Eternal consideration in that because the Decree was from Everlasting and though in Eternity there be no Priority or Posteriority of time for that would be to confound Time and Eternity yet in the things themselves there may be considered a priority and Posteriority of Nature and Order Thus the cause is in order of nature before the effect thus the Persons Covenanting are in order before the Covenant it self and hereupon the Undertaking of the Son of God to be man is in order before the futurition of his Incarnation It hath a Causal Antecedency to the futurity of this Assumption because that which made it future from Eternity was the Compact which past between his Father and him about it in the Days of Eternity CHAP. 5. Of the Rise of this Covenant or the Grounds of its being made IT now follows in the next place that we enquire from whence this Covenant had its Rise or what was the ground of the making of it This will be best understood by our careful observing where this Covenant is placed and that is under the head of Election and it refers unto the means which were in it Ordained for the accomplishment of it in the Salvation of such as were Chosen In the Decree as in the prudent purposes of all wise Agents there is the resolving of the End and the laying out of the means by which it is to be advanced These are inseparable in Gods Purposing but distinguishable in the things purposed In the Decree we find such a thing as Election wherein God hath appointed men unto Salvation and also contrived the way in which he will accomplish it and to this way doth the Covenant of Redemption appertain and therefore the rise of it was the meer good Pleasure of God to advance the glory of the Riches of his Grace by the Redemption of his Chosen and bringing of them to Enjoy Eternal Life for which end he appointed his own Son to be the Redeemer and Indented about it in a free Covenant Here let it be observed 1. That a Covenant is not a Natural but a voluntary act In every Covenant there is a consent of the parties Covenanting to the Articles upon which it is built Now consent is performed by the Will and therefore there was no natural necessity of any such Contract as this between these glorious Persons so that it was Gods meer good pleasure that gave Being to it The very thing about which it is concerned was arbitrary with God There was no necessity lying upon him to save any of the race of fallen man who had by their own fault destroyed themselves and therfore there could be no necessity lying upon him to contrive and fix a way in which this salvation was to be brought about God doth nothing necessarily but what he doth naturally all his other acts are free Election is a voluntary thing Eph. 1 5. 2. The consideration when this Covenant past tells us thâ—t there could be nothing in the Creature to move these glorious persons to indent it It must be meer good pleasure and nothing else whatsoever can be said of the creature which men can suppose to have argument in it to move towards such a thing is Posteriour to and Consequent upon the Decree to which this Covenant belongs The object of it was a possible being which as it had no being in it self so was here appointed to have a being and to pass through all these changes that have befallen it being Predestinated thereunto So that we can look at no consideration on this account but what falls behind of having any possible influence into the Covenant Not the state of integrity in which man was at first for in that state had he continued in it he had not needed a Redeemer Not the miserable Estate he fell into by the Apostasy for though that was a step towards his Redemption because it put him into a capacity for it and brought him under a necessity of it yet it could not put God upon thinking of his Recovery because his Misery was deserved and the Justice of God was concerned in it and besides this fell under the Decree of Election as a Medium towards the Declaration of Gods rich mercy in saving him Not the prevision of any good nature or inclination in him for there is not any such thing truly in any sinner by nature nor the least disposition towards the acceptance of this Redemption on Gospel-terms unless God do work it in him nor is this always wrought in such as are supposed to be naturally best inclined but at Gods pleasure Rom. 9. 18. God therefore could have nothing out of himself to move him 3 The ultimate end of Gods desiâ—n in this Covenant was the Illustration of the Glory of his Rich Grace in them â—â—at are saved so we are told Eph. 1. 