the Ministry will either soften or harden it will either work effectually by the Ministry of the Spirit according to the Nature of an Absolute Promise and unto such it becomes a Savour of Life unto Life or else it works only in the Letter and unto such it Kills or is a Savour of Death unto Death or an Aggravation of Death and Condemnation But all its Divine Efficacy is according to the Purpose Will and Good Pleasure of God But having occasionally spoken much before of the Absoluteness of the Covenant I shall say no more but Conclude at this Time SERMON IX Further opening the Nature of the Covenant of Peace that 't is a well-order'd Covenant a Glorious Covenant a Full Covenant a Seasonable Covenant c. ISA. Liv. x. Neither shall the Covenant of my Peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Doct. THAT there is a Covenant of Peace made or agreed on and stands firm in the behalf of all God's Elect. I am my Brethren upon the Third General Head of Discourse which is to open the Nature of the Covenant of Peace 1. I shewed you it is the Covenant of Grace And that as considered in it self 3. 〈◊〉 It is an Absolute Covenant Fourthly To proceed It is a well-order'd Covenant See 2 Sam. 23.5 Yet he hath made with me an Everlasting Covenant ordered in all things and sure c. I. This Covenant is well-ordered in all things in respect of the Revelation and Manifestation of all the Perfections and Glory of the Three Divine Persons in the Godhead 1. The Perfections Work and Glory of God the Father shines forth and is displayed in this Covenant 2. The Perfections Work and Glory of God the Son shines forth and is displayed herein also 3. The Perfections Work and Glory of God the Holy Ghost shines forth and is displayed in it likewise as hath been shewed II. This Covenant is well ordered in all Things respecting the Manifestation or Revelation of the Perfections and Glory of all the Divine Attributes of God and as they also in this Covenant appear to meet together in Sweet Harmony III. This Covenant is well ordered in all things to the utter Overthrowing Defeating and Destroying for ever the Design Devices Works and Kingdom of the Devil For to this End was the Son of God manifested IV. This Covenant is well ordered in all things to magnifie the Sanction and Honour of the Holy Law of God in that rather then the Law shall fall to the Ground or be violated or rendered contemptible in God's Saving lost Sinners the Son of God comes and takes our Nature on him and yields Perfect Obedience to it and to greaten its Glory he died the Cursed Death of the Cross to answer the Just Punishment it doth denounce upon Mankind for the Breach thereof Moreover V. This Covenant is well ordered in all things for our Good both in respect of Grace here and Glory hereafter or in respect of what by it we are delivered from and of those high Priviledges Dignities and of that Unchangeable and Eternal Honour we are raised up unto hereby But because I have lately upon another Text spoken unto these Things largely in two Sermons on the Covenant I shall not add any thing further on this Account Fifthly It is a Glorious Covenant I. It must needs be a Glorious Covenant in respect had to the Time when it was made or entered into between the Father and the Son and this was as you have heard before the World began even in Eternity 2 Tim. 1.9 Tit. 1.2 Hence Jesus Christ 't is said was a Lamb slain before the Foundation of the World Rev. 13.8 and what Pilate and the People of Israel and the Gentiles did to him was whatsoever God's Hand and his Counsel determined before to be done Act. 4.28 Certainly that Covenant that was so early even from Everlasting contrived by the Sublime Wisdom of God and entered into between such Glorious Persons as the Father and the Son must be a most Glorious Covenant and this I say in respect to the Time when and to the Persons who entred into it certainly it must be some great Thing that is contained in this Covenant that was so early and by the Eternal God concluded upon II. It must needs be a Glorious Covenant in regard that there was also a Council held about it in Eternity for it was made as the Result of a Great and Glorious Council Him being delivered by the Determinate Council and Fore-knowledge of God ye have taken and by Wicked Hands ye have Crucified and Slain The Father Son and Holy Spirit then agreed That the Second Person should assume the Nature of Man and die to make our Peace tho 't is true elsewhere it is said The Counsel of Peace was between them both viz. the Father and the Son yet since it is ascribed to God without distinction of Persons and also seeing the Holy Ghost hath his part in this Covenant to act and do in order to the actual and compleat Accomplishment of the whole Transactions agreed on in that Glorious Council I see no reason to exclude the Holy Ghost from being concerned therein Moreover let us consider the great Things Consulted about in that Glorious Council 1. It was how God might be Just or Magnifie his Justice and yet be Gracious and Magnifie his Mercy and Infinite Love and Goodness or how God might preserve his own Honour and yet become our Redeemer 2. How Sin might be punished and the Odious Nature and Infinite Evil that is in it be exposed and yet the guilty Sinner be acquitted III. It is a Glorious Covenant because in it there is a display of God's Highest and most Glorious Wisdom the Gospel contains the Manifestation of God's Hidden Wisdom and the Wisdom of God in a Mystery nay Paul calls it a Glorious Mystery To whom God would make known what is the Riches of the Glory of this Mystery There is much of the Wisdom of God seen in his Works of Creation and Providence yea and there is also great Mysteries hid in those Works of God but the Chiefest and most Glorious Wisdom of God is manifested in the Work and Covenant of Man's Redemption Without Controversie great is the Mystery of Godliness God manifested in the Flesh the Word was made Flesh. This is the Wonderment of the Holy Angels and 't is mervelous indeed how an Infinite Nature should be Personally united to a Finite Nature so as to make but one Person What Wisdom of God is here displayed O who can search out the depth of this Mystery IV. It must needs be a Glorious Covenant in respect of that display of God's Glorious Love therein God so loved the World that no Created Beings can conceive of it neither Men nor Angels And so I might speak of the Glory of his Justice Power Holiness c. which amazingly shine forth herein
