the Ministry will either soften or harden it will either work effectually by the Ministry of the Spirit according to the Nature of an Absolute Promise and unto such it becomes a Savour of Life unto Life or else it works only in the Letter and unto such it Kills or is a Savour of Death unto Death or an Aggravation of Death and Condemnation But all its Divine Efficacy is according to the Purpose Will and Good Pleasure of God But having occasionally spoken much before of the Absoluteness of the Covenant I shall say no more but Conclude at this Time SERMON IX Further opening the Nature of the Covenant of Peace that 't is a well-order'd Covenant a Glorious Covenant a Full Covenant a Seasonable Covenant c. ISA. Liv. x. Neither shall the Covenant of my Peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Doct. THAT there is a Covenant of Peace made or agreed on and stands firm in the behalf of all God's Elect. I am my Brethren upon the Third General Head of Discourse which is to open the Nature of the Covenant of Peace 1. I shewed you it is the Covenant of Grace And that as considered in it self 3. 〈◊〉 It is an Absolute Covenant Fourthly To proceed It is a well-order'd Covenant See 2 Sam. 23.5 Yet he hath made with me an Everlasting Covenant ordered in all things and sure c. I. This Covenant is well-ordered in all things in respect of the Revelation and Manifestation of all the Perfections and Glory of the Three Divine Persons in the Godhead 1. The Perfections Work and Glory of God the Father shines forth and is displayed in this Covenant 2. The Perfections Work and Glory of God the Son shines forth and is displayed herein also 3. The Perfections Work and Glory of God the Holy Ghost shines forth and is displayed in it likewise as hath been shewed II. This Covenant is well ordered in all Things respecting the Manifestation or Revelation of the Perfections and Glory of all the Divine Attributes of God and as they also in this Covenant appear to meet together in Sweet Harmony III. This Covenant is well ordered in all things to the utter Overthrowing Defeating and Destroying for ever the Design Devices Works and Kingdom of the Devil For to this End was the Son of God manifested IV. This Covenant is well ordered in all things to magnifie the Sanction and Honour of the Holy Law of God in that rather then the Law shall fall to the Ground or be violated or rendered contemptible in God's Saving lost Sinners the Son of God comes and takes our Nature on him and yields Perfect Obedience to it and to greaten its Glory he died the Cursed Death of the Cross to answer the Just Punishment it doth denounce upon Mankind for the Breach thereof Moreover V. This Covenant is well ordered in all things for our Good both in respect of Grace here and Glory hereafter or in respect of what by it we are delivered from and of those high Priviledges Dignities and of that Unchangeable and Eternal Honour we are raised up unto hereby But because I have lately upon another Text spoken unto these Things largely in two Sermons on the Covenant I shall not add any thing further on this Account Fifthly It is a Glorious Covenant I. It must needs be a Glorious Covenant in respect had to the Time when it was made or entered into between the Father and the Son and this was as you have heard before the World began even in Eternity 2 Tim. 1.9 Tit. 1.2 Hence Jesus Christ 't is said was a Lamb slain before the Foundation of the World Rev. 13.8 and what Pilate and the People of Israel and the Gentiles did to him was whatsoever God's Hand and his Counsel determined before to be done Act. 4.28 Certainly that Covenant that was so early even from Everlasting contrived by the Sublime Wisdom of God and entered into between such Glorious Persons as the Father and the Son must be a most Glorious Covenant and this I say in respect to the Time when and to the Persons who entred into it certainly it must be some great Thing that is contained in this Covenant that was so early and by the Eternal God concluded upon II. It must needs be a Glorious Covenant in regard that there was also a Council held about it in Eternity for it was made as the Result of a Great and Glorious Council Him being delivered by the Determinate Council and Fore-knowledge of God ye have taken and by Wicked Hands ye have Crucified and Slain The Father Son and Holy Spirit then agreed That the Second Person should assume the Nature of Man and die to make our Peace tho 't is true elsewhere it is said The Counsel of Peace was between them both viz. the Father and the Son yet since it is ascribed to God without distinction of Persons and also seeing the Holy Ghost hath his part in this Covenant to act and do in order to the actual and compleat Accomplishment of the whole Transactions agreed on in that Glorious Council I see no reason to exclude the Holy Ghost from being concerned therein Moreover let us consider the great Things Consulted about in that Glorious Council 1. It was how God might be Just or Magnifie his Justice and yet be Gracious and Magnifie his Mercy and Infinite Love and Goodness or how God might preserve his own Honour and yet become our