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
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
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
Law of Perfect Obedience by himself alone and for himself that so he might be a fit Mediator and merit a New Law of Grace of sincere Obedience which New Law or Covenant he confirmed by his Death so that God now enters into a Covenant with Mankind again and if we perform the Conditions of it we shall thereby assuredly have Justification and Eternal Life Not that Christ in the Covenant of Grace hath undertaken to perform it for us but hath left us to work out our Salvation our selves though not without the Assistance of the Holy Spirit and thus Christ is our legal Righteousness in his Mediatory Covenant yet so too that by his Merits we have all Gospel-Blessings How is that Why thus i. e. he merited the New Law of Grace by satisfying for the Law of Works or as Mediator gave God a satisfying Recompence for our breach of it but our inherent Faith and Gospel-Holiness with Christ's Merits as before is our Evangelical Righteousness by which we are justified And this is the dangerous Consequence which I perceive does attend the allowing of the distinction of two Covenants which at once in my Judgment tends to overthrow the Nature of the Free-grace of God in the Covenant of Grace which is ordered in all things and sure as it was made with Christ for us Obj. 6. By the Covenant of Redemption Christ could challenge his Reward upon his own Account but in the Covenant of Grace Believers have a Right to the Reward only upon the Account of Christ there is an intrinsick Worth in the Obedience of Christ whereby he merited for there was a Proportion between it in regard of the Dignity of his Person but there is no intrinsick Worth in that Grace which is the Condition of the Covenant of Grace to merit any thing there was a Condition of a valuable Consideration required of Christ the Condition required of us hath no valuable Proportion to the Greatness of the Reward the Reward was of Debt to him c. 1. Answ. I would know what that Reward is which Christ doth challenge is it not Grace Righteousness and Eternal Life for all the Elect True we merit nothing but did not Christ merit all for us Did he merit for himself and for us only a conditional Covenant as I shewed before 2. And may not Believers in Christ lay claim to Christ's reward i. e. the Blessings purchased by him as the Fruits of his Merits in a way of Righteousness and Justice upon the Account of Christ's Undertakings as well as in a way of Grace and Mercy what saith the Apostle 1 Joh. â— 9 God is faithful and just to forgive us c. which saith our Annotators more strictly taken permit him not to exact from us a Satisfaction Which he hath accepted in the Atonement made by his Son in his own way â—â—plyed and on his own Terms to be accounted to us that he will not fail to forgive us our Sins c. 3. Still the Distinction must as I conceive run thus i. e. Christ had his part in this one Covenant by Merit he is the Saviour we have our part in it freely by Grace being the saved and what though there is no intrinsick Worth in that Grace which we receive in the Applicatory Part of the Covenant in order to our actual interest therein yet there was an intrinsick Worth in his Merits that purchased that Grace for us and doth not the intrinsick Worth and Merits of Christ appertain to the Covenant of Grace as it was with him for us as our Mediator and Redeemer Nay and is it not from hence Faith and all other Grace is given to us and cannot Christ challenge of the Father all those he became a Surety and a Redeemer for in the Covenant The chief Grace still say I lies in that you call the Covenant of Redemption and distinct from the Covenant of Grace Obj. 7. The Mediatory Covenant respects others as well as Christ viz. his Seed and giving them Glory but in the Covenant of Grace the Promise respects only the Particular Person that believes answering the Terms of the Covenant c. Answ. 1. I see not but here they give away their Cause and contradict themselves in respect of their first Objection it appears now they see there were more than two single Parties concerned in the Covenant of Redemption they here assert it respects others as well as Christ viz. All his Seed 2. We have shewed how none but particular Persons who believe are concerned in the Application of the Covenant of Grace But 3. Doth not the Scripture say Christ is the Mediator of the New Covenant viz. the Covenant of Grace And doth not this respect as they confess all his Seed and can any perform the Terms of this Covenant without Christ in the Execution of his Office as our Mediator and Surety He is our Saviour in the Covenant of Grace that was his Work his Part and so consequently he ingaged and will quicken us renew us save us and bring all the Father gave him to Glory Obj. 8. If the Covenant of Grace and that of Redemption were the same then Christ should be both the Testator and a Party A Testator maketh not a Will to bequeath Legacies to himself Answ. There are divers Disparities between other Testators and the Testatorship of Christ. 