is a full Covenant shewed in 10 Things p. 194 to 198. VI. 'T is a seasonable Covenant shewed in 3 Things p. 198. 1. As to the time when provided before Man sinned 2. As to the first revelation of it 3. As to the time of the application of the Balm of it to a Convicted or Wounded Sinner p. 198 199. VII 'T is a sure Covenant shewed in 6 Respects p. 199 200. VIII 'T is a Cov. of Peace p. 201 to 203. SERM. X. IX 'T is a tried Covenant shewed in 4 Respects p. 206. X. It is one intire Covenant largely proving the Covenant of Redemption and Covenant of Grace essentially one and the same Covenant p. 207 to 222. The Covenant of Peace a Covenant of greatest Consolation p. 222. Also an Everlasting Covenant p. 223. SERM. XI Shewing the Gifts Grants and Priviledges in the Covenant to Believers p. 224. 1. God himself given as a Cov. Blessing p. 225. How God comes to be our God negatively shewed in 3 Respects p. 226. Affirmatively p. 227. What an amazing Gift this is shewed in 9 Particulars p. 228 to 236. First The Good in God's Communicable Atbutes given and let out to us p. 229 c. Secondly The Son is given to Believers p. 237 Thirdly The Holy Spirit is given all Grace is given other Priviledges given p. 238 239. SERM. XII Believers are God's People by virtue of the Covenant p. 240 241. 1. In what respects called God's People negatively in 3 respects p. 242 243. In the Affirmative in 7 respects p. 243 c. 2. What kind of People God's Covenant-People are shewed in 11 Partic. p. 246 to 252. 3. What a Blessing it is to be God's People in 12 Particulars p. 255 256. The Application p. 256 257. SERM. XIII This Peace opens a Free Trade to Heaven p. 259. Sin stop'd up or interrupted all Trade betwixt God and Man what this implies shewed p. 259. What meant by a Free Trade shewed in 3 Things p. 260 261. This Spiritual Trade is opened by the Peace made by Christ p. 261. We Trade by or through a River viz. the Spirit this River Christ opened p. 262. This Trade the best Trade shewed in 4 Respects 1. in the respect of the Subject these Merchandises inrich 2. In respect of the things Traded for 3. In respect of the Correspondent we Trade with p. 263 4. In respect of the Terms upon which we Trade p. 264. 1. In respect of the Subject viz the Soul shewed in 7 Things p. 265 c. 2. In respect of the Nature of the Things shewed in 8 Particulars p. 268 c. 5. In respect of Christ we Trade with shewed in 6 Things p. 271 272. 1. Christ makes great Returns p. 272. 2. Sure Returns 3. Quick Returns 4. 'T is a Free Trade without Money p. 275. The Application p. 276. All False Dealers will break and why shewed in 6 Things p. 277. Who are Rich Traders shewed in 9 Things p. 279 280. SERM. XIV A Summary Account of what is requisite to God's being at Peace with Man and Man with God p. 281 c. The Nature of this Peace opened in fourteen Particulars p. 286 to 291. The general Application p. 293. Christ the Covenant or the Sum of the Covenant of Grace shewed in eight Respects p. 293 to 296. How to know we have actual Peace with God shewed in 8 Particular p. 299. 300. A needful Caution about the Elect being Reconciled to God in Christ whilst Sinners p. 300 301. The Blessed State of Believers that possess Peace or are in a State of Peace p. 303 304. The Conclusion THE DISPLAY OF Glorious Grace OR THE Covenant of Peace Opened In Several SERMONS SERMON I. ISA. Liv. x. Latter Part. Neither shall the Covenant of my Peace be removed saith the Lord that hath Mercy on thee I Have promised some Brethren to Enter upon the Great Subject of Peace Not to Treat of Peace with Men but Peace with GOD not National Peace but Spiritual Peace And that which partly put me upon the Thoughts hereof was To see and hear what Great Joy there is among us in this Nation and in other Kingdoms and States upon account of the Peace lately concluded betwixt the French King and the Confederate Princes I must confess National Peace is a great Blessing when it is given in Mercy and it is sanctified and well improved by those Kingdoms and People that enjoy it But whether the Present Peace may be in Mercy to the Nations or in Judgment I know not Time must discover that Alas What Peace can such expect who continue in Rebellion against the GOD of Heaven and Earth What Peace can such a People expect who are not humbled for those Sins and Abominations which caused the righteous and holy God to bring the Plague of War and Devastations upon them When the Cause is not removed what reason have we to think the Effect will cease GOD may it is true take off one Rod and yet chasten us with another if War and the Pestilence humble us not Famine may be looked for See what God speaks in Levit. 26.21 And if you walk contrary unto me and will not hearken unto me I will bring seven times more Plagues upon you according to your sins and ye shall eat the flesh of your Sons and the flesh of your Daughters shall you eat v. 29. A People may cry Peace Peace when sudden Destruction is just coming upon them I may say of the Nations of the Earth as Jehu said to Joram's Messenger What hast thou to do with Peace What Peace so long as the Whoredoms of thy Mother Jezzabel and her Witchcrafts are so many What Peace can such a Nation or People look for long to continue whilst their horrid Wickedness Prophaneness cursed Oaths Blasphemy Drunkenness Whoredom Pride Treachery Cruelty Cotousness Heresies Superstitions and all manner of abominations abound amongst them know this assuredly God's Anger is not yet turned away but his hand is lifted up still The Seven last Plagues will over a short time be poured forth and whatsoever you may think of the present Peace I fear worser things are near than what the Earth hath seen or felt yet we are not fallen in such an Age as to expect any long time of Peace No No! God hath a fearful Controversie with the Kingdoms of the Earth Babylon must fall and Sion must rise and Jesus Christ shall Reign and Possess his Visible Kingdom And tho Reverend Mr. Beverly in some respect hath acknowledged himself mistaken yet the Church of God is greatly obliged to him for his elaborate Pains in his careful searching out the Mystical Numbers so as to know the time of the end of the Beasts Reign and Tyranny and the passing away of the Second Wo. Moreover I am perswaded he hath out-done all that went before him and may be the World will see in a short space that he was not much mistaken as to the
Time Therefore it will be Wisdom in all to forbear too hard Censures of this Worthy Person Let us wait to see what will be produced by Divine Providence between this and the end of the Year 1700. No doubt but amazing Revolutions are ready to break out in the Earth God will overturn overturn overturn till he come whose right it is viz. our Lord Jesus Christ and it shall be given unto him Things look abroad as if we may expect a Religious War and such an one doubtless will be produced when God puts it into the hearts of the Ten Kings or some of them to hate the Whore So that from the whole we may expect God will yet take Peace from the Earth tho blessed be his Name we enjoy a little repose at this time But what may such Princes and People expect who having got Peace from abroad continue or raise an Open War against the Lord and his People at Home nay shew their Rage and Malice more since in persecuting them than before Oh! That all of us may be stirred up to cry to the Lord mightily for those poor People and against their Enemies as they are Foes and Opposers and make War against the Lamb and those that follow him These things tend to cause me to conclude that the Present Peace in the European World may not last long My Brethren Peace made between Kingdoms and Nations may soon be broken or removed But there is a Peace which being made shall be lasting and never be removed And this brings me to the Words of