which the Purity of his Holy Nature and Honour of his Sovereign Majesty required as rightful Judge and Governour had not the Father chosen accepted and approved of him for doing of this great Work his undertakings could not have availed us to the Salvation of our Souls besides the Glory of God the Father must not be eclipsed while we exalt the eternal Son in our Redemption all the Benefit therefore we receive by the Blood and Merits of Christ are ascribed to the free Grace of God the Father after that the Kindness and Love of God our Saviour appeared Tit. 3.4 the Father chose us in Christ as well as gave him for us and commanded him to lay down his Life to redeem us 2dly This Covenant is so well ordered that the Glory of Jesus Christ is magnified herein wonderfully 1. In that herein he is proclaimed the Only True God by whom the World was made the Brightness of the Father's Glory and express Image of his Person Heb. 1.3 and when he brought him into the World he saith and let all the Angels of God Worship him Now Divine Worship appertains to none but to him that is God by Nature 2 Christ's Love shines forth in this Covenant as well as his Deity or Godhead in his ready gracious and voluntary Acceptation of that glorious Design of saving us miserable Creatures it was Christ who wrought out the Garment or Robe of Righteousness for us tho' the Father prepared him a Body to do it Christ kept the Law of the first Covenant for us and overcome all our Enemies hence he said Be of good chear I have overcome the World Joh. 16.33 why should we be of good chear upon his overcoming the World if it was not for us and to assure us that we shall overcome it Nay and we did overcome it in him he overcame Sin made an end of Sin as to its killing and Soul-condemning Power Dan. 9.24 he shed his Blood to make our Peace with God the Father he received the Spirit without Measure to communicate it to us Christ loved us and washed us from our sins in his own Blood Rev. 1.5 He makes Intercession for us who is he that Condemneth it is Christ that dyed yea or rather that is risen again who is even at the Right Hand of God who also maketh Intercession for us Rom. 8.34 He pleads his own Sacrifices with the Father for us he presents our Persons as the High-Priest under the Law did the Names of the Children of Israel when he appeared before the Lord on the Breast-Plate of Judgment before the Father and in him also our spiritual Services are accepted we are justified in him he is the Lord our Righteousness we have pardon of sin through his Blood he is our Bridegroom he came from Heaven to offer his Love to us and to espouse us for himself he that has the Bride is the Bridegroom 't is he that offers up our Prayers as sweet Insense to the Father he is the Author and Finisher of our Faith he is the Covenant it self our Head our Mediator our Priest our King our Prophet our Surety our Shepherd our Captain he is made of God unto us wisdom and righteousness sanctification and redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 Christ is all and in all in this Covenant so that his Glory shines forth admirably in it 3dly The Glory of the Holy Ghost the Third Person in the Blessed Trinity shines forth in this Covenant also 1. The Holy Ghost is positively declared in the Gospel to be God St. Peter told Annanias He had not lyed unto Men but to God Act. 5.3 His Sin was against the Holy Spirit and to aggravate it the Apostle told him the Holy Spirit was God to whom he had lyed Ye are the Temple of the Living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and again Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God All acknowledge God in these places referrs to the Holy Ghost moreover we are Baptised in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and so we Dedicate and Devote our selves in Baptism to serve and worship the Holy Ghost as well as the Father and the Son Doth not Paul close his Epistles with a sort of Prayer to the Holy Spirit as well to the Father and to the Son The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all Amen 2. Cor. 14.14 2. As touching his Work and Operations the Holy Spirit convinceth of Sin this is his Office in this Covenant He shall convince the World of sin of righteousness and of judgment John 16.8 9. The Spirit convinces our Souls of the great Evil of Sin as 't is against a Holy Gracious and Good God he convinces the Soul of all Sin of Secret and Heart Sins and particularly of the Sin of Unbelief He shall convince the World of Sin because they believe not in me The Law cannot do this nor the Light within also the Spirit convinceth us of that great Enmity that is in our Hearts naturally against God Rom. 8.7 He convinceth us of the guilt of Sin and of the pollution of Sin the Holy Spirit convinces Sinners of the want of God's Image and shews them how unlike God they are naturally and how much like the Devil the Holy Spirit convinceth Sinners of the Prevalency of Sin His Servants you are to whom you yield your selves up to Obey he convinces of the Danger of Sin of the Soul-killing and damning Power thereof Also The Holy Spirit convinceth us of the want of Righteousness in our selves to justifie us in God's sight and also convinceth us That Christ's Righteousness is able to justifie and save us because Christ thereby went to the Father his Righteousness carryed him to the Father as our Representative and that Righteousness that carried him to the Father as Mediator will bring us thither Who believe in him or are of his Seed 3. The Work and Office of the Spirit in this Covenant is to quicken all that the Father hath given to Christ. 