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
THE Everlasting Covenant A Sweet CORDIAL for a drooping Soul Or The Excellent Nature of the Covenant of Grace Opened IN A SERMON Preached January the 29th At the FUNERAL of Mr. Henry Forty Late Pastor of a Church of Christ at Abingdon in the County of Berks. Who Departed this Life Jan. 25th 1692 3. and was Interr'd at Southwark WHEREIN The ARGUMENTS urged to prove the Covenant of Redemption a distinct Covenant from the Covenant of Grace are Examined Weighed and found Wanting To which is added An ELEGY on the Death of the said Minister PSAL. 89.33 My Covenant I will not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my Lips By BENJAMINE KEACH Pastor of a Church of Christ Meeting at Horsly-down Southwark London Printed for H. Barnard at the Bible in the Poultrey 1693. To the Congregation at Horsly-down who were the Auditors of this Sermon the Author wishes all the Blessings of the Everlasting Covenant even the sure Mercies of David Beloved THE Subject treated on in this ensuing Discourse is of the highest Concernment and tho' the Substance of what is herein contained you have heard from the Pulpit yet I am persuaded it will not be unpleasing to you to see those great Truths presented to your view from the Press Some of you know that I had not time to go through the Whole of my Work the first time therefore I insisted again on it the Lord's Day following and yet some Things I have added which was at neither of those seasons delivered the better to perfect the Work I told you the Text was left me by our honoured Brother deceas'd on his Death-Bed this Covenant being all his Support Salvation and Consolation as it was David's both in his Life and at his Death Nothing like Experience no Doctrine like to this to die in as some of the Papists themselves have confessed Men may talk of their own Righteousness and Gospel-Holiness yet I am persuaded they will not dare to plead in Point of Justification on their Death-Beds nor in the Judgment-Day No no 't is nothing but Christ and his Righteousness his Merits can give Relief to a wounded and distressed Conscience I have endeavoured to shew That the Distinction some Men make between the Covenant of Redemption and the Covenant of Grace is without Ground being but one and the same Covenant and That the Covenant of Grace comprehendeth that between God and Christ for us as Mediator about our Redemption which was as full of Grace in the first making of it as in the Revelation and Application thereof according to what was promised thereupon 2 Tim. 1.9 Tit. 1 2. its Rise and Constitution was from Eternity tho' the Revelation and Publication was in Time Christ did not as one observes purchase a Covenant of Grace for us to enter into with God for the Covenant it self Christ and all the Grace and Glory thereof lay in the eternal Counsel of God's Will and accordingly transacted with Christ as the Representative of all the Elect. This Covenant is the only City of Refuge for a distressed Soul to fly to for Sanctuary when all the the billows and waves of Temptations run over him or Satan doth furiously assault him If We fly to this Armory We can never want Weapons to resist the Devil nor doubt of Success against him And now that it may be of Use to you all who shall read it shall be the Prayers of your unworthy Servant in the Gospel BENJAMIN KEACH THE Everlasting Covenant A Sweet CORDIAL for a drooping Soul OR The Blessed Nature of the Covenant of Grace Opened Beloved THE Solemn Occasion of this Assembly may put us all in mind of our Mortality Death is certain all must dye as the Psalmist says What Man is he that liveth and shall not see Death Can he deliver his Soul from the Hand of the Grave Psal. 89.48 Wicked Men dye so do the Godly and as do the People so do their Ministers The Fathers where are they and the Prophets do they live for ever Yet there is a vast Difference between the Death of the Ungodly and the Death of the Godly c. But to proceed the Text I am to speak to was left me by our Honoured Brother deceas'd which shews the comfortable Hopes he had in Death which is that in the 2. of Sam. 23.5 Although my House be not so with God yet he hath made with me an everlasting Covenant ordered on all things and sure for this is all my Salvation and all my Desire although he make it not to grow My Text contains some of David's dying Words or Words which he uttered upon the near approach of his Death see vers 1. Now these be the last Words of David the Son of Jesse and the Man who was raised up on high the Anointed of the God of Jacob and the sweet Psalmist of Israel Tho' it may be doubted whether these Words contained in the First verse were uttered by David or not but rather by the sacred Pen-man of this Book yet the Words following 't is evident were spoke by him verse 2. The Spirit of the Lord spake by me and his Word was in my Tongue I utter not these Words as if he should say as by my own Spirit but the Matter is dictated and given to me by God's Spirit which is the great Teacher of his Prophets and People vers 3. The God of Israel said the Rock of Israel spake to me he that ruleth over Men must be Just ruling in the Fear of God Here are laid down the Two great and principal Parts of the Duty of Kings and Supream Rulers of People and Nations Justice towards Men and Piety towards God vers 4. And he shall be as the light of the morning when the Sun riseth even a morning without Clouds as the tender Grass springing out of the Earth by clear shining after Rain These Words may be applyed to the Good and Righteous Government of any Godly King c. but chiefly no doubt they contain a Prediction of the blessed Effects of the Reign and Kingdom of the Messias of whom David but more-especially Solomon his Son and his Peaceable Kingdom was a Type or Figure of And thus I hasten in order to my Text with what speed I well could Although my House be not so with God a little first by way of Explication Although my House be not so with God how is that i. e. 'T is not as a Morning without Clouds nor as the tender Grass springing out of the Earth by clear shining after Rain for my Morning as if he should so say has been over-cast dark and dismal Clouds seem to attend my Kingdom and my Children have not hitherto been like the tender Grass springing out of the Earth by the sweet Influences of the Sun and distillation of Rain but rather like the Grass that withereth away or is cut down before its due time I have not so walked with God as his