6. God is his own last end in all his works of Efficiency and therefore had that ultimate respect in all his Decrees There are several respects to his Glory which his several Works do bear that of Fallen Mans Salvation was peculiarly designed for the Exaltation of the Praise of his Grace That this Article might have a special manifestation by it Hither then Election had an eye and consequently all the Contrivances that were laid for the bringing about of the Salvation to which men were Elected were measured accordingly Infinite Wisdom sought out the best way to make this Attribute to shine in its Lustre so as might be admirable and it contrived this which is ratified in this Covenant 4. Because there was a wonderful Love at work in it to those that were Redeemed hence the â—is e of this Covenant may well be assigned to the love of God which he bare from Eternity to his Elect. He Chose them and so Covenanted with his Son that he should Redeem them and why did he so it was because he loved them The reason of this love is his good pleasure The first act wherein this love was exprest was in Chusing us in Christ and Covenanting with him to Redeem us in which he laid a sure and firm foundation for our Salvation Gods sending of Cbrist is for this reason ascribed to his unparalell'd love Joh. 3. 16. 1. Joh 4. 10. 5. That which streins this love up to the highest degree is that it was a free and deliberate act both on the part of God the Father deputing and of God the Son accepting and undertaking in this business we cannot conceive how there should be any other way in which grace could possibly more shine forth than in Christ's Coming upon mans necessity to do and dy for him A greater love than this cannot possibly be thought of than that God should not spare His Own Son that Christ should not withhold himself The Apostles argument concludes this to be the greatest gift Rom. 8. 32. Now the putting of this into a Covenant addes Emphasis to it that it should not only
truly affirms that he was if any of this age a Star of the first Magnitude are for the Affirmative with whom the Worthy Author does concur but with such Modesty and Cander as no Ingenious person tho' of a differing Sentiment can be offended at him In Questions so Extrafundamental as long as the best of us know but in part we may to use Austins expression be diversly perswaded Salva side et Caritate Now the God of truth bless these endeavours for glory to his own Name the edification of his People and the rejoicing of his Servant and Grant that both Speaker and Hearers Writer and Readers may have Joy together in the Day of Christ Boston New-England February 6th 1693. Increase Mather CHAP I. An Introduction THE Unparallel'd and Incomprehensible Love of God to Sinful Man displayed in the wonderful Affair of his Redemption and Salvation is the great thing celebrated in the Scriptures and is that which invites our most frequent and raised Meditations Paul therefore prays for his Ephesians that they together with all Saints might be able to comprehend it Eph. 3. 17 18 19. Nor is there one passage in this whole Transaction but what is admirable and precious it being the foundation of our hope to enjoy Eternal Life who are by Nature Children of Wrath and but for it the whole forefeited Race of Adam must have perished hopelesly and everlastingly The Contemplation of this is truly surprizing Time is too short Eternity but long enough to spend in the Survey of it This Love is a Fountain which sprang up in and runs down to Eternity It never knew a beginning nor shall ever come to an end Now there are two general heads unto which our Speculation of this Glorious Mystery may be reduced 1. The Provision which God made for our deliverance before time in the days of Eternity 2. The things which are done in time for the actual Accomplishment of it They that would Search the Love of God to the Original and follow it up to the Well-head of it must ascend beyond the Creation of the World and look for it in that Eternity which had no Beginning Not only the things that he hath done for us but the thoughts also which he had of us do Recommend his Transcendent Good Will unto us the Meditation of them was very choise to David Psal 139. 17. That God bare Love to his People of Old He Himself assures them Jer. 31. 3. These Thoughts of his had lain hid from us but that he was pleased to Reveal them to us in his Word from whence we must borrow our Information and it is our Duty and will be our Advantage to enquire into it so far as we have Scripture Light to direct us The former of these is that which is Designed in the Ensuing Treatise by Divine Assistance and in truth all our Speculations about the latter will be dark short and confused except we trace them hither We shall neither know where our Salvation began nor what Security there is for it or how to act our Faith aright about it Here is the Idea or Exemplar of all that is done in bringing of Fallen Man to Glory here is the Ratification or Establishment of the whole concern here we are acquainted with the leading Causes to and unfailing Assurances of the Vocation Justification and Glorification of all Gods Chosen Ones for here we find the first Link of that Chain and that which fastens all Rom. 8. 