Selected quad for the lemma: virtue_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
virtue_n	abraham_n	covenant_n	grace_n	839	5	6.5999	4	false

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

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

was come it was but to put into Execution this Covenant and to ratifie and visibly confirm this blessed Covenant that God had made with us in him before the World began The Covenant of Grace saith Mr. Petto was made or established not only with us but jointly with Christ and us in him so as both are within one and the same Covenant for the great Transactions with Jesus yea even the giving and sending of him and his accepting the Office of a Redeemer and undertaking for us these are all of Grace as well as what is promised to us through him Therefore the Covenant of Grace saith he must take in all that conduceth otherwise than by a meer Decree to our Restoration and eternal Life Petto on the Covenant which is recommended by Dr. Owen Pag. 18. 2. Where do we read in all the Holy Scripture of Three Covenants viz. 1. A Covenant of Works 2. A Covenant of Redemption 3. A Covenant of Grace Evident it is to all that the Holy Ghost only holds forth or speaks but of Two Covenants a Covenant of Works and a Covenant of Grace the First is call'd the Old Covenant the Second the New Covenant although both these Covenants had several Revelations Ministrations or Editions as First the Covenant of Works was primarily made with the First Adam and all Mankind in him by vertue of which he was justified by his own perfect Obedience before he sinned True there was another Edition or Administration of it given to Israel which tho' it was a Covenant of Works i. e. Do this and live yet it was not given by the Lord to the same End and Design as the Covenant was given to our First Parents viz. It was not given to justifie them or to give them eternal Life For if Righteousness had been by the Law then Christ is dead in vain Gal. 2.21 And again saith Paul For if there had been a Law given that could have given Life verily Righteousness should have been by the Law Gal. 3.21 But indeed it was impossible Life Justification or Righteousness could be by the Law or by any Law because Man hath sinned and is now unable to answer the Law of perfect Obedience all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God We must therefore now be justified by the Grace of God through the Redemption which is in Jesus Christ but tho' Man had lost his Power to obey yet God hath not lost his Power to command Therefore as Dr. Owen shews it was added or revealed in the Wisdom of God as instructive as also to shew the Excellency of that State and Condition in which we were created with the Honour that God put upon our Nature from whence Directions unto a due Apprehension of God and our selves may be taken or derived It served to shew what a Righteousness Man once had and by his Transgression lost and also what a Righteousness 't is which the Holiness of God doth require in order to our Justification in his sight for the Law doubtless results not from God as a simple act of his Sovereignty but also as a Transcript of the Holiness of his Nature and Rectitude of his Will for without a sinless or perfect Righteousness no Flesh can ever be justified in God's sight and therefore such a Righteousness must either be inherent in us or else according to the Wisdom and Grace of God be imputed to us and therefore he chose his beloved Son and entered into a gracious Covenant for us with him that he in our Nature and Stead as our Head and Surety might yield perfect Obedience to the Law which we had broke and for which breach his Justice by Christ's Death must be satisfied also therefore the Compact or gracious Covenant that was before all World 's made between the Father and the Son was part of the Covenant of Grace respecting poor lost and perishing Man since there was no Redemption without the shedding of Christ's Blood hence the Blood of Christ is called The Blood of the New Covenant The Father saith Mr. Petto is Contracting with the Son Isa. 41.6 I will give thee fo● a Covenant of the People therefore that with the Son saith he and with the People is one and the same Covenan● indeed as that which partaketh of the Nature or is a part is put for the whole so that with the People alone even here beareth the Name of a Covenant with in the grand Contract with Jesus Christ as a Branch or Parcel thereof yet both together make up that one Covenant of Grace as appeareth thus 1. There is no Scripture Evidence for making these Two Covenants distinct one of Suretyship or Redemption with Christ and another of Grace and Reconciliation with us that distinction which some use is improper for the Parts of it are co-incident seeing that as with Christ was out of mee Grace also Joh. 3.16 And it was promised that Jesus Christ should be given for a Covenant and therefore it is of Grace that we are redeemed by him 2. Tim. 1.9 There was Grace before the World was and that must be in the Covenant as with Jesus Christ which was for reconciling the World unto the Father 2. Cor. 5.18 19 Col. 1.20 21. It is true Christ is our Surety and Redeemer not we in our own Persons yea he is our Head our Lord and King and on that Account of his standing in those different Capacities he hath some peculiar Precepts and Promises appropriated to him which are not afforded to us in the same manner and degree yet this hindreth not the oneness of the Covenant with him and us c. 3. That Holy Agreement or Compact between the Father and Son was the Rise or Spring of the Covenant of Grace it was made with Jesus Christ and with us in him therefore I see no Reason to call them Two distinct and compleat Covenants but two Subjects as the same Author intimates of the same Covenant as with Jesus Christ it had its Constitution from before all Worlds or we had a Being tho' as with us it has its Application in time after we exist and are actually in Christ as part of the promised Seed 1. The Work of Redemption to expiate Sin and make Reconciliation this was Christ's Work for us 2. For Application this is with us by him 3. He was chosen Mediator and undertook the work of Redemption and so struck up the Covenant from Eternity but in time he executed it and intercedes for our Participation in it Petto p. 21. 4. Therefore as Adam being a common Person or Head of all his Seed and we in him fell under Sin Death and Condemnation by vertue of the Covenant of Works made with him even so in Jesus Christ all the Elect partake of Grace and Justification unto Life by that one Covenant of Grace made with him and in him with all his Seed he being I say a common Person or Head to all the Father