of the Covenant of Grace was not the Fruit of Christ'd Suffering in pursuit of that Holy Compact and is it not particularly implyed in those Words he shall see his Seed but if they be adult Persons he can never see them if Faith be not given to them unless the Holy Spirit that great Promise of the Father be given to them whereby they are enabled to believe I will put my Spirit within them Ezek. 36.27 I will put my fear into their Hearts a new Heart will I give them and a new Spirit will I put within them I will pour my Spirit upon thy Seed Isa. 44.3 Thy Seed Who doth he speak to why to his Servant doth not these Promises referr to that Covenant made with Christ which you call the Covenant of Redemption and was not Christ assured by the Father that these Promises should be made good to his Seed and yet t is evident they belong to the Covenant of Grace therefore I see not how they can be Two Covenants distinct from each other Obj. 4. Christ is the Mediator of the Covenant of Grace but not the Mediator of the Covenant of Redemption but a Party he was the Surety of the Covenant of Grace the Covenant of Redemption had no Surety the Father and the Son trusted one another upon the Agreement the Covenant of Grace is confirmed by the Blood of Christ but we cannot say that the Covenant of Redemption was confirmed properly by that Blood any more than as it was a necessary Article in that Covenant Answ. All that can be said as I conceive is this viz. our Lord Christ when he first entered into the Covenant with the Father for us to bring in and accomplish the Covenant of Grace agreed then to be Mediator and Surety of this Covenant There are some Transactings where Suretyship is requir'd which a Surety must do i. e. he must accept and freely and readily agree to do all that is necessary to be done which the Creditor requires and the Nature of the said Covenant calls for yea and some things that peculiarly belong to him as Surety And so it might be here about those glorious and gracious Transactions between the Father and the Son about the compleating the Covenant of Grace concerning the Elect and indeed the greatest Expressions and Demonstration of God's Grace to us appeared in those Covenant Transactions and all the good we receive I say again by he Covenant of Grace are but the Fruits and Product of the Covenant as it was made with Christ our Head Mediator and Surety but among Men those Things and Covenant Transactions between the Creditor and the Surety which peculiarly appertain to him in which nevertheless the poor Debtor is mainly concerned it being such things that must be performed by the Surety for him or he can have no Benefit by the said Covenant are never called a Covenant distinct in it self from that it refers to and is a Branch of or however there is no need of such a formal distinct Covenant between each covenanting Parties as primarily considered when the Covenant which those Transactions refers to was immediately made For I know not of any other Covenant of Grace made with Christ for us about our Salvation but that which they call the Covenant of Redemption distinct from it and to say that God entereth into a Covenant of Grace with us as simply considered in our selves without Christ being the Chief and Primary Covenanting Party in our behalf is of a dangerous Nature to â—ffirm and must not be admitted of as will appear hereafter Besides the Mediatory Covenant or that in which Christ is Mediator is called the New Covenant or Covenant of Grace as the term Mediator clearly holds forth which Covenant to confirm he shed his own Blood and the Original making of that Covenant was at that time and by that Compact between the Father and the Son for us for Christ for himself had no need to become a Mediator or to enter into any Covenant with the Father therefore I know not what these Mens nice Distinctions signifie unless it be to amuse the World except it be for a worser purpose viz. To confirm their new Notion of a conditional Covenant of Faith and sincere Obedience 3. The Distinction lies not in Two Covenants but in the distinct Parts of the said one entire Covenant one part as it referrs to Christ the other as it respecteth us in the Applicatory part of it by his Grace 2. Also in respect of the time of the making of the Covenant and the Revelation Execution and the Application thereof 1. Christ in the Covenant First Articled with the Father to be a Mediator and in the Execution of the Covenant actually discharges that Office and the like as a Surety Obj. 5. Christ performed his Part in the Covenant of Redemption and by vertue of his Mediatory Covenant performed the Covenant of Works but he did confirm not perform the Covenant of Grace Answ. This is the worst of all and it seems to be calculated rather to unfold Arminianism then to establish sound Divinity 1 st Hath Christ performed his part so in the Covenant of Redemption that he hath no more to do by vertue of his Mediatory Covenant God forbid he hath not yet delivered up his Kingdom to the Father I shall now give you my Reasons under this particular Branch why I accept and argue against the Notion of Two distinct Covenants What says the Arminian viz. Christ hath performed or fulfilled the Covenant of Works and made such a full Satisfaction for the breach of the Law so for all the whole World that no Man is under the Curse of it but that all are Justified from that and he hath put all Men into a capacity to be saved if they perform the Condition of the Gospel i. e. Repent Believe and live a godly Life to the end of their Days which God hath given all Men Power to do if they do but exercise that Power Christ hath put all Men on their Feet again and hath made the Condition possible if not easie for all to be saved Christ is not to perform the Condition of the Covenant of Grace tho' he did perform and so take away the Law of Perfect Obedience or is the end of the Law for Righteousness but let them read the whole verse 't is but to every one that believes and sure they forget that all Men are dead in Sins and Trespasses and must by Christ have a Principle of Spiritual Life insused into them before they can live move or believe in him Can Man change his own Heart or Will that Grace God affords to all Men do it What short of Almighty Power can form the Image of God in the Soul or create us again in Christ Jesus 2 dly And what is it which our new Doctrine in opposition to the antient Doctrine on which Saints formerly built all their Hope and Salvation doth hold forth
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