29 30. The best and most suitable notion under which this great Affair may be represented to us for our Information and satisfaction is that of a Covenant which being of so much use among men is the more easily understood and because it carries in it the strongest confirmation of things that Humane Nature is capable of must needs be most accommodated to the establishing of our Faith Nor is this a meer notion of mans Invention but that which hath clear and firm footing in the Word of God as will in its due place appear Now this Covenant is by some Divines called the Covenant of Suretyship by others the Covenant of Redemption because there was in it a full Suretyship given for and a firm Compact made about the Redemption of a number of Mankind in order to their Salvation The enquiry into and right stating of the Doctrine of this Covenant is of excellent advantage for our better understanding of the whole tenour of the Scriptures the avoidance of many pernicious Errors which the ignorance of it hath given advantage to take rooting among such as call themselves Christians the true apprehension of the Terms of the Gospel Covenant and the comforting of the Hearts of Gods Children against the many Temptations which assault them I shall therefore as God shall please to assist me endeavour to pursue it in this method 1. To state the right notion of this Covenant 2. To prove from the Word of God that there is such a Covenant 3. To Explain it in those several things wherein the special nature of it may be rightly concerned 4 To shew the necessity of it in order to Fallen Mans Salvation 5. To shew the Influence which it hath into the Covenant of Grace which is made with us 6. To draw some practica Inferences from it CHAPTER 2. The right Notion of the Covenant of Redemption Stated THere are two enquiries apt to be made about a matter of Discourse viz. Ansit and Quidsit whether the thing be and what it is If the thing it self be taken for granted to be the former is Superseded but it it be Suspected it must be Cleared and either of these seems to claim the Precedency for though words be to signify things yet they are often Dark Ambiguous Aequivial and till we know what they Indigitate how shall we determine whether the thing be And yet on the other hand till we are satisfied that the thing is it is superfluous to enquire into the nature of it lest our dispute should prove to be about a non entity To avoid both of these I shall here only give some brief general account of the thing intended by the Covenant of Redemption in order to the proof of the Assertion that there is such a thing leaving the full explanation of it till afterwards Let it then be here observed It is certain that the whole concern of Mans Redemption and Salvation had it consideration and determination in Gods eternal Decree It is a sure rule That whatsoever God doth in time he purposed to do it before time for he worketh all things according to the counsel of his will Eph. 1. 11. God is a wise Agent he must therefore know his own works and this knowledge must be eternal or else it could not be Divine Acts 15. 18. Known unto God are his works from the foundation of the world He is a free Agent and so he doth nothing but what he will do And that will had no
yea in such a Covenant wherein there were none engaged as Parties undertaking but such Persons as were God Hence also the Application of this good to us must needs be acknowledged to this and here must be assigned the reason why any of us do believe that we may be saved it was not because we were enclined or disposed to it more than others but because our Salvation was Secured for us in that Covenant and must be in this way Promoved and how may this serve to hide pride from man and lead him up to an humble acknowledgment of the Fountain of all his hopes CHAPTER XIII The Farther Application by Way of Exhortation and Consolation USE II. For EXHORTATION and DIRECTION to the People of God and that in Four Respects 1 LAbour to Clear up and to be satisfied in your Interest in and Relation to this Covenant Rest not Contented till you have gotten some good Evidence that your Names were written in the Book of Life and to move you hereto Consider these Two Things 1. It is a Thing that may be known Although the Eternal Transaction between GOD the Father and GOD the Son be a Secret Hidden from the World and no Man can have any particular knowledge of it referring to himself till he be made partakers in the special fruits of it yet the Believer in regard of himself may obtain a clear acquaintance with it he may be able to discern and read it There is a way Revealed in the Scripture whereby we may come to know what was contrived about us in the days of Eternity and be assured that Jesus Christ hath paid the full Price of our Redemption not only that he hath done so for some but for us in particular Were it not so that Precept in 2. Pet. 1. 