they account all things but dross and dung in comparison of Christs excellency Phil. 3. 8. Fourthly Such will employ their greatest care to imitate God Eph. 5. 1. 1 Joh. 3. 22. Fifthly such have a Spirit of prayer and supplication Rom. 8. 15 16. Gal. 4. 6. Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father Not Parts not Light not the gifts of Prayer only but such a Soul hath the Spirit of Prayer very strong strains of Faith and Love run through all his Duties He hath a Spirit of boldness whereby he comes to God as to a Father O how earnest and unwearied are his breathings after God what wrestlings with God in secret hath he what pourings out of strong cries to him as Christ did in the days of his Flesh Heb. 5. 7. O the struglings O the wrestlings O the ardent breathings of such for the pardon of their sins for the mortifying of their lusts and for the reviving of their graces Now where the Spirit of Adoption is there is the state Sixthly Such are enabled to bear and profit by affliction Heb. 12. 7. If you endure chastening God dealeth with you as with Sons Lastly Such have endeared affections to the people of God 1 Joh. 3. 14. We know we have passed from Death to Life because we love the Brethren 2. Quest What must
we do to obtain this Adoption-grace Answ This is an act of Sovereign pleasure and Free-grace Rom. 9. 15 16 18. It cannot be purchased by any thing in or done by the Creature You cannot with Simon Magus buy this Relation Act. 8. 18 19. yet there are some ways in which Adoption grace may be obtained as First Get your Souls separated from sin 2 Cor. 6. 17. Secondly Get justifying Faith Eph. 2. 13 19. Thirdly Beg the Spirit of Adoption Gal. 4. 6. Lastly Open the door of thy heart to the Spirit Psa 24. 7. Rev 3. 20. CHAP. XX. The Confirmation of the new Covenant is the Fruit of Christ's purchase prov'd by several Arguments ANother glorious Fruit of Christs blood and purchased Treasure for saved Souls is the establishment of the new Covenant to Believers and Believers in the Covenant This is the certain effect of Christ's death the making sure the Covenant to all his seed That there is no more possibility of making it void to the Heirs of promise This is the great thing undertaken in the new Covenant that it shall be sure to all the seed Rom. 4. 16. There are Eight things which secure this to Believers First This new Covenant must needs be firm and unalterable because the reason why God â—â—und fault with the old Covenant was because it was weak and could not secure those that were within it Heb. 8. 8 9. Which Covenant they brake though I was an Husband to them saith the Lord Jer. 31. 32. Now if this were the reason why God did alter the first Covenant then the new Covenant he makes in the room of it must nâ—eds be free from this Imperfection and mutability or else it would abundantly reflect on the infinite wisdom of God to make a new Covenant guilty of the same errour Secondly This was Gods design in making a new Covenant that it might be ordered in all things and sure 2 Sam. 23. 5. That it might be firm and established upon better promises Heb. 8. 6. Why are they called better promises Are there better promises than the promises of Heaven and Glory They are called better because more pure and absolute promises and because it was Gods design to make them sure Rom. 4. 16. Thirdly It is confirmed by the blood of Christ and therefore the blood of Christ is called the blood of the Covenant Mat. 26. 28. This is my blood of the new Testament 'T is the blood of the new Testament in that it seals to the fulfilling of this Covenant The death of the Testatour makes the Testament to be in full force Heb. 9. 17. That now all the Promises and Legacies are certain and cannot be disappointed to the Legatees and Heirs of Salvation Again this blood of Christ is the blood of the Covenant and confirms it in that it makes good all the conditions of it that whatever is required to make this Covenant good is undertaken by Christ in the behalf of all his feed and therefore he is called the surety of the new Covenant Heb. 7. 22. By death he hath fulfill'd the Condition of the first and undertaken for the fulfilling of this new Covenant in and by Believers Yea his obedience is for them to present them compleat to the Father notwithstanding all their failings Fourthly This new Covenant is sure to Believers because the Administation of it is in the hands of Christ Heb. 8. 6. But now he hath obtain'd a more excellent Ministery by how much he is the Mediatour of a better Covenant The whole trust about the Administration of new-Covenant-blessings is devolved on Jesus Christ and therefore he is called the Mediator and Minister of the Covenant So that the Covenant must needs be sure seeing the dispose thereof is by compact betwixt the Father and Christ deliver'd into his hand upon the account of his death Now he that is the Believers Friend Head and Husband hath all power in Heaven and Earth to make good the Covanent to them Mat. 28. 