my Text For the Mountains shall depart and the Hills be removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee neither shall the Covenant of my Peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee The Text containeth a most Gracious Promise in which are Five Things to be considered I. Who it is that makes this Promise II. To whom the Promise is made III. What is contained in the Promise IV. The Spring or Rise of the Promise V. The Stability of the Promise I. It is GOD the great God and Father of Mercy which makes this Promise he that made and created us see verse 5. For thy Maker is thy Husband the Lord of Hosts is his Name the God of the whole Earth shall he be called A Promise of Peace from such a King is worth regard and to be prized by all to whom it is made II. This Promise is made unto the Gentile Church and therefore it wonderfully behoveth us to consider it and lay the matter to heart some of those great Promises contained in the Writings of the Prophets do peculiarly refer to the Jews the Natural Seed of Abraham but this wholly and particularly respecteth the Gentile Church as you may see if you read v. 1. Sing O barren thou that didst not bear break forth into Singing and cry aloud thou that didst not travel The Jewish People were in a Legal Covenant Married to the Lord and many among them were spiritually espoused unto him and brought forth blessed Fruit the Church of Israel had a numerous Off-spring but for a long Period of Time we poor Gentiles were passed by God espoused us not the Gentiles were not Married or taken into a Covenant Relation with God until the Times of the Gospel and it was upon the Rejection and casting off of the Jews that they were grafted in as Paul shews at large Rom. 11. Now the Reasons why the Gentile People are called or excited here to Rejoyce and Sing may be these 1. From what precedeth in the 53 d. Chapter where mention is made of the Sufferings Humiliation and Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Surely he hath born our Griefs and carried our Sorrows c. ver 4. He was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our Iniquities For our Iniquities that is for all the Iniquities of Gods Elect not only for them among the Jews but them also amongst the Gentiles Therefore Sing O Barren sing ye Poor Gentiles for Jesus Christ Dyed for you he bore your Transgressions 2. Upon the Consideration of the Promise of the Father to Jesus Christ in respect of them as well as any other Chap. 53.10 He shall see his Seed or the Travel of his Soul even them amongst the Gentiles as well as them amongst the Jews i. e. He shall see all them for whom he Died brought into a Covenant Relation with himself even Married to him and his own gracious Image stampt upon them they shall be called he shall see them Converted he shall enjoy them and imbrace them in his Arms and they shall lie in his Bosom They are called upon to Sing as I conceive in respect of that great and glorious Priviledge of there being thus Married to Jesus Christ who before had no Husband For thy Maker is thy Husband 3. From the Consideration she is delivered from the shame of being Barren see ver 4. Cry aloud thou that didst not Travel c. 4. Upon the Consideration of her numerous off-spring For more are the Children of the Desolate than the Children of the Married Wife saith the Lord verse 1. Enlarge the Place of thy Tents and let them stretch forth the Curtains c. verse 2. For thou shalt break forth on the Right Hand and on the Left This shews that there should be a Multitude of the Gentiles Converted unto Jesus Christ yea a far greater number than of the Jews which hath been made good in the Gospel Days and will yet more abundantly in Times that now draw very near when the fulness of the Gentiles shall be brought in But O! How barren is she now that once was the Darling of Heaven and the only Church and People of God hardly one Jew to be found throughout the Earth that owns the true Messiah or is a Believer or a true Christian. 5. Because she shall never suffer shame any more though for a short Time she was forsaken and seemed not to be regarded by the Lord but being now Espoused she shall perpetually be Beloved and injoy Christs special Favour 6. From the Consideration of the Covenant that God has made with Christs for them For the Mountains shall depart and the Hills be removed but my Kindness shall not depart from thee neither shall the Covenant of my Peace be removed c. This brings me to the next Thing III. Which is that which is contained in the Promise viz. Peace Peace is a sweet Blessing Peace with Men is highly esteemed but this is Peace with God which is far better and exceeds all kind of Peace whatsoever Yea Peace by Vertue of a Covenant a Covenant made by God himself The Covenant of my Peace saith the Lord. IV. We have the Spring or Rise of this Promise or the grand Motive that moved God to enter into this Covenant of Peace or to make this Promise viz. His Love and Mercy Saith the Lord that
the Fallen Angels he had not been unjust if all Adam's Posterity had been cast into Hell and not one Soul saved as he is not unjust in throwing all the fallen Angels into Hell for ever without affording one of them any Relief Redemption or hope of Recovery neither is he obliged to save the whole Lump of Mankind either in a way of Justice or Mercy because he is pleased to save a remnant of them God was at the liberty of his Will whether he would make this World or not it was I mean the only Act of his Sovereignty its actual existence in time was according to his absolute Decree and Purpose from Everlasting and according to his absolute Sovereignty he governs and disposes of all things and may do what he will with his own All Nations tremble before him whom he would he slew and whom he would he kept alive The most High doth according to his Will in the Armies of Heaven and among the Inhabitants of the Earth and none can stay his hand or say unto him what dost thou So he hath mercy upon whom he will have mercy and compassion on whom he will have compassion and whom he will he hardeneth He called Abraham and revealed himself to him and let the most of Mankind in his days remain ignorant of him as to Salvation by Jesus Christ He also entred into a Covenant with the Seed of Abraham and gave them his Laws and Ordinances he did not do so to any other Nation And in Gospel Times he called a few poor and illiterate Fishermen and such like Persons and let the Pharisees and Learned Rabbins remain under the power of Sin and Satan and all this as the act of his own absolute Sovereignty and Good Pleasure of his Will as our Lord sheweth At that time Jesus answered and said I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them to Babes Even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight So now at this day he sends the Gospel into one Nation and not into another and then also in such Nations where the Gospel is Preached it is but here and there clearly opened Nay and many who come under the powerful Ministration of the Gospel have it only come unto them in Word that which is the savour of life unto life to some is the savour of