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 ●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

set up as Mediator from Everlasting Was not then the Covenant of Grace as Ancient We were consider'd in him because chosen in him tho' Christ's Redemption was not the cause of our Election yet we were chosen in him as our Head and Redeemer therefore I say the Stipulation of the Covenant of Grace was from Eternity and the Revelation of it was in time and not till Man had sinned and broke the Covenant of Works so that it was more then by Decree and Purpose the Covenant of Grace in my Text is called an Everlasting Covenant and it may referr before time as well as after all time even from Eternity to Eternity For none can doubt but David was a Type of Christ and so represented in my Text the Covenant here spoken of is that they call the Covenant of Grace and tho it was Primarily made with the True David yet so as in him with David the Son of Jesse also the very same thing we may see in Psal. 89. I have found David my Servant with my Holy Oyl have I anointed him v. 20. he is said to be one chosen out of the People and one that is Mighty v. 19. and with him this Covenant is said to be made My Mercy will I keep with him for evermore and my Covenant shall stand fast with him his Seed also will I make to endure for ever and his Throne as the days of Heaven ver 26 29. Now this they confess chiefly respecteth Christ of whom David was a Figure and also referreth to that which they call the Covenant of Redemption if so then say I this Covenant must be the Covenant of Grace because it was made with David the Son of Jesse I mean it refers to him in Christ and the like with all Believers also as all their Salvation and Desire it cannot rationally be supposed but that David in my Text doth allude to the Covenant mention'd in this Psalm although none are actually brought into it until they Believe or have actual Union with Christ yet made with all Believers in Christ from Eternity I cannot think they will deny that the Covenant of Grace that Well-ordered Covenant in all things and sure was primarily made with Christ and with us in him as our Head and if so then say I if that which they call the Covenant of Redemption be distinct and not this when was the Covenant of Grace made with him for us It must either be made before Time or after Time Besides 't is evident that 't is by the Blood of Christ's Covenant that we are Redeemed The Father sends out the Prisoners by the Blood of Christ's Covenant that is according to the Sacred Terms and Conditions agreed upon between them both and sure I am the Blood of Christ's Covenant is the Blood of the New-Covenant therefore I cannot see that that which they call the Covenant of Redemption is a distinct Covenant from the Covenant of Grace Object 3. The Conditions are different Death and Satisfaction for Sin was the Condition of the Covenant of Redemption Faith is the Condition of the Covenant of Grace Death required on Christ's Part Faith required on Man's Part the giving Christ a Seed and Eternal Life to that Seed is the Condition on God's Part to Christ the giving Eternal Life only to the Party Believeing is the Condition on God's Part in the other So that the Reward in that Covenant is larger than the Reward promised to us in the Covenant of Grace In the Covenant of Grace the Condition runneth thus Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved in the Covenant of Redemption the Condition runs thus Make thy Soul an Offering for Sin and thou shalt see thy Seed Answ. I wonder at the Learned Author who makes these Distinctions I cannot be of his Mind I rather judge the difference in the Covenant of Grace or Covenant of Redemption lies here viz. Christ had some great Work to do as the Condition of this Blessed Compact with the Father on and in the behalf of his Elect which was Peculiar to him i. e. he was to die and make Satisfaction to offended Justice he in the Covenant of Grace or Gospel-Covenant merited all for us so that we might have all freely given to us through the Redemption of his Blood c. 1. Christ work'd for Life but we work not but believe on him that justifies the ungodly 2. Christ hath not what he hath by Grace but by Desert but tho' our Saviour had his Reward in the Covenant on meriting Conditions viz. upon his Perfect Obedience to the Law of Works and being made a Curse for us and so made a plenary Satisfaction to God's Justice for our Sins yet pray what was his Reward Was he sure or certain of any one Soul as the Reward of all this hard Work and Sufferings c. Why this Author tells us he shall see his Seed or have a Seed that is he shall have all the Elect brought in and united to him viz. be sure of them or have this certain Reward and not left on uncertain Conditions of Faith and Obedience to be performed by the miserable depraved and wretched Creature which Condition we could not perform and if this be so then the Father must bring us in or draw us to Christ for except he does that no one Soul can come to him as Christ himself positively affirms Joh. 6.44 No man can come to me except the Father which sent me draw him and from hence I ask whether Power to perform that which they call the Condition of the Covenant of Grace was not included or comprehended in the Covenant of Redemption And if so how could they be Two distinct Covenants certainly in it there was infinite Grace shewed towards us 3. As to the other Condition in the Covenant of Redemption it being larger to Christ than that in the Covenant of Grace I answer as the Covenant was primarily made with Christ it was made with him for all the Elect as their Head and Surety and therefore it must needs be larger as well as it was a meriting Reward but as we are concerned in the same Covenant we have nothing as a Reward because we work not and as considered as particular Persons 't is enough our own particular Souls and Bodies shall be eternally saved who are united to him as the Reward of his Work the Condition therefore being made to him as the Head of the whole Body it must needs be so large and extensive but as to the particular Members that can't comprehend more than he or she that believes as a part of the Seed which he was to see 't is enough therefore that we are the Saved the Redeemed and not the Saviours or Redemers of others But if by Vertue of the Covenant of Redemption we are not Redeemed call it no more the Covenant of Redemption therefore 1 st I would know whether Faith which is called the Condition