Redeemer 2. How Sin might be punished and the Odious Nature and Infinite Evil that is in it be exposed and yet the guilty Sinner be acquitted III. It is a Glorious Covenant because in it there is a display of God's Highest and most Glorious Wisdom the Gospel contains the Manifestation of God's Hidden Wisdom and the Wisdom of God in a Mystery nay Paul calls it a Glorious Mystery To whom God would make known what is the Riches of the Glory of this Mystery There is much of the Wisdom of God seen in his Works of Creation and Providence yea and there is also great Mysteries hid in those Works of God but the Chiefest and most Glorious Wisdom of God is manifested in the Work and Covenant of Man's Redemption Without Controversie great is the Mystery of Godliness God manifested in the Flesh the Word was made Flesh. This is the Wonderment of the Holy Angels and 't is mervelous indeed how an Infinite Nature should be Personally united to a Finite Nature so as to make but one Person What Wisdom of God is here displayed O who can search out the depth of this Mystery IV. It must needs be a Glorious Covenant in respect of that display of God's Glorious Love therein God so loved the World that no Created Beings can conceive of it neither Men nor Angels And so I might speak of the Glory of his Justice Power Holiness c. which amazingly shine forth herein
He is Faithful and cannot deny i. e. He can as soon cease to be God as cease to be True and Faithful Hence all Covenant-Blessings come to be so firm and sure In hope of Eternal Life which God that cannot lie promised before the World began Besides he hath given good Security even his own Oath he hath Sworn to his Covenant by his Holiness c. 4. An Ambassador is welcome if he comes to offer Peace on easie Terms Now The Terms upon which God offers Peace you have heard are very easie true on his part our Peace was made on hard Terms it was by the Blood of his own Son Had he said you shall have Peace upon a Sacrifice of a Thousand Rams or Ten Thousand Rivers of Oyl that might seem hard or if you would Offer your First-born in Sacrifice or run your Knife into his Throat and let out his Hearts Blood you would think those hard Terms but it is not your First-born but his First-born whose Blood must be let out to make your Peace you are but to look to him trust in Christ Hear and your Souls shall live What tho Faith will launch the Plague Sore and let out all the Filth and Corruptions of your Polluted Hearts will a Man think that is a Cure on too hard Terms Sirs the Spirit will cause you to vomit up that Poyson that you have taken down But is that too hard to save the Life of your Immortal Souls Is it hard to tell a Man he must give up the Traytor he has harboured in his House If he would have the King's Pardon or possess that Peace purchased by the Blood of his own Dear Son VI. That Love and Respect People shew to an Ambassador a Prince looks upon as shewed to himself because the Ambassador represents his Person and that Contempt which is shewed to his Ambassador he takes as cast on himself So Jesus Christ takes the Honour Love and Respect which is shewed to his Faithful Ministers as if it was shewed to him and the same Dishonour done to them as if it was done to himself He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me VII An Ambassador is to do his uttermost in order to accomplish his Ambassy and to bring the King's Enemies to accept of Peace So are Christ's Ministers they are to pray to intreat to beseech Sinners to be reconciled to God We pray you in Christ's stead c. Paul besought them with Tears Faithful Ministers are willing to spend their Lives to win Souls to Christ yea to die upon the spot to save one poor Sinner Knowing the Terror of the Lord we perswade Men. Our Great Master thought not his Blood too dear to make our Peace and shall Ministers think their Strength their Lives their Blood too much that so they might see the Travel of Christ's Soul I mean Sinners reconciled unto God or Christ's Blood by Faith sprinkled on their Hearts Many like the Minister's Dignity but few like their Work and Duty My Brethren it is a great Trust that is committed to them 1. The Charge of the Souls of Men that are more worth than all the World is committed to them 2. The wonderful Worth of Gospel Verities Truth is a rich Treasure We have this Treasure in Earthen Vessels this is committed to them 3. 