Death unto Death to others Now from whence is all this but meerly from the Sovereignty of God or good pleasure of his Will for It is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy God's special Love and Election is not from any Man 's willing or running it riseth not from Natural Powers emproved not from his Desires Good Deeds or Good Inclinations or from the fore-sight of his Faith and Obedience but from and of God's meer Mercy Sovereign Grace and Favour The Truth is to deny God to have the power of his own Free Act in dispensing his own Sovereign Bounty is to Eclipse his Glory and to render him to have less Sovereign Power than that which he hath given and alloweth to Mankind May not a Man shew his Favour and Goodness in redeeming a few Captives out of a Multitude who wilfully brought themselves into Bondage but he must redeem them all or be unjust Or cannot a Man give a bountiful Gift to One or Two poor Men in a Parish but he must bestow like Bounty to all the Poor in the said Parish Or can't a King contrive and enter into a Covenant of Peace for a few Rebels that have with a Multitude of others taken up Arms against him but he must be charged with Injustice because he did not extend like Favour in the said Covenant to them all sure no Man in his right Senses will deny him this Liberty And now Shall not GOD have like power to dispense his Sovereign Grace to whom he pleaseth who is said to do all things according to the pleasure of his own Will and eternal purpose in Jesus Christ Proposition VII And from hence it appeareth That the Covenant of Peace is the Covenant of Grace For tho the Covenant of Peace in respect had to Christ as our Mediatour Head and Surety was upon the Condition of his Merits yet as to the Design End and Purpose of it in respect of us it was only an act of Pure Grace hence said to be according to the good pleasure of his Will Ephes. 1.5 And to the praise of the glory of his Grace v. 6. 1. It was the Free Grace of God the Father to vouchsafe us a Substitute a Saviour a Mediator of this Peace and to Choose Ordain and Appoint his own Son to be the Person and to accept him in our stead Oh! What Favour is this God so loved the World c. 2. And it was the Free Grace of God the Son to engage himself to the Father to enter into this Covenant to make our Peace the Glory of Both Persons equally shine forth to the amazement of all in Heaven and Earth the Counsel of Peace was between them both 3. Nay my Brethren the Free and Rich Grace of God in this Covenant is to be adored even as to the Main and Ultimate End and Design thereof Not according to our Works but according to his own Purpose and Grace which was given to us in Christ before the World began The whole Contrivance Foundation and Rise of this Covenant of Peace is of love and Grace Neither do we receive any Grace from God in Time but as it results from the Covenant of Peace made with us in Christ before all Time But this I purpose to enlarge upon further when I come to open the nature of the Covenant Proposition VIII And as the Covenant of Peace is the Govenant of Grace so it results from God as an act of Infinite Mercy It is therefore a merciful Covenant it was not made with Man considered in his State of Innocency for Man as so considered could not be the Object of God's Mercy for tho God appeared very good and gracious to us in our First Creation and as we came out of his Hands and that many ways Yet such was our Happy State that we stood then in no need of Mercy for where Mercy is shewed it is to such that are in Misery but before Man fell he knew no Misery Pain or Sorrow but when God first cast his Eyes upon us and entered into this Covenant of Peace with his own Son for us he saw us lie in our Bloud and fallen under his Divine Wrath and Anger and this indeed the very name of the Covenant of Peace doth import There was no need of Peace had there not been a War or a fearful Breach between God and us and that this Covenant results from God's great Mercy read again
He is Faithful and cannot deny i. e. He can as soon cease to be God as cease to be True and Faithful Hence all Covenant-Blessings come to be so firm and sure In hope of Eternal Life which God that cannot lie promised before the World began Besides he hath given good Security even his own Oath he hath Sworn to his Covenant by his Holiness c. 4. An Ambassador is welcome if he comes to offer Peace on easie Terms Now The Terms upon which God offers Peace you have heard are very easie true on his part our Peace was made on hard Terms it was by the Blood of his own Son Had he said you shall have Peace upon a Sacrifice of a Thousand Rams or Ten Thousand Rivers of Oyl that might seem hard or if you would Offer your First-born in Sacrifice or run your Knife into his Throat and let out his Hearts Blood you would think those hard Terms but it is not your First-born but his First-born whose Blood must be let out to make your Peace you are but to look to him trust in Christ Hear and your Souls shall live What tho Faith will launch the Plague Sore and let out all the Filth and Corruptions of your Polluted Hearts will a Man think that is a Cure on too hard Terms Sirs the Spirit will cause you to vomit up that Poyson that you have taken down But is that too hard to save the Life of your Immortal Souls Is it hard to tell a Man he must give up the Traytor he has harboured in his House If he would have the King's Pardon or possess that Peace purchased by the Blood of his own Dear Son VI. That Love and Respect People shew to an Ambassador a Prince looks upon as shewed to himself because the Ambassador represents his Person and that Contempt which is shewed to his Ambassador he takes as cast on himself So Jesus Christ takes the Honour Love and Respect which is shewed to his Faithful Ministers as if it was shewed to him and the same Dishonour done to them as if it was done to himself He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me VII An Ambassador is to do his uttermost in order to accomplish his Ambassy and to bring the King's Enemies to accept of Peace So are Christ's Ministers they are to pray to intreat to beseech Sinners to be reconciled to God We pray you in Christ's stead c. Paul besought them with Tears Faithful Ministers are willing to spend their Lives to win Souls to Christ yea to die upon the spot to save one poor Sinner Knowing the Terror of the Lord we perswade Men. Our Great Master thought not his Blood too dear to make our Peace and shall Ministers think their Strength their Lives their Blood too much that so they might see the Travel of Christ's Soul I mean Sinners reconciled unto God or Christ's Blood by Faith sprinkled on their Hearts Many like the Minister's Dignity but few like their Work and Duty My Brethren it is a great Trust that is committed to them 1. The Charge of the Souls of Men that are more worth than all the World is committed to them 2. The wonderful Worth of Gospel Verities Truth is a rich Treasure We have this Treasure in Earthen Vessels this is committed to them 3. 