18. So that the promises of the Covenant cannot be forfeited by Believers being made over to Christ as to a Trustee for them and their Covenant state also being so surely confirm'd that they cannot fall from it Fifthly Christ's sufficiency to see new-Covenant-promises made good and new-Covenantends accomplished to them is security enough for their safety He is an alsufficient Saviour able to save to the utmost all that come to God by him Heb. 7. 25. He is able to see Gods part fulfilled having all the promises in his hand and all the things promised at his dispose and he is able to see the Believers part fulfilled also for he hath all that in him which is needful for the making of the Condition good on their part For First He hath all Wisdom in him to make them wise to Salvation Col. 2. 3. He is made of God to his people Wisdom 1 Cor. 1. 30. Appointed of God to receive Wisdom for them whatever they need to guide them in the way and fit them for Salvation Knowledge is necessary to Eternal Life Joh. 17. 3. The Image of God consists partly in it Col. 3. 11. Without it the heart is not good Prov. 19. 2. No Faith without Knowledge 2 Cor. 4. 4. No Obedience without Knowledge Psa 18. 44. This is needful to discern the wiles of Satan 2 Cor. 2. 11. The sinfulness of sin Rom. 7. 13. The preciousness of Christ 1 Pet. 2. 7. The beauty of holiness Ps 110. 3. The love of Christ that passeth knowledge Eph. 3. 19. The hope of your calling and the things freely given of God 1 Cor. 2. 12. And for this end all Wisdom is laid up in Christ to be given out to his people by his Spirit through his word hence 't is said that Believers have an Unction from the holy one to teach them all things 1 Joh. 2. 20 27. And the promise of the Spirit is made to them to lead them into all truth Joh. 16. 13. So that whatever is needful for Saints to fit them for Covenant-Duties and Mercies all this is in Christ for them and so he is able to make the Covenant good to them Secondly He hath all Grace in him that tends to the fulfilling of this Covenant in Believers and for them He hath received the Spirit without measure Joh. 3. 34. And why is this But that from his fullness Believers may receive Grace for Grace Joh. 1. 16. He is the fullness that filleth all in all Eph. 1. 23. And therefore hath promised Grace sufficient to his people in all their temptations 2 Cor. 12. 9. 1 Cor. 10. 13. under all their burdens Psa 55. 22. For all duties and undertakings Phil. 2. 12 13. Chap. 4. 13. I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me Thirdly He hath all power in Heaven and Earth put into his hand Math. 28. 18. Power to bruise Satan under his peoples feet Rom. 16. 20. To subdue Corruptions in them Mic. 7. 19. To
There 's no cause for such to fear 1. That God is their Enemy being once reconciled to them in his Son he can hate them no more 2. Their sins shall never Condemn them Rom. 8. 1. 3. God will never totally leave them Heb. 13. 5. 4. They shall not wholly fall from God Jer. 32. 40. 5. They have no cause to fear the wrath to come Rom. 5. 9. Much more being justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him Thus you see all the grounds of tormenting fears are gone 'T is true a Cautelous fear and circumspection may be maintained but the workings of a Bondage-Spirit are removed Thirdly Then dejecting Conclusions from self-impotency to fulfil this Covenant and all seeming difficulties in the way are wholly Insignificant if this Covenant be confirmed by Christ to and for Believers then no insufficiency in them to make good these Covenant-Duties can render it void Because First the Certainty of this Covenant depends not on the Creatures ability but on Gods Faithfulness 't is true if this new Covenant as the first did wholly depend upon the Integrity and Faithfulness of the Soul in Covenant then indeed the enjoyment of those mercies and promises comprehended in it would be very dubious but 't is not so for God himself hath undertaken the accomplishment of it 1 Cor. 1. 8 9. Who shall also confirm you to the end that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ God is faithful by whom ye are called to the fellowship of his Son Christ Jesus our Lord. So 1 Thes 5. 23 24. So that the Saints Confirmation in holiness and preservation to glory depends on the faithfulness of God in Christ who having perswaded their hearts to embrace his call will finish Salvation-work in and for them Secondly Strength sufficient to finish their work and to obtain Salvation is ensured to them 2 Cor. 12. 9. My grace is sufficient for thee my strength is made perfect in weakness Grace in thee may fail but grace in God cannot Christ hath a stock sufficient for thee to carry thee through Temptations and to lift thee above thy Corruptions So Ezek. 36. 27. I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes The Spirit is a Fountain that will fill up your empty vessels supply all your wants and engage your hearts to keep the way of his Commandements Fourthly Then none of the well-grounded hopes of believers shall be lost Psal 119. 49. Remember thy word unto thy Servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope God will never forget to fulfil those promises which he causeth us to confide in for he is faithful who hath promised Heb. 10. 23. Rom. 5. 