'T is the Ambassy of that Peace which was made by the Blood of the Son of God that is committed to them 4. The Charge of the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own Blood is committed to them VIII An Ambassador is to keep close or exactly to his Instructions or to the Words of his Commission not to add to it alter it or diminish from it on pain of incurring his Prince's highest Displeasure so must Christ's Ambassadors keep close to their Commission Add thou not to his Word least he reprove thee and thou art found a Lyar they must deliver their whole Message There is a Curse pronounced to him that adds or diminisheth 1. They must in all things exalt Jesus Christ or seek the Honour alone of their Blessed Sovereign The whole of their Work is to magnifie Christ exalt Christ To Preach Christ the Lord and themselves but Servants for Jesus sake Not magnifie the Creature nor set the Crown on the Head of the Will of Man but throw the Creature down at Christ's Feet and to Teach all Men to account all Things done by them or in them in comparison of Christ but Dung or Dogs Meat for thus did Paul 2. They are to preach nothing to be Christ's Ordinance but what he hath instituted or positively appointed in the New Testament or Word of God they must look into their Commission Matt. 28.18 19 20. IX An Ambassador if his Soveraign sees he cannot succed in his Work or that Rebels will not have Peace nor lay down their Arms whilst the White Flag of Mercy is put out he orders him to proclaim War and puts forth the Bloody Flag and nothing but War Slaughter and utter Ruine follows So when Christ sees that his Ministers cannot prevail with Rebellious Sinners but that they remain Obstinate and Obdurant rejecting Peace upon the Terms of this Covenant or will not believe to be saved but seek their Peace some other way or continue in their Sins and Unbelief he orders them to shake off the Dust of their Feet as a Witness against them and so to proclaim War and such will fall into the Hands of Divine Wrath and Vengeance and Christ will at the last Day say Bring out those mine Enemies who would not that I should Reign over them and slay them before my Face And hence Wrath came on the Jews to the uttermost And saith Paul Lo we leave you and turn to the Gentiles X. When an Ambassador is called Home it is a sign the Patience of his Prince is worn out and that he will wait on his Enemies no longer What may'st thou then think O London Tremble tremble for how many Faithful Ambassadors in thee hath God called Home very lately Thy Day of Grace thou mayest fear draws to an end XI An Ambassador must give an account of his Ambassage to his Prince So Christ likewise will call all his Ministers to give an account to him how they have succeeded in their Work they must all appear before the Judgment-Seat of Christ and happy will such be who have been Faithful in all things unto him and have won many Souls to the Lord Jesus Christ and have their Accounts to give with Joy My Brethren there are one or two Disparities concerning the Work of other Ambassadors and the Ambassadors of Christ. 1. Other Ambassadors are impowered to make Peace betwixt States and Kingdoms or betwixt one Prince and another that are at variance they are not imployed only to proclaim Peace but to make Peace but this Christ's Ambassadors are not impowered to
in him 2. To consider the Time allowed you is this present time Behold now is the accepted time behold now is the Day of Salvation 3. To consider the Danger of rejecting neglecting or refusing Peace and Salvation by Jesus Christ How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation Know O Sinners that Ministers set Life and Death before you Hear and your Souls shall live but he that Believeth not shall be Damned He that Believeth hath Everlasting Life but he that Believeth not shall not see Life but the Wrath of God abideth on him What do you say Sinners Will you strive to take hold of Jesus Christ Believe in him cry to him for Faith resolve to lay down your Arms What Answer shall I return to my Great Master Do not make a Pause but speedily come to a Resolution your Lives are uncertain Lastly This severely reproves all that cast Affronts or Contempt through Pride Envy or Prejudice upon any one of Christ's Ambasdors or that abase deride or raise up evil Reports on him Christ takes it all as done to himself also it reproves such who account them as their Brethren and shew them no more respect than to others may be not so much but slight and despise them and hardly speak Friendly to them not considering the Place and Office they are in But no more at this time SERMON VII Shewing the Nature of the Proclamation of the Gospel and the Terms thereof ISA. Liv. x. Neither shall the Covenant of my Peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Doct. THAT there is a Covenant of Peace made or agreed on and stands firm in the behalf of all God's Elect. We shewed you that this Peace is proclaimed 1. What the Proclamation is 2. Who the Ambassadors are that Christ hath appointed to proclaim it I shall now proceed to the next thing under this Head 3. I shall open the Nature of this Proclamation And then 4. Shew you the Terms upon which Peace is offered Would you know what is contained in this Proclamation First Then know it contains a clear and full Declaration of all those Covenant Transactions between the Father and the Son about the Restoration of lost Sinners before the World began the Gospel reveals those Mysteries that were hid from Ages and Generations It is called The Revelation of the Mysteries which were kept secret since the World began Not only that Mystery that the Gentiles should be Fellow Heirs of the Inheritance but the Mystery of the Covenant Purpose and Design of God and also of the Incarnation Life Death Resurrection Ascention and Intercession of Jesus Christ. I say it contains the Revelation