'T is the Ambassy of that Peace which was made by the Blood of the Son of God that is committed to them 4. The Charge of the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own Blood is committed to them VIII An Ambassador is to keep close or exactly to his Instructions or to the Words of his Commission not to add to it alter it or diminish from it on pain of incurring his Prince's highest Displeasure so must Christ's Ambassadors keep close to their Commission Add thou not to his Word least he reprove thee and thou art found a Lyar they must deliver their whole Message There is a Curse pronounced to him that adds or diminisheth 1. They must in all things exalt Jesus Christ or seek the Honour alone of their Blessed Sovereign The whole of their Work is to magnifie Christ exalt Christ To Preach Christ the Lord and themselves but Servants for Jesus sake Not magnifie the Creature nor set the Crown on the Head of the Will of Man but throw the Creature down at Christ's Feet and to Teach all Men to account all Things done by them or in them in comparison of Christ but Dung or Dogs Meat for thus did Paul 2. They are to preach nothing to be Christ's Ordinance but what he hath instituted or positively appointed in the New Testament or Word of God they must look into their Commission Matt. 28.18 19 20. IX An Ambassador if his Soveraign sees he cannot succed in his Work or that Rebels will not have Peace nor lay down their Arms whilst the White Flag of Mercy is put out he orders him to proclaim War and puts forth the Bloody Flag and nothing but War Slaughter and utter Ruine follows So when Christ sees that his Ministers cannot prevail with Rebellious Sinners but that they remain Obstinate and Obdurant rejecting Peace upon the Terms of this Covenant or will not believe to be saved but seek their Peace some other way or continue in their Sins and Unbelief he orders them to shake off the Dust of their Feet as a Witness against them and so to proclaim War and such will fall into the Hands of Divine Wrath and Vengeance and Christ will at the last Day say Bring out those mine Enemies who would not that I should Reign over them and slay them before my Face And hence Wrath came on the Jews to the uttermost And saith Paul Lo we leave you and turn to the Gentiles X. When an Ambassador is called Home it is a sign the Patience of his Prince is worn out and that he will wait on his Enemies no longer What may'st thou then think O London Tremble tremble for how many Faithful Ambassadors in thee hath God called Home very lately Thy Day of Grace thou mayest fear draws to an end XI An Ambassador must give an account of his Ambassage to his Prince So Christ likewise will call all his Ministers to give an account to him how they have succeeded in their Work they must all appear before the Judgment-Seat of Christ and happy will such be who have been Faithful in all things unto him and have won many Souls to the Lord Jesus Christ and have their Accounts to give with Joy My Brethren there are one or two Disparities concerning the Work of other Ambassadors and the Ambassadors of Christ. 1. Other Ambassadors are impowered to make Peace betwixt States and Kingdoms or betwixt one Prince and another that are at variance they are not imployed only to proclaim Peace but to make Peace but this Christ's Ambassadors are not impowered to
in him 2. To consider the Time allowed you is this present time Behold now is the accepted time behold now is the Day of Salvation 3. To consider the Danger of rejecting neglecting or refusing Peace and Salvation by Jesus Christ How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation Know O Sinners that Ministers set Life and Death before you Hear and your Souls shall live but he that Believeth not shall be Damned He that Believeth hath Everlasting Life but he that Believeth not shall not see Life but the Wrath of God abideth on him What do you say Sinners Will you strive to take hold of Jesus Christ Believe in him cry to him for Faith resolve to lay down your Arms What Answer shall I return to my Great Master Do not make a Pause but speedily come to a Resolution your Lives are uncertain Lastly This severely reproves all that cast Affronts or Contempt through Pride Envy or Prejudice upon any one of Christ's Ambasdors or that abase deride or raise up evil Reports on him Christ takes it all as done to himself also it reproves such who account them as their Brethren and shew them no more respect than to others may be not so much but slight and despise them and hardly speak Friendly to them not considering the Place and Office they are in But no more at this time SERMON VII Shewing the Nature of the Proclamation of the Gospel and the Terms thereof ISA. Liv. x. Neither shall the Covenant of my Peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Doct. THAT there is a Covenant of Peace made or agreed on and stands firm in the behalf of all God's Elect. We shewed you that this Peace is proclaimed 1. What the Proclamation is 2. Who the Ambassadors are that Christ hath appointed to proclaim it I shall now proceed to the next thing under this Head 3. I shall open the Nature of this Proclamation And then 4. Shew you the Terms upon which Peace is offered Would you know what is contained in this Proclamation First Then know it contains a clear and full Declaration of all those Covenant Transactions between the Father and the Son about the Restoration of lost Sinners before the World began the Gospel reveals those Mysteries that were hid from Ages and Generations It is called The Revelation of the Mysteries which were kept secret since the World began Not only that Mystery that the Gentiles should be Fellow Heirs of the Inheritance but the Mystery of the Covenant Purpose and Design of God and also of the Incarnation Life Death Resurrection Ascention and Intercession of Jesus Christ. I say it contains the Revelation of the Mystery of these things and not only the History of them I. It reveals that Infinite Love Mercy Grace and Goodness of God 〈◊〉 to lost and undone Sinners which astonisheth the very Angels of God to behold To make all Men see what is the Fellowship of the Mystery which from the beginning of the World hath been hid in God who created all things by Jesus Christ To the intent that now unto the Principalities and Powers in Heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold Wisdom of God The Good Angels are not Teachers of these Mysteries but Learners and Admirers of them the Gospel is to them as a Mirror or Looking-glass to behold and contemplate the Divine Wisdom of God in every appearance of it but especially in this the last and great Revelation thereof II. It reveals the great Love of God the Father In this was manifested the Love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son that we might live through him That he might die to raise us to Life to be Crown'd with Thorns that we might be Crown'd with Glory to be made a Curse for us that we might be made the Blessing of God in him there could be no higher demonstration of God's Love than this is III. It reveals the Love of Christ which hath a Breadth a Length a Depth and a Heighth in it and passeth Knowledge Is it not an amazing Declaration or Revelation of the Infinite Love of Jesus