1. A Testator among Men cannot be a Witness to his own last Will and Testament but so is Christ he is given by the Father for a Witness to the People of all those Gospel or Covenant-Blessings he himself a Testator of his own last Will and Testament bequeathed to all Believersâ— he witnesseth these things are his Will as well as the Father's and he is the true and faithful Witness 2. A Testator among Men cannot Enjoy or Possess that Kingdom Estate or Inheritance himself after his Death which he hath given away but Christ the Spiritual Testator tho' he hath given the Possession of Glory c. to Believers by his last Will and Testament yet is he a Coâ—Heir of the same Glory and blessed Inheritance himself and shall possess it joyntly with them A Testator among Men can't see his own Will executed but he leaves it to others to be Executors of it but Christ by his Spirit sees his Will executed for tho' he was dead He is alive and behold he liveth for evermore he is also a Party with us he is the Head we are his Members and now to close with this consider the Covenant of Grace was first made with Christ and with us in him thus it runs i. e. Christ purchases and we possess Christ in this Covenant obtains all by his Work and Merits we have all of meer Grace 'T is Grace in the Original in the first making of it with Christ for us 't is of Grace in the Execution of it Confirmation Publication and in the Application in order to our actual Interest From the whole it appears that
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
Christ stept in and undertook for us and put his Name into our Bond and Obligation Jesus Christ was made a surety of a better covenant Heb 7.22 Reverend Dr. Owen most excellently resolves this Doubt viz. Whether Christ be a Surety to God for us or of us to God and shews God needs no Surety nor is he capable of having any Surety properly so called neither do we need any on his part to confirm our Faith in him But we on all Accounts stand in need of a Surety for us or on our behalf neither without the interposition of such a Surety saith he could any Covenant between God and us be firm and stable or an everlasting covenant ordered in all things and sure Dr. Owen on the Hebr. 7.22 p. 223. God never broke at first with Man therefore needs to give us now no Surety but we broke and failed in our Covenant with him The First Adam had indeed no Surety and hence it was that he failed therefore God hath found out a way to prevent the like danger of Miscarriage on our part any more And evident it is that God entered into this Covenant with us in Christ before the World began and substituted Christ then in the Covenant our Surety and Mediator c. The Assembly in their Catechism confirm this blessed Doctrine Take their Words Quest. With whom was the Covenant of Grace made Answ. The Covenant of Grace was made with Christ the second Adam and in him with all the Elect. Thus Christ and his Seed are but one Party in the Covenant of Grace as it was primarily made between the Father and Son who was set up from everlasting as our Head And thus in Christ Grace was gave to us before the World began as the Apostle saith 2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose which was given to us in Christ before the world began Christ therefore became Surety for us to make firm and sure all Covenant Blessing to us indeed if Man could not did not stand but break Covenant with God when he had no Sin no depraved Nature when he had Power to have performed his Covenant with his Maker How unlikely was it that we who are so corrupted so weak and feeble so depraved in every Faculty no Power to do that which is spiritual Good that are attended with such a Body of Sin and Death Rom. 4.24 to undertake to enter into Covenant with God any more or What Reason is there for us to think God would trust us without Security and the Suretyship of another Person whom he knew well could not fail He said That he would lose nothing that was given him none of his Sheep shall perish Joh. 10.38 and ver 28. 2. This Covenant is made upon the unchangeable Decree and Council of God and his Decrees are compared to Mountains of Brass Psal. 89.28 to the 34 My mercy will I keep with him for ever and my covenant shall stand fast with him his seed shall endure for ever c. ver 28 29. My covenant I will not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my mouth ver 34. If you can break my covenant of the day and night then may also my covenant be broken with David Jer. 33.20 21. 'T is the free Promise of God like the Covenant of Day and Night and this stands upon the Pass of God's eternal Counsel therefore 't is sure 3. 