Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	ghost_n	holy_a	jesus_n	15,155	5	6.0417	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47489	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 ... : to which is added, An elegy on the death of the said minister / by Benjamine Keach ...	Keach, Benjamin, 1640-1704.	1693 (1693)	Wing K62; ESTC R10226	54,891	60

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 ●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 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 o● 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. ● 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

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 ●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 ● 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 Qu●●●●●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

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. ● 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