Christ our Lord Who tho he was God should condescend to die for such vile Rebels and wretched Sinners as we were Hereby perceive we the Love of God because he laid down his Life for us from that near and intimate Union between the Divine and Humane Nature in the Person of Christ Christ's Life is here called the Life of God as elsewhere his Blood is called the Blood of God God is said to purchase the Church with his own Blood IV. This Proclamation is a Declaration or a Revelation that God in Christ is reconciled to his Elect that is the Price is paid tho the Blood may not be yet sprinkled When we were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son Through the Blood of his Cross God is satisfied and his Wrath is appeased that the Atonement is madefully perfectly and for ever by one Sacrifice he hath perfected for ever them that we Sanctified V. It doth not only declare but also proclaim this Peace and Reconciliation Deliverance is proclaimed to the Captives The Lord hath Anointed me to Preach good Tydings to the Meek he hath sent me to bind up the Broken-hearted to proclaim Liberty to the Captives and the opening the Prison to them that are bound To proclaim the acceptable Year of the Lord c. or the Year of the Great Jubilee The Sinner is told his Debts are paid requiring him to believe this nay Proclamation is made of Free Pardon to all that believe That they shall not perish but have Everlasting Life and that God hath received the uttermost Farthing of our vast Debt and that Christ hath received a Discharge as our Surety for all the Elect and that he hath not done what he did in part or by halfs but that it is fully wholly and compleatly done and that for ever our Faith adding nothing to that Satisfaction The Gospel doth not proclaim a Conditional Peace or Reconciliation or that God is only reconcilable so that if the Sinner performs his part God will be fully reconciled that is if the Sinner repents believes is Regenerated or answers the Rule of the Promise as some speak I know no such Conditional Gospel or Proclamation but those Conditions which Jesus Christ was to perform which was not only to reconcile God to us but us also to God Can that be the Condition of Life on our part which Christ hath engaged in the Covenant to do viz. to bring us into a State of Peace Them I must bring Nay God hath promised to give us a new Heart and put a new Spirit into us Moreover Christ is exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour to give Repentance to Israel and Remission of Sins
II. A seasonable Covenant in respect of the Revelation or Manifestation of it even just as Adam had sinned and when Divine Justice was ready to lift up his direful Ax of Divine Vengeance How seasonable is it for a poor condemned Criminal to hear of a Pardon just when he is brought to the place of Execution and the Halter is put about his Neck or the Ax lifted up to Cut off his Head III. It is a seasonable Covenant in respect to the application of the blessings thereof to a poor Sinner 1. 'T is by the Spirit applyed when the sinner sees he is Condemned being under the sense of Sin Wrath and Condemnation beholding himself just dropping into Hell then this Covenant is opened and the blessing of free Justification and Pardon is applied 2. When the Soul and Conscience of a sinner is wounded and his wounds bleed then is the Balm of the Covenant applied to heal him 3. When the Sinner sees he is pursued by the Avenger of Blood and sees no way to escape then his Eyes are opened and he is directed to fly to the City of refuge the way being made plain and easie and the Holy Spirit directs the Soul to Christ and crys Refuge Refuge 4. When the Sinner sees he is so sick that he can't live even then the Physician provided in the Covenant comes immediately and pours in his Oyl and Wine When I passed by and saw thee polluted in thy Blood I said unto thee live Ye I sware unto thee and entred into Covenant with thee saith the Lord and thou becamest mine Eighthly It is a Sure Covenant Ordered in all things and sure Incline your ear and come unto me hear and your Souls shall live and I will make an everlasting Covenant with you even the sure mercies of David I. It is a sure Covenant because it is made with such a Surety as Jesus Christ is it is not made primarily with us but with Christ for us and with us in him the sure mercies of David That is our Lord Jesus Christ he is the true Antitipical David Sure because they are Mercies granted to us thro' Christ's suretiship and when a Sinner is brought into the bands of the Covenant God is said to make this Covenant with him i. e. he actually entering then thro' Christ into Covenant with God but our standing then in it is upon the account of Christ's Covenant with the Father for us II. It is a Sure Covenant because it stands upon the absolute purpose and unchangeable Decree and Councel of God My Mercy will I keep with him and my Covenant shall stand fast with him My Covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my mouth Hence the absolute Decrees of God are compared to mountains of Brass Zach. 6.1 Denoting how unmovable stedy and unchangable his Councels are nay Tho' the Mountains should depart and the Hills be removed yet saith the Lord my loving kindness shall not depart from thee neither shall the Covenant of my Peace be removed c. All Covenant-Mercys are according to God's Eternal purpose which be purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord The Covenant stands not only as the act of God's Eternal Wisdom but as his Eternal Decree and Purpose before all Worlds III. The Covenant of Peace is sure because it is confirmed by the witness of the Holy Ghost 1. The Spirit of God was a witness to the Covenant when it was made 2. Moreover it was confirmed in the promulgation of it by the Holy Ghost by wonderfull Miracles for what served all those Miracles more clearly for than to confirm the Authority of the Mediator and the verity and stability of the Gospel Covenant IV. Furthermore The Covenant was as you heard confirmed by the Blood of Jesus Christ therefore it is a sure Covenant V. The Covenant is sure because it is confirmed by the Promise and Oath of God Once have I sworn by my Holiness that I will not lye to David his Seed shall endure for ever and his Throne as the Sun before me This is as the waters of Noah unto me for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah shall no more go over the Earth so have I sworn that I will not be wrath with thee nor rebuke thee compared with Heb. 6.13 16 17 18. VI. It is a Sure Covenant to all Gods Elect because the Execution of it is put into Christ's own hands he is the Executioner of his own Will and Testament for tho Christ was dead yet he is alive I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive forevermore Christ sees his last Will and Testament fully executed by his Spirit Ninethly It is a Covenant of Peace this is the Name that is given to it in my Text which also shews it is of an excellent and precious nature I. 