'T is confirmed by the highest Witnesses in Heaven and Earth 1. God the Father is a Witness to it himself he bore Witness to Christ in the Gospel and to every Precept and Promise therefore the Father himself which hath sent me hath born witness of me Joh. 5.37 2. The Son also though the Surety of the Covenant yet he is a Witness to this Gospel-Covenant also tho' this is not so cannot be so among Men i. e. The Surety can be no Witness but 't is otherwise here To this end was I born and to this end came I into the world that I should bear witness unto the truth Joh. 18.37 That he is a King and Head of his Church that he is Mediator and Surety that he is our Saviour and that the Covenant of Salvation is made with him and established in him This he is a Witness of and to these and other great Truths of the Covenant he was Born and came into the World to bear Witness to and he is called The Faithful and True Witness Rev. 1.5 And Jesus said Though I bear record of my self yet my record is true for I know whence I came and whither I go 3. The Holy Apostles were also Witnesses to this New Covenant touching the Truth thereof in the execution declaration and publication of it And we are witnesses of all things that he did Act. 1.39 and again they are called chosen witnesses ver 41. Whatsoever Precept or Promise is made in the Gospel or Threatning they Witnessed to the Truth thereof as well as to the sufferings and resurrection of Christ God speaking of Paul saith he shall be a witness unto me Act. 26.16 4. All those wonderful Miracles our Saviour wrought bear Witness to Christ and the Truth of the Gospel and in them the Holy Spirit is a Witness also as well as many other ways The works that I do they bear witness of me Joh. 5.36 4 thly 'T is a sure Covenant because it was confirmed by Blood even ratified and confirmed by the Blood of the Testator Jesus Christ Certainly that Covenant that is ratified by the Blood of Christ must needs be sure to all the Seed Hence we have for a Sign and Token of this Confirmation the Ordinance of the Lord's Supper This is the Blood of the New Covenant that is shed for you to make Peace for you to procure Justification Reconciliation Pardon of Sin and eternal Life for you and 't is Sealed to you by my Blood This is a Sign or Token of it as if he should so say There is no altering a Covenant that is confirmed by the death of the Testator all the Legacies bequeathed in this Covenant are sure to the Legatees as the Ordinances of Heaven by this means 5 thly The Covenant of Grace is sure and all the Blessings thereof because the Execution of Christ's last Will and Testament is put into the Hands of the Holy Spirit he is the great Executioner of this Covenant I have not time nor room to open this 6 thly The Covenant is sure by vertue of the Promise of God the Father he promised Christ That he should see his Seed This was Abraham's Title to the Blessings of the Covenant of Grace Heb. 6.13 and so to David and in them to all the true Heirs of the same Grace and Promise 't is promised by God that cannot lie to Christ and to us in him For all the Promises of God in Jesus Christ are
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
Justice of God and which as a King he applies by his conquering of the Power of Sin and Satan Can a Man be redeemed and saved from Slavery in Turkey by a Ransome paid or laid down and yet he abides under the power of a cruel Tyrant that holds him in strong Chains and will not let him go untill the Redeemer hath subdued his merciless Master Now sinners are in Satan's Chains and Fetters and under the power of Sin and until Christ destroys and overcomes those cruel Enemies they are not redeemed this Salvation therefore in this Covenant is compleat i. e. we are not only redeemed out of the Hands of Justice and Divine Wrath but out of Satan's Hands likewise and from the power of Sin nay redeemed from a vain Conversation by Christ's Blood 1 Pet. 1.18 for as a Priest he purchased subduing and cleansing Grace for us tho' as a King he applies that Grace to us To this very purpose Christ gave himself i. e. to redeem us from all Iniquity and purify'd to himself a peculiar People zealous of good Works Tit. 2.14 Sirs assure yourselves all that Christ came to redeem shall be redeemed he cannot be said to be a Redeemer of such who never were nor shall be redeemed by him not one drop of his Blood was shed in vain he will have his whole purchase Here is Grace the Holy Spirit A broken Spirit a new Heart Justification Adoption Regeneration final Perseverance and Eternal Life and all we want is in this Covenant therefore 't is a compleat and full Salvation and so all our Salvation 4 thly This Covenant is all our Desire all our Hope and Salvation because there is no Relief no Justification no Pardon no Salvation any other ways there is no Water of Life but in this Fountain no Justification but by this Righteousness nor Riches but in this Treasury no Corn but in this Garner no Light but in this Sun of Righteousness that is given to us for a Covenant and to be a Light unto the Gentiles No pardon of sin but by this Redemption no Grace but at the Throne which God hath Erected in this Covenant No Strength but by this Arm of the Lord no Cure but by the Balsom of this Covenant and Covenant Physician no Sanctification no cleansing from Sin and Pollution but by washing in this River 5 thly This Covenant is all our Desire Hope Delight Consolation and Salvation because 't is a try'd Covenant it never failed one Man that ever laid hold of it or applyed the Blood thereof by Faith to his own Soul he that believeth on Christ builds on this precious Stone this sure Foundation shall never be ashamed nor confounded he that builds on this Covenant or doth venture his Soul thereon must be saved and ever were saved Let them be never so great sinners it will not fail them this Covenant hath provided for the chiefest of Sinners and for the weak Saints here is a Pardon for all manner of Sinners and Blasphemers against both the Father and the Son O what black what guilty what filthy and what bloody sinners have been saved by the Grace of and Blood of this Covenant Such were some of you what an abominable Such were they see 1 Cor. 6.9 10 11. 