4. The Spirit renews regenerates or renovates our Souls 't is the Spirit that works God's Image in us we are Changed from Glory to Glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord 2. Cor. 3.18 5. The Glory of the Holy Ghost shines forth in the Covenant of Grace â—s our Sanctifier for it is the Spirit that infuses new Habits divine and gracious Qualities in our Souls new Thoughts new Desires new and holy Affections new Delights Joy Peace and Consolation the Spirit is an Earnest of future Glory 't is the Spirit that is our Comforter 't is he that strengthens us and bears up our Souls in Trouble 6. The Holy Spirit puts on the Robe of Righteousness upon us by uniting of our Souls to Jesus Christ. 7. The Holy Ghost works all Grace in us Faith is called the Faith of the Operation of God the
Spirit is God likewise Faith is called a Fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts also by the Holy Ghost Rom. 5.5 In a word all the Graces are by and from the Spirit hence he is called The Spirit of Grace But we had never drank of this sweet Stream had not Christ in the Covenant opened the Fountain The Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified Joh. 7.39 The Spirit is promised first to Christ and then to his Seed Thus and in many other Respects the Holy Spirit is glorified and his excellent Operations shew themselves and shine forth in the Covenant of Grace the ministration of the Gospel is called the Ministration of the Spirit So much as to this 3dly I shall proceed to shew you That the Covenant is well ordered to confound and destroy the Works and grand Design of Satan To this purpose was the Son of God manifested that he might destroy the Works of the Devil 1 Joh. 3.8 1. By this Covenant Satan is defeated and his Hopes overthrown who doubtless thought to have trodden Mankind under his Feet for ever How would he have Gloried and have Blasphemed God had not this Covenant been provided would not he have said Where is thy Creature Man that thou madest but a little lower than the Angels and made a Ruler over thy nether Creation Have not I done his Business for him Lo he is become my Creature he hath cast thee off and his Obedience to thee Where is that Image now which thou stampt on his Soul 2. Is it not said The Seed of the Woman shall bruise his Head This was one grand Cause why God entered into this Covenant with Christ and remarkable it is and ever to be Remembred that Satan entered into Judas to betray our Saviour he concluded doubtless if he could bring Christ to Death he should do his business but that way the Devil thought to gain all he lost all and overthrew himself and his Kingdom for ever Christ by death destroyed death and him that had the power of death which is the Devil Heb. 2.14 He hath led captivity captive Eph. 4.8 And having spoiled principalities and powers he made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in it Col. 2.15 4. By the New Covenant God hath greatly honoured his Holy and Righteous Law that receives no Damage hereby nor doth its Glory suffer the least Eclipse but contrarywise 't is magnified to the wonderment of Men and Angels and that Two ways 1. In respect of Christ's perfect Conformity to it in his holy and spotless Life in our Nature and in our Stead who by Reason of Sin could not fulfill the exact Righteousness thereof but rather than it should lose the least Part of its Glory the Second Person of the Trinity shall come from Heaven and assume Man's Nature and discharge the whole active Obedience which it did require of us And then 2 ly In his cursed and bitter Death by which he answer'd for our breach of it and considering the Dignity of his Person he being God as well as Man his Death and Suffering was a far greater Satisfaction for our Sins then if we had suffered in Hell because we thereby should have always been a paying but never could have paid our Debt to satisfie Divine Justice and therefore must have lain in Prison under incensed Wrath to the Day of Eternity And thus he Answered the Law and Silences the condemning Power thereof and break all his strong Cords and Bands to pieces that kept us down under Wrath and thereby dissolv'd all its grievous Anathema's for Christ being made a curse for us hath redeemed us from the curse of the law Gal. 3.13 viz. From that amazing Sentence of the Holy God denounced in his Law against us offending and guilty Sinners So that now there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8. â— Because they are by the Body and Sufferings of Christ become dead to the Law or rather that dead to them which was fully effected at his glorious Resurrection it was indeed the Law respecting the Penalty of it that brought Christ to death