of the Mystery of these things and not only the History of them I. It reveals that Infinite Love Mercy Grace and Goodness of God 〈◊〉 to lost and undone Sinners which astonisheth the very Angels of God to behold To make all Men see what is the Fellowship of the Mystery which from the beginning of the World hath been hid in God who created all things by Jesus Christ To the intent that now unto the Principalities and Powers in Heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold Wisdom of God The Good Angels are not Teachers of these Mysteries but Learners and Admirers of them the Gospel is to them as a Mirror or Looking-glass to behold and contemplate the Divine Wisdom of God in every appearance of it but especially in this the last and great Revelation thereof II. It reveals the great Love of God the Father In this was manifested the Love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son that we might live through him That he might die to raise us to Life to be Crown'd with Thorns that we might be Crown'd with Glory to be made a Curse for us that we might be made the Blessing of God in him there could be no higher demonstration of God's Love than this is III. It reveals the Love of Christ which hath a Breadth a Length a Depth and a Heighth in it and passeth Knowledge Is it not an amazing Declaration or Revelation of the Infinite Love of Jesus Christ our Lord Who tho he was God should condescend to die for such vile Rebels and wretched Sinners as we were Hereby perceive we the Love of God because he laid down his Life for us from that near and intimate Union between the Divine and Humane Nature in the Person of Christ Christ's Life is here called the Life of God as elsewhere his Blood is called the Blood of God God is said to purchase the Church with his own Blood IV. This Proclamation is a Declaration or a Revelation that God in Christ is reconciled to his Elect that is the Price is paid tho the Blood may not be yet sprinkled When we were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son Through the Blood of his Cross God is satisfied and his Wrath is appeased that the Atonement is madefully perfectly and for ever by one Sacrifice he hath perfected for ever them that we Sanctified V. It doth not only declare but also proclaim this Peace and Reconciliation Deliverance is proclaimed to the Captives The Lord hath Anointed me to Preach good Tydings to the Meek he hath sent me to bind up the Broken-hearted to proclaim Liberty to the Captives and the opening the Prison to them that are bound To proclaim the acceptable Year of the Lord c. or the Year of the Great Jubilee The Sinner is told his Debts are paid requiring him to believe this nay Proclamation is made of Free Pardon to all that believe That they shall not perish but have Everlasting Life and that God hath received the uttermost Farthing of our vast Debt and that Christ hath received a Discharge as our Surety for all the Elect and that he hath not done what he did in part or by halfs but that it is fully wholly and compleatly done and that for ever our Faith adding nothing to that Satisfaction The Gospel doth not proclaim a Conditional Peace or Reconciliation or that God is only reconcilable so that if the Sinner performs his part God will be fully reconciled that is if the Sinner repents believes is Regenerated or answers the Rule of the Promise as some speak I know no such Conditional Gospel or Proclamation but those Conditions which Jesus Christ was to perform which was not only to reconcile God to us but us also to God Can that be the Condition of Life on our part which Christ hath engaged in the Covenant to do viz. to bring us into a State of Peace Them I must bring Nay God hath promised to give us a new Heart and put a new Spirit into us Moreover Christ is exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour to give Repentance to Israel and Remission of Sins
II. A seasonable Covenant in respect of the Revelation or Manifestation of it even just as Adam had sinned and when Divine Justice was ready to lift up his direful Ax of Divine Vengeance How seasonable is it for a poor condemned Criminal to hear of a Pardon just when he is brought to the place of Execution and the Halter is put about his Neck or the Ax lifted up to Cut off his Head III. It is a seasonable Covenant in respect to the application of the blessings thereof to a poor Sinner 1. 