6 thly This Covenant is all a Believer's Desire Consolation and Salvation because of those glorious and mighty Gifts that are given to them in this Covenant nothing can the Holy God give which is greater for he hath given us himself and all he is and all he has as far forth as it is communicatable he gives himself to them by way of special Interest not as he was the God of the whole house of Israel in that legal Covenant made with them as they were the natural Seed of Abraham as such God gives himself and in himself his Son his Spirit his Ordinance his Ministers Paul Peter all is â—rap'd up in this Covenant Grace here and Glory hereafter all is yours â— Christ in this Covenant is yours you have God and Christ and God for â—â—er Christ for ever You shall not lose him again the Covenant is ordered in all things and sure and so are all the Gifts and Blessings thereof such that can't be lost they are even the sure Mercies of David 7 thly Because this Covenant is so comfortable in all States and Conditions a poor Child of God can be in 't is suited to relieve us under all outward afflictions Tryals and Calamities we meet with here in this World O this â—ur honoured Brother deceas'd found by sweet Experience this was all his Hope and all his Desire all his Comfort under all his former sore Sufferings when for more than Twelve Years he lay in Prison for Jesus Christ's sake and under all his late heart-breaking Sorrows and bodily Distempers that but a few were acquainted with had it not been for this Covenant he had â—ainted in his Afflictions This bore up the Spirit of poor David he found all his Relief and Support lay in this Covenant When Saul pursu'd him when his Friends forsook him and talk'd of stoning him here and in this Covenant and in his God given to him in this well ordered Covenant he comforted and encouraged himself 1 Sam. 30.6 8 thly And lastly all the Desire Hope Consolation and Salvation of a Believer lies in this Covenant because 't is so well ordered and suited for our Support and Comfort under all inward Trouble Fears Doubtings Temptations and spiritual Dissertions whatsoever No Cordial like what this Covenant hath provided for us to bear up and revive our drooping Spirits and whoever you are that under your Fears Doubtings Temptations or Despondings that seek Relief any where else will but deceive your own poor and deluded Souls will your own Righteousness chear your Spirits Dare you plead it at God's Bar Will you venture your Souls upon it Will you plead your sincere Obedience your fervent Prayers you have made the many good Sermons you have heard the many good Works and good Deeds you have done will not Satan shew you notwithstanding all your sincerity you have in your Hearts great Hypocrisie and for all your Faith and constant trusting in God you have much Unbelief and many Fears and Doubtings arising in your Spirits tho' you have prayed often and have not fainted yet with what Deadness with what Coolness with what Wanderings of Heart and Vanity of Thoughts and tho' you have done much good will not your Consciences tell you you might have done much more you gave a Shilling may be to this poor and that poor and distressed Object when may be you ought to have given a Pound O Sirs your Relief lies in Christ and in the Covenant of Grace in Christ's perfect and compleat Righteousness in his Death or you have none nor never will You must take the Directions that Anselm gave to a poor sick and tempted Soul as I find it quoted by Reverend Dr. Owen on
Just. p. 13.14 Quest. Dost thou believe that thou canst not be saved but by the Death of Jesus Christ The sick and distressed person answered yes Then let it be said unto thee go to then and whilst thy Soul abideth in thee put all thy Confidence in this Death alone place all thy Trust in no other thing commit thy self wholly to this Death cover thy self wholly with this alone cast thy self wholly on this Death wrap thy self wholly in this Death and if God would judge thee say Lord I place the Death of our Lord Jesus between me and thy Judgment and other ways I will not contend with thee And if he shall say unto thee that thou art a sinner say I place the Death of our Lord Jesus Christ between me and my sins if he should say unto thee that thou deservest Damnation say Lord I put the Death of our Lord Jesus Christ between thee and all my sins and I offer his Merits for my own which I should have and have not if he say that he is angry with thee say Lord I place the Death of our Lord Jesus Christ between me and thine Anger O Soul here 's thy Relief even in the Blood of this Covenant in Christ's Death under all thy Fears and Temptations of Satan and under the sad Accusations of thy own Conscience O! at