6. And hopâ— maketh not ashamed That is by reason of a disappointment shame usually ariseth from some frustrations of expectation but this cannot befall well-grounded hopes because they have their dependence upon the firm word of God which cannot be disappointed Fifthly Then your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord if the Covenant be confirmed then you cannot run in vain or lose any part of that work you do for God 1 Cor. 15. 58. Gal. 6. 7 8. What a man soweth that shall he reap He that soweth to the Spirit shall reap life Everlasting O Souls all your sincere duties will appear again and bring their reward with them All your pains in serving God hardships in following him dangers in owning him and industrious labours to please him shall be fully and certainly recompenc'd with a far more and exceeding Massy Crown of Glory Sixthly Then all your warrantable desires shall be satisfied in due time For this is part of the Covenant-promise Psa 37. 4. Delight thy self also in the Lord and he shall give thee the desires of thy heart Psalm 145. 16 19. All the breathings of your Souls after God and unfeigned longings for more spotless holiness more perfect victory over sin for humble submission to divine pleasure more sincerity of heart and raised capacities for service shall certainly be satisfied first or last Seventhly If the Covenant of grace be sure then nothing can make the believers state miserable indeed he may seem to be in a bad condition when under the power of temptation and corruption and pressed grievously with severe and bitter Providences and stroaks of seeming vengeance but yet his state is good who could have past a favourable interpretation on the afflictions of Job when on a dunghil and on the tryals of David when pursued by Absalom yet we find there was hony in these Rods and David could notwithstanding lye down and sleep in peace Psa 3. 5. So Josiah in an evil day when wars and frowning providences did surround him all about yet dyed in peace 2 Kings 22. 20. Lastly Then a gracious Soul is a blessed Soul both here and to all Eternity because this Covenant takes care for the good things of this â—ife and that which is to come 1 Tim. 4. 8. Godliness hath the promise of this life and that which is to come Hence the Scripture doth so often pronounce the Godly Man to be a blessed Man Psa 119. 1. Blessed are the undefiled in the way Psa 112. 2. Psa 141. 2. Thus we have now briefly toucht on some grounds of Comfort that Believers may derive from the certainty of this new Covenant we now come to consider Secondly The excellency of this Covenant which the blood of Christ so confirms to Believers this new Covenant is a choice and precious Covenant what David said of Goliah's Sword may be affirmed of this That there is none like it 1 Sam. 21. 9. This would abundantly apear could I with consistency to my design here run out at large in the demonstration of this great truth but to touch a little on some evidences of its excellency under these two general considerations 1. The things that are promised in this Covenant 2. The way appointed of God to attain them First The things stipulated in this Covenant are First Great and glorious things the products of infinite Grace and discoveries of unconceivable greatness such Promises as were never offered in any other Covenant In this Covenant God makes over himself to Believers to be their God their Sun and Shield their exceeding great reward all that he is and all that he hath to be theirs so far as they are capable to receive I will be to them a God that 's in the Covenant He whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain whom the Angels cannot define far above the searches of the most refined Spirits far beyond the knowledge of those that always dwell in his sight this invisible unknown God in this Covenant makes himself over to Believers He will be theirs for ever Heb. 8. 10. A God in the nearest Relations that Creatures are capable to approach to him in He will be a Father Husband Head to them and to every one of them in the Lord
Jesus Christ To love and delight in them to feed and cherish them to care and provide for them to dwell and abide with them to impart and Communicate of all his fullness and sweetness to them so far as it sutes with the measure of Christ and their best good Is not this a great thing indeed that God should make over himself to the Believer O glorious Covenant Again Another great and glorious thing engaged in this Covenant is That Believers shall be to him a people a peculiar people his own people his Jewel his Treasure Mal. 3. 17. They shall be the Apple of his Eye the delight of his Soul a Seal upon his Heart A people near to God Psa 148. 14. Nearer to him than all the world besides nearer than the Angels that never sinned What a wonderful thing is this They shall be dandled on his knee Lye in his Bosom sit at his Table here and sit down on Thrones in his Kingdom to all Eternity O what a wonderful Covenant is this This should fill the Believers heart brim full of Joy and Consolation Again He hath promised in this Covenant that he will write his Law in their Hearts and put his truth in their inward parts Jer. 31. 33. They shall be his Epistle known and read of all men 2 Cor. 3. 2 3. He will lead them into all truth Joh. 16. 