'T is by the Spirit applyed when the sinner sees he is Condemned being under the sense of Sin Wrath and Condemnation beholding himself just dropping into Hell then this Covenant is opened and the blessing of free Justification and Pardon is applied 2. When the Soul and Conscience of a sinner is wounded and his wounds bleed then is the Balm of the Covenant applied to heal him 3. When the Sinner sees he is pursued by the Avenger of Blood and sees no way to escape then his Eyes are opened and he is directed to fly to the City of refuge the way being made plain and easie and the Holy Spirit directs the Soul to Christ and crys Refuge Refuge 4. When the Sinner sees he is so sick that he can't live even then the Physician provided in the Covenant comes immediately and pours in his Oyl and Wine When I passed by and saw thee polluted in thy Blood I said unto thee live Ye I sware unto thee and entred into Covenant with thee saith the Lord and thou becamest mine Eighthly It is a Sure Covenant Ordered in all things and sure Incline your ear and come unto me hear and your Souls shall live and I will make an everlasting Covenant with you even the sure mercies of David I. It is a sure Covenant because it is made with such a Surety as Jesus Christ is it is not made primarily with us but with Christ for us and with us in him the sure mercies of David That is our Lord Jesus Christ he is the true Antitipical David Sure because they are Mercies granted to us thro' Christ's suretiship and when a Sinner is brought into the bands of the Covenant God is said to make this Covenant with him i. e. he actually entering then thro' Christ into Covenant with God but our standing then in it is upon the account of Christ's Covenant with the Father for us II. It is a Sure Covenant because it stands upon the absolute purpose and unchangeable Decree and Councel of God My Mercy will I keep with him and my Covenant shall stand fast with him My Covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my mouth Hence the absolute Decrees of God are compared to mountains of Brass Zach. 6.1 Denoting how unmovable stedy and unchangable his Councels are nay Tho' the Mountains should depart and the Hills be removed yet saith the Lord my loving kindness shall not depart from thee neither shall the Covenant of my Peace be removed c. All Covenant-Mercys are according to God's Eternal purpose which be purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord The Covenant stands not only as the act of God's Eternal Wisdom but as his Eternal Decree and Purpose before all Worlds III. The Covenant of Peace is sure because it is confirmed by the witness of the Holy Ghost 1. The Spirit of God was a witness to the Covenant when it was made 2. Moreover it was confirmed in the promulgation of it by the Holy Ghost by wonderfull Miracles for what served all those Miracles more clearly for than to confirm the Authority of the Mediator and the verity and stability of the Gospel Covenant IV. Furthermore The Covenant was as you heard confirmed by the Blood of Jesus Christ therefore it is a sure Covenant V. The Covenant is sure because it is confirmed by the Promise and Oath of God Once have I sworn by my Holiness that I will not lye to David his Seed shall endure for ever and his Throne as the Sun before me This is as the waters of Noah unto me for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah shall no more go over the Earth so have I sworn that I will not be wrath with thee nor rebuke thee compared with Heb. 6.13 16 17 18. VI. It is a Sure Covenant to all Gods Elect because the Execution of it is put into Christ's own hands he is the Executioner of his own Will and Testament for tho Christ was dead yet he is alive I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive forevermore Christ sees his last Will and Testament fully executed by his Spirit Ninethly It is a Covenant of Peace this is the Name that is given to it in my Text which also shews it is of an excellent and precious nature I. 'T is a Covenant of Peace with God God is hereby reconciled to us and we to him and that for ever II. Hereby we come also to have peace in our own Souls or peace of Conscience nor indeed can we ever have true peace any other ways For can your repentance give you peace of Conscience Can Tears of Blood apease Divine Wrath or satisfy Divine Justice Can Reformation of life give you Peace or your inherent Sanctification or pious and religious duties Do you fetch your peace from thence If you do your peace will be turned into trouble and anguish of Spirit or can your lively and spiritual Frame give you true and lasting peace I affirm 't is a false peace that is simply grounded on a lively and Spiritual Frame or disposition of Heart for there can be no true peace of Conscience but by Jesus Christ thro' the Blood of the everlasting Covenant He is our peace c. He will speak peace to his People Not as the World giveth give I unto you Dare a Man plead his Faith or good Duties to Justifie him and so from thence fetch his peace and comfort alas What unrighteousness cleaves to our righteousness what doubtings attend our Faith and what wandrings of heart attend us in our best Duties nay may we not find some Hypocrisie in us also tho in the main we are sincere our peace is only had in Christ. III. 'T is only by the peace made by Christ as is revealed in this Covenant that a poor wounded disparing and distressed Soul comes to have peace I once cited a passage out of Dr. Owen being pious Anselem's directions to a poor tempted Soul on a Death-Bed let me repeat it here once again Minister Dost thou believe thou canst not be saved but by the Death of Christ. ' Sick-man Yes I do so believe Minister Then let it be said unto thee go and whilest thy Soul abideth in thee and put all thy confidence in Christ's death alone place thy trust in no other thing commit thy self wholly to