'T is a Covenant of Peace with God God is hereby reconciled to us and we to him and that for ever II. Hereby we come also to have peace in our own Souls or peace of Conscience nor indeed can we ever have true peace any other ways For can your repentance give you peace of Conscience Can Tears of Blood apease Divine Wrath or satisfy Divine Justice Can Reformation of life give you Peace or your inherent Sanctification or pious and religious duties Do you fetch your peace from thence If you do your peace will be turned into trouble and anguish of Spirit or can your lively and spiritual Frame give you true and lasting peace I affirm 't is a false peace that is simply grounded on a lively and Spiritual Frame or disposition of Heart for there can be no true peace of Conscience but by Jesus Christ thro' the Blood of the everlasting Covenant He is our peace c. He will speak peace to his People Not as the World giveth give I unto you Dare a Man plead his Faith or good Duties to Justifie him and so from thence fetch his peace and comfort alas What unrighteousness cleaves to our righteousness what doubtings attend our Faith and what wandrings of heart attend us in our best Duties nay may we not find some Hypocrisie in us also tho in the main we are sincere our peace is only had in Christ. III. 'T is only by the peace made by Christ as is revealed in this Covenant that a poor wounded disparing and distressed Soul comes to have peace I once cited a passage out of Dr. Owen being pious Anselem's directions to a poor tempted Soul on a Death-Bed let me repeat it here once again Minister Dost thou believe thou canst not be saved but by the Death of Christ. ' Sick-man Yes I do so believe Minister Then let it be said unto thee go and whilest thy Soul abideth in thee and put all thy confidence in Christ's death alone place thy trust in no other thing commit thy self wholly to
Consort and to lie in his Bosome O! what can be a greater evidence of Divine Love and Goodness than for God to give himself to us to be our God in the nearest Relation that a Creature is capable of or can be brought into with his Glorious Creator and Blessed Redeemer For this God to be our God our Portion the Lot of our Inheritance our Shield and our exceeding great Reward who were once his Enemies and meer Vassals of Sin and Satan What Tongue is able to express this Love or Heart to conceive how great it is II. It is an amazing Priviledge Grant and Blessing because God cannot give a greater Gift than this is My Brethren Is there any thing in Heaven or Earth greater or better than God himself What hath God to bestow that excels himself God as I may speak with Reverence look'd round about on all things he had in Heaven and Earth and saw nothing good enough to impart to his Elect and Beloved ones and therefore gave himself to them who comprehends and infinitely excels all Excellencies in both Worlds Now is the Fountain of the great Depths broken up and Mercy and Divine Goodness flows down like a mighty River O! what Thoughts of Love and Bounty was in the Heart of God to us when he entered into this Covenant of Peace with Jesus Christ for us What make a Deed of Gift of himself to us And on such a sure Foundation too Be amazed O ye Heavens One Smile of God's Face is better than all the World which made David say Whom have I in Heaven but thee And there is none on Earth that I desire besides thee III. Because when God gives himself to a poor Sinner he gives all he is and all he has so far as it is communicable to Creatures Fear not Abraham I am thy Shield and thy exceeding great Reward My Brethren all that Good that is contained in the communicable Attributes of God are in this Covenant made over by a Deed of Gift to every Believer as I briefly shall shew you I. Divine Goodness this is let out to all true Believers the Goodness of God is given to them not only laid up for them that fear his Name but also it is imparted to them and this of all the Attributes of God seems to be the sweetest it is one of the choice perfection of his Nature and that which renders God to be the Object of our Love Joy and Delight As he is a great and just God he is the Object of our Fear and as he is a Faithful God he is the Object of our Trust but as he is a Good God he is the Object of our Affections God is good There is none good but one and that is God nothing that is good truly good but what is derived from God the loss of God only made Man miserable and the Damned being for ever deprived of God is that which makes them eternally miserable And Sinners having interest in God in the Goodness of God this only tends to make them happy Quest. What a Good is God Answ. Goodness in God may be considered under a twofold Consideration I. The Perfection and Excellency of the Being of God I mean his Essential Goodness this cannot be imparted to Creatures II. His Communicative Goodness or that which God hath wrought out laid up and which he lets forth to Believers O how great is thy Goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee Which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the Children of Men The Earth is full of the Goodness of the Lord I will make all my Goodness pass before thee c. My Excellency or my Glory This is that which we call the declarative Goodness of God 1. God is Absolutely Good in the Perfection of his Being he is independently Good there is nothing wanting in him no defection he subsisteth in and of himself he needeth not us and there can be no addition made to his Goodness to make it more than it is 2. God is originally and essentially Good not only good but Goodness it self Goodness in Creatures is an accessary Quality or a Created or Superadded Gift but Goodness in God is not a Quality but 't is his Essence he can as soon cease to be God as cease to be Good as a Vessel of pure Gold the Matter is pure Gold it self gives lustre to it but Brass gilt with Gold is another thing So my Brethren a Saint is one thing and his Grace his Righteousness is another thing The Fallen Angels are God's Creatures still they retain their Beings but their Holiness they retain not that is gone God is the First Good the Original Good and Essentially Good 3. God is infinitely Good Goodness in Creatures is small and but little but in God there is an Ocean of Goodness it is bankless boundless bottomless our Goodness is like a drop of Water out of the Ocean nay there is a greater disproportion between that Goodness which is in God and that which is in Saints than there is between the Main Ocean and one small drop of Water or between a Beam of Light let into a Room and the Sun it self 4. God is Immutably and Vnchangably Good as Goodness in God cannot be augmented so it cannot be diminished he cannot change or loose his Goodness no not the least degree thereof I am God I change not He is the same Yesterday to Day and for ever God made Man good and upright but he long abode not so all things in the first Creation are subject to change but so is not the Blessed God and Creator 5. God is Vniversally Good we may have Health and no Beauty Learning but no Grace Wisdom but no Power Men may be Great and not Good Rich but not Vertuous c. but all Perfections and Excellencies meet in the Blessed God he is a Sun a Shield Wisdom Love Mercy Power Holiness Faithfulness Grace Mercy Glory c. 6. God is an unmixt Good there is no Condition of poor Mortals but hath in this Life its Mixtures Honey yet some Gall Grace yet some Sin Strength yet some Weakness Light yet some Darkness Wisdom yet some Folly but in God there is infinite and unmixt Goodness whatsoever is good all good and that without any mixture 7. God is a Soul-inriching Good a Soul-suitable a Soul-satisfying Good and a Soul-fatening Good Eat ye that which is good and let your Soul delight it self in Fatness Why will you spend your Money for that which is not Bread and your Labour for that which satisfieth not There is enough in God to satisfie the Holy Angels much more smaller Vessels this Good Satisfies and not Surfeits it satisfies the Soul the Precious and Immortal Soul neither can any Thing or Person do this but God himself alone They shall be abundantly satisfied with