whose full Sentence in the Execution of it he endured on the Cross as he was substituted in our Place that so we in a way of Righteousness might be Justified as well as be Pardoned in a way of free Grace because God and not we found out the surety way and manner of the satisfying both the Law and his own infinite Justice we have all freely without Money or Price And thus God in and by Jesus Christ as he before purposed did magnifie his Law and make it honourable Do we saith the Apostle make void the law through faith God forbid yea we established the Law Rom. 3.31 God did not Repent he gave the Law of perfect Obedience for what could suit better with the Purity of his Holy Nature nor could any Righteousness short of a perfect Righteousness Justifie us He did not therefore Design by the Mediation and Obedience of Christ to destroy the Law or take any Recompence in the room of it that every way did not Answer the Righteousness it required and make Satisfaction for the Breach thereof therefore by Faith that is by having Christ's perfect Righteousness imputed to us in his exact Conformity to the Law by his active and passive Obedience we establish the Law and make it honourable If by any Law as God is a Rector or Governour Justification or eternal Life is to be had it must be a Law of perfect Obedience God's Holy and Righteous Nature requiring it and no Law of imperfect Obedience tho' never so Sincerely performed can answer God's Justice nor be agreeable with the Purity of his Nature infinite Wisdom and Holiness For if such a Law could have been consistent with the Wisdom Holiness and Justice of God certainly he would never at First have made a Law of perfect Obedience which to remove out of the way that he might bring in the latter must cost him the Blood of his own dear Son 1. Therefore it was the Law of Innocency the Law of Works or that Law which required perfect Obedience given to Israel which Jesus Christ fulfilled for us and not a peculiar Law of his own Mediation made up of some Moral Commands some Jewish and some peculiar to his own Person as some assert And 2 dly That he did Obey and suffer in Obedience to the Law in our stead and we are accepted by and for that Obedience of his for else the Glory of that Law is darkened and not that his Obedience did only procure or merit a milder Law or easier Terms of Life and Righteousness and we not be dealt with according to the Law of Works but according to the New Law of Grace and in the Third Place 3 dly The Righteousness and Benefits of Christ's Righteousness is made ours when we relye or trust
Covenant they call the Covenant of Redemption contains the whole Summ even Matter and Form Condition and Promises of the Covenant of Grace in that Covenant is contained all the Grace God hath promised and which we receive all is obtained upon the Account of Christ's satisfying for our Sins and so all the Promises of Grace and Salvation run to us in him no Love nor Divine Goodness is manifested to us but in and through that Covenant therefore not two but one and the same Covenant so that the Covenant of Grace it appears was made by the Holy God in the Person of the Father with us in the Person of the Son mind that Text Who hath saved us and called us with an holy Calling not according to our Works but according to his own Purpose and Grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before the Work began 2 Tim. 1.9 But to proceed 2dly I shall open the Excellent Nature of this Glorious and Everlasting Covenant 1. 'T is you have heard all of Grace as it respecteth us tho' Jesus Christ paid dear for it he procured all the Blessings of it for us by his Merits i. e. by his Perfect Obedience and Suffering By Grace ye are saved through Faith and that not of your selves it is the Gift of God Ephes. 2.8 not of Works lest any man should boast for we are his Workmanship created in Christ Jesus to good Works r. 10. not by Works of Righteousness that we have done but by his Mercy he saved us Tit. 3.5 2. 'T is as it appears from hence an Absolute and not a Conditional Covenant not if we do this and that viz get a new Heart and perform the Condition of Gospel-Holiness and Obedience we shall have pardon and â—e justified no but otherwise He that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly his Faith is counted for Righteousness Rom. 4.5 all is freely of Grace through Christ's Merit I will take away the Heart of Stone and give them a Heart of Flesh a new Heart I will give them and â— new Spirit I will put within them I will be their God and they shall be my People Now 't is question'd saith Reverend Cotton whether the Promise wherein the Lord giveth himself be Absolute or Conditional Faith to receive Christ is ever upon an Absolute Promise If you will say it is a Promise to a Condition what kind of Condition was it There is no Condition before Faith but a Condition of Misery a lost Condition or if a gracious Condition it is a Condition subsequent not pre-existant no Condition before it whereby a Man can close with Christ and if it was a Condition after Faith unto which the Promise was made then Faith was before and thatsoever followeth Conversion is no