the hour of Death how canst thou lift up thy Hands to plead thy own sincere Obedience when thou art just going to stand before the Tribunal of God thy Hands will be weak and thy Heart faint and thy Confidence will deceive thee and fail thee if thy Hope and Desire thy Faith and Dependance be on any thing else then on Christ in this Covenant but here is Succour in his Covenant here is a Salve for every Sore what tho' thou hast sinned what says God in this Covenant I will be merciful unto their unrighteousness and their sins and iniquities I will remember no more Heb. 8. If thy Conscience say thou hast backsliden from God he says I will heal all their backslidings and love them freely Hos. 14.4 If thou wants Righteousness and Strength say Christ is thy Righteousness in the Lord have I Righteousness and Strength thus there is Relief in this Covenant for poor doubting and desponding Souls in all their Troubles and Temptations APPLICATION First by way of Reprehension First THIS reproves those and may serve to convince them of their horrid Blindness and Unbelief that look on Sin as a trivial thing a small matter and so go on in a wicked and ungodly course of life who add Drunkenness to Thrist and yet say they shall have Peace O Souls do you not tremble to think of the evil of sin When you hear nothing but the Blood of the Son of God can atone for it nor satisfie God's offended Justice and injured Law do you think God will spare you pardon you while you live in your sins and make Provision for the flesh to fulfil the Lusts thereof did he not spare his own Son when he stood in our place charged with our Iniquities but let out his Wrath upon him and will he spare you that have your own sins and horrid guilt and pollution charged upon your own Souls if you refuse the Lord Jesus Christ and the Merits of his â—lood and do not fly to him cleave to him imbrace him and the tender â—f God's Grace in and by him but do neglect so great Salvation and the means of it down to Hell you will be brought every Soul of you with vengeance Nothing shews the evil of sin more than the bleeding Sides bleeding Heart and bleeding Hands and bleeding Feet of the Son of God and did he suffer thus to satisfie for our sins for your sins and shall any Soul alive think if they slight him believe not in him he shall escape Divine Wrath how can your hands be strong in any way of Wickedness whilst you look up and see Jesus Christ hang languishing on the Cross and crying out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me 2. This reproves all those and may tend to convince them of their Folâ—y and Ignorance whose hopes lies in something else and not in this Covenant Those whose hope lies in their sober and civil Lives they conclude all is well with them because they are not guilty of those immoral Impieties and greatest Wickedness which others are defiled with Alas what good will this do you when one evil Thought is a breach of that Holy Law that lays you under Wrath and the fearful Curse thereof will you trust to your honest moral Lives and sober Conversations and so slight and neglect the Grace of God offer'd by Jesus Christ in this Covenant Why Sirs do you think God sent his Son into the World if by leading a moral and sober Life Men might be saved 3. This reproves also those who mixt their own Inherent Holiness and Evangelical Obedience with Christ's Righteousness in point of Justification and Acceptation with God who make Faith in the large Extent i. e. Faith withal the Concomitants of it a Condition of Justification who distinguish between Christ doing for us as a Redeemer in the Flesh by dying and render that more extensive than what he does by the Spirit as if he was the Head of all Mankind in dying and all as so consisidered have Union with him but that many of those he dyed for shall never be saved by his Life because they do not answer the Condition of Faith and sincere Obedience intimating that Faith is not a Fruit of Christ's Death but is wrought out by the Creature through the help of the Spirit tho' we have Faith for Christ's sake for Christ's Merits in a remote sense as we have fair weather Pacifick paper p. 5. For had not Christ atoned an satisfied for sin and the breach of the Law of Works we could not have had any Blessings either temporal or spiritual but if it were only thus then the Covenant of Grace is not so well ordered and sure as we believe it is but how do they understand that Text Rom. 5.10 for if when we were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more being now reconciled we shall be saved by his Life VVere not all the Elect or all Christ dyed for vertually as in our Head reconciled to God by the Death of Christ and doth not the Apostle assure us that we shall much more be saved by Christ's Life if he reconciled us to God by his Death was not the Gift of Christ in his death for us a greater gift than the gift of the Spirit to us Did not we all rise from the dead with Christ vertually when he was raised And doth not that give us Assurance that we shall be actually quickned and raised First from a death in sin respecting our souls and also be all raised to Eternal Life and Glory at the last day respecting our