13. He will shew them his Covenant Psa 25. 14. He will be merciful to their unrighteousnesses and remember their sins no more Heb. 8. 12. He will put his Spirit within them and cause them to walk in his ways Ezek. 36. 27. He will give them Grace and Glory and no good thing will he withold from them Psa 84. 11. He will admit them into his special presence at all times through the blood of his Son Heb. 10. 19 20. He will give them the Spirit of Adoption to cry Abba Father Rom. 8. 15. They shall be Kings and Priests to God cloathed with beautiful Garments a right noble seed all glorious within and advanc'd into intimate familiarity with God in Christ by the Spirit Rev. 1. 6. They shall be kept by his mighty power through Faith to Salvation 1 Pet. 4. 5. O are not these great things indeed for poor sinful Dust and Ashes mercy-abusing Creatures O we want Hearts to contain them and Tongues to express them Again As this Covenant is made up of great things so it contains in it all good things Jer. 32. 40. All Gods Thoughts and Resolves are to do them good all his dispensations are bringing them in good Rom. 8. 28. O what a Glorious thing is this Yea they are sutable things that are wrapt up in this Covenant Such as are sutable to their Natures sutable to their Spiritual desires sutable to their wants and sutable to their advantages The new Covenant carries nothing Hetrogeneous to the well-being of the Saints O what a wonderful thing is this Great things indeed are contain'd in this new-Covenant that tends to the infinite contentment pleasure and profit of saved Souls Surely this must needs fill Believers Joys and yield them merry days here and prepare for them Rivers of pleasure to all Eternity Secondly Consider the way which God hath appointed for the attaining those glorious things and this will advance the Believers comfort Persons may come at good things in a bad way and that would abate much of their consolation But these great and glorious things contain'd in the Covenant of Grace for Believers are gâ—ven out in a most excellent way For First It is in a way of Grace If God had given them to be bought and sold to be purchased by mans merit it would not have been so sweet But they are held out freely without money without price Isa 55. 1. It is by Grace you are saved not of your selves Eph. 2. 8. There 's nothing for man to glory in about his Salvation that is of his own Saved Souls are created to their mercies They are prepared for their mercies Rom. 9. 23. And their mercies are prepar'd for them 1 Cor. 2. 9. They are also prepar'd for their Duties in order to their mercies They are Vessels of mercy fitted and prepared for mercy and glory 2 Tim. 2. 21. Secondly It is in a self-humbling and abasing way The more the Creature is abased the more Divine Glory is exalted and the more God is all in all the more is the saved Souls Glory Comfort and Joy the more the loftiness of man is brought down the more God alone is exalted Isa 2. 17. And the more God is exalted the more Believers are pleased Now God gives out these new-new-Covenant mercies in such a way as may most abase self for he gives them out in a way of Believing and no Grace more cuts off self than Believing All boasting and Self-glorying is cut off by Believing Rom. 3. 27. Therefore God hath ordered such a way for Souls to come at new-Covenant Mercies as may cut off all Self glorying that so their comforts may rise to the greatest measure to be full Joy and Consolation to see the Creature abased and God exalted There 's nothing but Man's cursed self can indeed prove a real Enemy to his comforts A Child of God is never more filled with the pure Wine of Consolation than when he is emptied of all the Lees and Dregs of his own vain-glory Thirdly It is in a pure and clean way that God brings saved Souls to these new-new-Covenant mercies It is in a way of Holiness No uncircumcised shall pass therein It is in that way of Grace and Purity without which none shall see the Lord It is the upright pure in Heart the sincere Soul shall attain to these great and glorious things The clean Hands and the clean Heart Mat. 5. 8. Psa 140. 13. Psa 24. 4. Isa 35. 8. Fourthly It is in a sweet and pleasant way A delighful way for such are all the ways of Holiness to gracious Souls sweeter than Hony â—nd the Hony-comb They take wonderful â—leasure in Holiness Psa 119. 17. Prov. 3. 17. Legal ways were hard and troublesome ways The Yoke of the Law is a heavy Yoke Act. 15. 10. But the Yoke of Christ is an easie Yoke Mat. 11. 30. O that God should confirm such a Covenant as this that contains such glorious things and all these ensured to Believers and they led to them in such a choice way surely this must needs yield wonderful comfort and advance the Believers Joy Another improvement of this grand truth is by way of Duty There 's nothing more strengthens the Believvers Bond to Obedience than the consideration of the certainty of the new-Covenant Not to mention all those arguments that might be urged to engage Redeemed Souls to all manner of Holiness from the certainty of the Covenant I shall insist only on these two First The consideration of that Infinite Love of Christ that led him through such a costly way to make good