ground of Faith but a fruit and Effect of it therefore I say our first coming to Christ cannot be upon a Conditional but an Absolute Promise And indeed saith he if ever the Lord minister Comfort unto any Man true Comfort upon good grounds it is built upon a Promise of Free Grace 〈…〉 be unto Justification received it is true indeed a gracious Quâ—â—â—â—â—tion and a Promise to it may give a good Evidence of its Aposteriore Cotton's Treatise of the New Covenant p. 56 57. and again he saith God doth give himself in working Faith before Faith can be there and therefore it is the Fruit of the Spirit that Faith is wrought in the Soul and this Faith doth receive the Presence of the Lord Jesus Christ himself by his Spirit and doth receive also Justification and Adoption Again saith he a man is passive in his Regeneration as in Generation only the Lord giveth us his Spirit and that doth unite us unto Christ which is received by Faith together with Justification and yet by the Act of Believing we are justified also Gal. 2.26 that is manifested to be justified in our own Consciences p. 55. thus far Mr. Cotton What are we able to do when dead in Sin and Trespasses Can we believe before the Habit is infused from whence the Act proceedeth or move before we have Life or are quickened 3. It is a well ordered Covenant for that Covenant that is ordered in all things is well ordered c. but to make this further manifest I shall shew you that 't is well ordered 1. In respect of God I mean for his Glory in all his glorious Attributes 2. 'T is well order'd in respect of the Glory clear Revelation and Manifestation of the Three Persons in the God-Head that bear witness in Heaven the Father the Word and the Spirit these Three are One in Essence yet three Subsistances 3. 'T is well order'd to confound and destroy the grand Works and Design of the Devil 4. 'T is well order'd in respect of God's Holy Law that the Sanction and Honour of the Law might not be lost or suffer the least Eclipse 5. And lastly 't is well order'd for our good A little briefly to each of these First His Covenant is well order'd in respect had to the Glory of all God's Attributes 1. The Sovereignty of God shines forth gloriously in the Contrivance and bringing in this Covenant for God he having Absolute Dominion for ever over the Works of his Hands to dispose and determine them as seemeth him good and doubtless to manifest his own Sovereignty he created both Angels and Men And part of the first sinning against him he leaves for ever under that Wrath and Misery they brought upon themselves and the other he determined out of his Sovereignty to confirm in their Primitive State And also part of Mankind he left under that Wrath they brought upon themselves by original and actual Iniquity and affords no eternal Redemption to and indeed 't is only Sovereign Grace he afforded a Saviour for any of the Off-spring of fall'n Man for he was not under any Obligation to enter into a Covenant for any of them any more than he was not to redeem the fall'n Angels he would therefore have been just if he had let us all have perished under Sin and his own fearful Wrath as he dealt by them 2dly His infinite Wisdom shines forth in this gracious Covenant and hence the Gospel is called the manifold Wisdom of God Eph. 3.10 which may refer to the whole Oeconomy of our Redemption as also to the several Forms and Manners of God's revealing of it to his Church and People 't is called the Wisdom of God in a Mystery even his hidden Wisdom which was ordained before the World began to our Glory 1 Cor. 2.7 Divine Wisdom hath admirably in this Covenant mixt all the Attributes together with unexpressible Sweetness and exact Harmony that Justice cannot triumph over Mercy nor Mercy glory over Justice but they meet together and sweetly kiss each other and it was infinite Wisdom I say that found out this way therefore 't is hereby wonderfully glorified in the sight of Men and
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
not yea and nay but yea and amen unto the glory of God the father 1 Cor. 1.20 God hath engaged his very Faithfulness as touching the Performances of them 7 thly They are Sure because not only made to us by the Father but he hath confirmed them by his Oath Heb. 6.13 Because he could not swear by no greater he swear by himself wherein God is willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel confirmed it by an oath ver 17. That so by two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lie we might have strong consolation ver 18. What God promised nay swear to give to Abraham in the Covenant of Grace he promised and swear to to all his believing Seed or to all the Elect and if this doth not make sure the New Covenant and all the Blessings thereof and Eternal Life to every believing Soul tho' he or she has but the least Dram of Grace nothing can make any thing more sure in Heaven nor Earth 't is far more firm and sure than what any Man or Angels can make any Matter or Thing Soul whatever Grace thou need'st God will and must give it how when and in what Degree he pleases and to Heaven thou must come at last I might add 7 thly 'T is sure because we have