10. had been superfluous yea all the Commands given us to Prove and Try our own State were vain For unless our Trial Issue here we are still left at a loss But there is a Promise made to the People of God that 〈◊〉 him that He will show them His Covenant Psal 25. 14. i. e. The Great secret of the Covenant of Redempâ—ion shall be discovered to them by making of them to know that God loved them with an Everlasting Love 2 The foundation of all your Consolation is laid in this Covenant All the Comfort of the Children of God resolves ultimatly into this that Christ Loved us and gave himself for us but this he did not do for all the world but only for a select company whom his Father had given unto him and these are they whom he Covenanted for before the world was made If ever we be saved it must be by the vertue and application of the satisfaction of Christ to us this is applied to none but those whom he indented for and was appointed by his Father to Redeem so that if we would know whether our sins are Pardoned and Justice be atoned to us it must be by knowing that Christs death is become ours and accepted for us and the way to be satisfied in this is by finding our names â—â— that roll or list which was entred in â—he record of Heaven before time was and till we come to understand this how can we be free from the fears and terrors of the wrath to come Now the Scripture way wherein we are directed to arive at this knowledg is by following of the streams up to the fountain There are some streams of common bounty which flow from God the Fountain of Goodness to all the World he being the common Benefactor to all his Creatures and there are none but do partake more or less of his Benignity Psal 145. 9. Mat. 5. 45. But yet a man may swim in the fulness of all these favours yea be glutted with them and yet be an utter stranger to this Covenant Psal 17. 14. These are kindnesses which God can allow to his Enemies But there are other distinguishing favours which the great King reserves to bestow only on those whom he hath set his heart upon is resolved to make them his special favourites so that whosoever is made to enjoy any of these he may hereby certainly know that God hath a mind to honour him and intends Eternal Life for him There are peculiar tokens of the Love of God which he giâ—es to none but such as have found Grace in his sight and those that enjoy them may from thence unerringly conclude that they were given to Christ in an Everlasting Covenant We may read the descent of these in Rom. 8 29. 30. There is a white Stone and a new Name which is not Legible by any but him who hath it This God bestows upon none other but those who were thus Covenanted for There is a powerful work of Conversion wrought in the Soul by causing the man to pass from death to life the donation of the Spirit of Adoption by which we are enabled to Cry Abba Father the infusion of the Grace of Sanctification in which there is a wonderful change made a New Creature brought forth all old things past away and all things become new in him Now these are all the gifts of saving Grace they are the secret conveyance from the Well-head of Electing Love they are the Covenant Mercies and things that Accompany Salvation if then you are called by his power seized by his Spirit sanctified by his Grace you may by this be assured that you were Chosen in Christ and Covenanted for with him These benefits are not scattered promiscuously but are given peculiarly Labour therefore to have and discover such Operations as these in your hearts and to be more and more acquainted with the reality of them this will be the way to derive joy and consolation from the Fountain and fetch down comfort into your Souls as far as from Eternity 2 Be exhorted to make improvement of your interest in this Covenant for your establishment against the temptations which may assault you We may safely determine that all the shakings or unsettlings of a believers saith and all the discouragements under which he Labours at any time do arise either from a want of his being fortified in this Covenant or from a neglect of applying and improving it seasonably For this hath enough in it to dissolve all doubts and answer all objections if it be wisely improved by us use it therefore 1 To silence all the accusations which may arise from the Covenant of Works A Believer is sometimes greatly Puzled and in a Shock of sore Temptation he is hurried to the Old Covenant where sin is declared against and the sinner is condemned and Justice stands engaged to do execution accordingly and now he is greatly perplexed to think how the Law and Grace can consist and so how such a Sinner as he is can be Saved and he is ready to sink under it Indeed in the Covenant of Grace he hears of pardon and forgiveness which are assured to the