the fate things of thy House and thou shalt make them drink of Rivers of thy Pleasure for with thee is the Fountain of Life God made the Soul for himself it is fitted for him therefore Creatures cannot satisfie it God alone is the Adequate Object to it 't is Spiritual and its Constitution is such if it injoy not God 't is restless disquieted and like Noah's Dove it finds no resting place till it returns to the true Ark Return to thy Rest O my Soul saith David take up thy dwelling in God trust in him 8. God is a Delicious Good a Soul-ravishing Good he is an eternal Spring of Joy and Delight and in this Covenant he displays his transcendent Glory and Perfections to his Creatures who by the Spirit discern the Heavenly Beauty and are made Partakers of the Divine Nature which so indears them to the Divine Being that they are at times transported with Joy his Glory shining in them there is nothing requisite to intire Blessedness but it is in God which Goodness powerfully alures and ingage the Affections of every true Believer who is in the exercise of Faith and Love so that they at some Seasons are filled with unspeakable Comfort 9. God it appears from hence is a Superlative Good he is far better than any thing we can conceive of he is Man's only summum bonum Who would weigh a Feather against a Mountain 10. God is a Communicative Good this Crowns all Why did he enter into a Covenant of Peace and provide such a Mediator but to let out as through a Conduit Pipe his Infinite Goodness to us Herein we see how his Heart wrought from Eternity it is an opening and an unfolding of his Bowels which lay secretly yearning in him this brings Life and Immortality to light in the Revelation thereof here is an immense Flood of Bounty and rich Goodness flowing down to Mankind which shews the Excellency and Amiableness of his Nature most honourable to himself and a perfect Pattern of Goodness unto Men that so we may Adore and Worship him with Love and Delight Lastly God is an Eternal Good all Earthly Good will fail it lasteth but for a moment but God and his Goodness indures for ever Why boasteth thou thy self in mischief O mighty Man The Goodness of God endureth continually His Love Mercy and Goodness to his People is not fading and inconstant but everlasting and unchangable the Love of God will eternally be running and flowing forth so that our Joy Peace and Satisfaction will never end our Portion wasteth not it will never be spent God is an Eternal Reward II. As Divine Goodness is that Man 's who hath God to be his God so is Divine Strength his also to support uphold and strengthen all that are his People My Flesh and my Heart faileth but God is the Strength of my Heart and my Portion for ever When God becomes our God he is our Shield and our exceeding great Reward our Rest our Fortress our High Tower c. when God made that Promise to Abraham it is as if he should say I and all my Attributes are thine for thy Use and Benefit my Power is thine my Arm is thine Fear not Abraham I am God All-sufficient and I will from thence communicate all things to thee that thou needest thou shalt have Me my Goodness my Power and my Love for thy Portion Jehovah is my Strength and my Song he also is become my Salvation III. Gods Mercies is theirs also he is not only a God of Mercy but a Believer that has God to be his God may say with David of God's Mercy my Mercy The God of my Mercy shall prevent me the Mercy of God is ours to spare and pity us that is we have interest in the Mercy of God however great or good and lasting it is it is ours his Mercy shall be let out to us flow down to us And O! what a Sweet Blessing is this IV. Moreover Divine Wisdom is ours if God be our God to conduct lead counsel and guide us and to order and dispose of all things for our good V. Also the Riches and glorious Bounty of God is our Wealth if we have the Person or are Married to the Person we have the Portion a Believer hath interest in all the Riches of God's Grace and Glory VI. The Care and Faithfulness of God is ours to preserve and keep us to whom should Faithfulness be manifested but to such that are in Covenant and to whom all Promises are made if God be our God his Faithfulness will preserve us Who should a Father care for but for his own dear Children as well as love and pity them Casting all your Care upon him for he Cares for you VII His Love is ours who is the God of Love if he is our God that is we are the Objects of his most choice Affections his Love is ours to delight and comfort us Hence he is said to delight in his People and to rejoyce over them as a young Man rejoyceth over his Bride VIII His Justice is ours to acquit us to discharge us and to plead for us as well as his Mercy and to pronounce us Righteous in his Son and for ever pardoned He is Just and Righteous to forgive IX And his Vnchangableness also will prevent us from being consumed that 's our Security O see what a Blessing and high Priviledge it is to have God to be our God in Covenant When Jehoshaphat had made a Covenant with Ahab see how he expresseth himself i. e. There is a League between us therefore my Horses are thy Horses and my People are thy People And so it is between God and us his Strength is our Strength and his Armies our Armies we have interest in all God has there is an offensive and defensive Leauge between God and us his Angels are all ready to engage in our just Cause and fight for us and against our Enemies If we implore God's Aid will he think you break his Covenant God forbid Moreover his Special Providence is ours if he be our God I will guide thee by mine Eye Hast thou not made an Hedge about him and about all he hath Job 1.10 Thirdly There is one thing more that ought to be minded that is in this Covenant all the Holy Attributes are united together as a mighty Army on our side in Christ they all sweetly harmonize Mercy and Truth are met together Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other But having spoken to this already I shall add no more to it now See Dr. Bates ' s Harmony of the Divine Attributes Fourthly He that hath God to be his God in this Covenant hath him to be his God for ever he shall never lose God any more every Believer hath an everlasting Interest in and a Title to the ever Blessed God