received who do believe the Earnest all Covenant Blessings and Eternal Life which is the Holy Spirit See Eph. 13.14 the Spirit is called there the Earnest of our Inheritance until the Redemption of the purchased Possession unto the Praise of his Glory 8 thly We have the Holy Spirit also to make it sure to us as a Witness oâ— this Covenant the Spirit also bears witness with our Spirit that we are the Children of God and if Children then Heirs Heirs of God and joint Heirs with Christ Rom 8.16.17 The Holy Spirit witnesses by it self by an inward an secreted Persuasion or Suggestion that God is our Father and we his Children and also by the Testimony of his Graces and powerful Operations tho' not in the like Degree and Clearness to all Believers yet Christ in us is our hope of Glory and if any Man hath not the Spirit of Christ the same is none of his Rom. 8.9 9 thly After all if any thing can be added to make it yet more sure to us God will in his abundant Grace and Goodness let us have it and therefore we have this Covenant and all the Blessings of it and Eternal Life Sealed to us also by the Holy Ghost after ye believed ye were sealed with that Spirit of Promise Eph. 1.13 and again grieve not the Holy Spirit of God by which you are sealed to the day of Redemption Eph. 4.30 God hath set his Mark and his Seal upon us Sixthly 'T is an everlasting Covenant he hath made with me an everlasting Covenant it shall never can never be broke see that in Isa. 54.9 10. For this is as the Waters of Noah unto me for as I have sworn the Waters of Noah shall no more go over the Earth so I have sworn that I would not be wrath with thee nor rebuke thee for the Mountains shall depart and the Hills shall be removed but my loving Kindness shall not depart from thee neither the Covenant of my Peace be removed saith the Lord that hath Mercy on thee compare it with Isa. 55.3 So much to the Second general Head Thirdly I shall shew you how this Covenant is all the Hope Desire Salvation and Consolation of every True Believer in Life and Death By what I have already said all may perceive how or which way all their Salvation and Comfort lies in this Covenant so that I need say but little to this But to proceed 1. 'T is all our Hope Desire Salvation and Consolation because this Covenant was the Contrivance of the Infinite Wisdom of God the Top Glory of all his Transactions for and in the behalf of Man from all Eternity Nay such manifold Wisdom such depth of Wisdom shines forth in it that the glorious Angels desir'd to pry into it 1 Pet. 1.12 the Word signifies as our Annotators intimate a bowing down the Head or stooping to look into a thing O! they behold this Mystery of Salvation by Christ in this Covenant with holy Amazement and are willing to learn by the Church and this Mystery is to this end in part manifest by the Gospel that they might make it the Subject of their Thoughts Contemplation and Meditation and VVondermenti as I may so say 't is to affect those glorious Spirits to the intent that now unto the Principalities and Powers in heavenly Places might be known by the Church the manifold Wisdom of God Eph. â— 10 Angels Sirs do attend our Assemblies to know and hear and understand the Mysteries of this Covenant and Redemption by Christ Is it then any wonder 't is all the Desire Hope and Delight of Believers who are so eminently concerned in this Salvation Christ is not a Redeemer of the Angels for they who stood needed none Yet as our Divines shew he is their Confirmer he is the Head of Angels as well as of the Church and they Worship Him as well as we 2. 'T is the Saint's Desire and Delight because 't is suited so admirably to Exalt God in all his Holy Attributes and abase sinfull Man to Exalt Christ put the Crown on his Head and lay us at his Feet this is that Jehovah design'd and aim'd at and this all Believers and truly gracious Souls aim at also this is all their Desire and therefore they are so taken with this Covenant O let such look to it that any ways go about to lessen or eclipse the Glory of God's Grace in this Covenant or magnifie and exalt sorry man in the least degree 3. 'T is because 't is a great a full and compleat Salvation that is contained in this Covenant This is all my Salvation 't is not a part of it Christ in this Covenant did not work out a piece of it and leave us to work out the rest all our Salvation is of Grace whatever we as Sinners or as Saints do want 't is contain'd in this Covenant Christ is not only given for us but also given to us not only the Medicine and but a Hand also whereby 't is applyed Faith is the Gift of the Promise therefore not the Condition of it they are Foederalia relata Can a Promise or a Gift be a Condition of it self This Exalts Christ and abases Man Christ hath no Co-worker with him tho' he hath some poor Instruments that he applies in his Hand yet he alone is the only Agent that doth all We have this Treasure in Earthen Vessels that the Excellency of the Power may be of God and not of us 2 Cor. 4.7 The Redemption in the Covenant of Grace is by a Price which Christ as Priest laid down to satisfie the Law 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