be deeply sensible of this great want and greatly to bewail it Surely this is the greatest want in the World this is the only Damning want better it is to want land to want money to want clothes to want health to want bread to want all outward things then to want Christ to be without him therefore let all your sorrowing for other wants be turned into mourning for this great want For surely as long as your soules are Christless you are in the way to die for ever to perish without rememedie And being thus sensible of your want and grieving under it go to God for a supply urging him with his promise to bestow Grace upon all humbled souls that are afflicted in the sense of their own want of Christ and Grace God hath promised Christ and Salvation by him to those that are afar off Seeing the promise runs in such general termes and holds forth Christ and Grace to every poor humbled dejected sinner to every desiring Soul Lay thy self now at the foot of the promise and say unto God Lord my soul is Christless and graceless and so in danger of perishing Eternally Hast thou not said that thou wilt give Christ and Grace and Salvation to them that are afar off O let this promise be good to me poore wretch let me receive Christ and all Grace with him and be brought into a state of Salvation for thy mercies sake so shall I speak of thy goodness and sing unto thy praise declaring what thou hast done for my soul Now having pressed such general counsel as I judged to be proper naturally flowing from the Doctrine Special Counsels I shall drop some special words of advice to those that are possest of Christ upon whom God hath bestowed this great gift Counsel Be satisfied with Christ 1. If you have Christ be content be satisfied with him and say with David I have gotten a goodly heritage and with Jacob I have enough Let us not reckon that we lack any thing if we enjoy Christ have you that all comprehending good and will you be complaining as if you had nothing Surely the wants of people in respect of temporalls are commonly more in desire then in the absence of things more in conceit then in reality for set aside fancie and there is nothing indeed necessary for the body but food and rayment daily bread that which serveth for the sustentation of life and preservation of health There was never any worldly minded man that was satisfied with the World He that loveth Silver shall not be satisfied with silver nor he that loveth abundance with increase Eccle. 5.10 This is vanity saith the Preacher The heart of man is still coveting this and that and the other thing which seems to him desirable and when he hath this and that and the other thing too yet he wanteth something not that there is a true vvant but the appepetite is not filled the greedy or wanton or proud desire is not satisfied I say Worldly men are never satisfied with the World vvith that which they have of it because they are Christless and all things without Christ are vanity and vexation of Spirit But they that have Christ have all in him and with him Therefore let the Christian possessing Christ say to his soul Soul thou hast enough be at rest thou hast all good laid for Eternity Should the rich man be complaining of want now Christ where he is possessed is great riches Therefore Christians who are poor in the World are said to be rich in Faith because Faith I yes hold on Jesus Christ and by faith we possess him who is the only true riches Thus the Apostle his riddle is expounded as having all things yet possessing nothing though possessing nothing in the World yet having all things by Faith having all in Christ Oh let the Believer be satisfied with Christ would you have more then all Counsel 〈◊〉 Be thankful for Christ 2. Have you Jesus Christ Oh then be thankful to God for this gift admiring and adoring such grace Oh what a rare gift is this which God hath bestowed upon you to how few is it given Now the rarer gift the more thankful should we be Ah Lord hadst thou not given Christ to me what a sad condition had my soul still bin in Before Christ came to my soul what a bâ—ndslave was I to sin and Satan How full of noysome lusts was my heart What a hell was in my soul Magnified be the Father of Mercie who hath given me Jesus Christ to work a change in me to cast those unclean spirits out of me to Redeem such a wretched slave and to make a Heaven in my soul by Christ dwelling in me Blessed be God for Jesus Christ Couns 3. Hold fast Christ 3. Christians Take heed that you do not loose Christ when you are once possest of him Not that Christ can indeed be wholly lost from the soul that once hath him but the working of the Spirit of Christ in the heart may be so remitted yea intermitted in respect of direction and quickening and strengthening and comforting that the soul may be at a loss for Christ having no feeling of the presence of Christ in it Christians may so carry themselves toward Christ as to provoke him to alter his carriage and to change countenance toward them When a Christian hearkeneth not to the voice of Christ consenteth not to the motions of his Spirit takes liberty to himself to sin against Christ and against that light which Christ hath given in to him in such cases for such causes Christ will withdraw himself and not vouchsafe to have any Communion with the soule and so leave it in a lightless lifeless uncomfortable condition Therefore Christians be careful so to carry your selves toward Christ that he may not withdraw himself and hide his face but may abide with you and reveal himself to your soules working more powerfully in your hearts that you may clearly perceive he is still present with you in you and may have more comfortable experience of the sweet operations of his Spirit in your soules Now that you may keep Christ Directions so as to be stil taking in the comfort of such an enjoyment 1. Take heed of grieving Christ by any unkindness toward him by the unyieldingness of your spirits to the motions of his Spirit by sluggishness and securitie and by taking in the World and lusts to be iâ—mates with Christ or by allowing your selves in any thing that is contrary to the mind of Christ for this will grieve the Spirit of Christ and make him to vâ—il his face and as it were to draw a curtain between himself and the spirit of a Christian 2. If you would keep Christ still with you would enjoy his presence in a feeling apprehension of it so as to be sensible of his gracious and comfortable workings in you and of the shinings of his face upon
Covenant therefore let humble souls broken-hearted sinners arise and go to God who calls them and holds forth grace to them in his Covenant There is yet a third specialty in our second general rule of direction which he that would rightly apply the Covenant must take notice of 3 This Covenant is a Covenant offered to sinners to those to whom the poyson of Adam's corrupted nature is propagated and by whom much sin hath been acted to such as are full of sin and loaden with guilt even to Publicans and Harlots to a Manasseh to a Mary Magdalen God's Covenant is held out to such if they come in by repentance and bring Faith to lay hold on it Isai 55.7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the man of iniquity his thoughts and let him return to the Lord for he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Paul tells the Corinthians 1 Cor. 6.9 that some of them were Fornicators and Idolaters and Adulterers and Covetous and Drunkards c. but they are washed and justified and sanctified Now this was Covenant grace this was the performance of the Covenant to them This is to be considered by those that have been great sinners to keep them from presumption on the one hand and from dispair on the other hand 1 The Covenant is held out to sinners not to proud self-admiring Pharisces or presumptuoâ—â— offenders but to humble self-judging Penitents to repenting sinners If we do not see our selveâ— sinners if we have not a dâ—â— humbling sight and sense of sin we cannot apply the Covenant 〈◊〉 Grace 2 The Covenant is held out to sinners even to the greatest sinners that repent therefore let noâ— any self-judging soul despair oâ— receiving the mercy and grace oâ— the Covenant 1 Jo. 1.9 If we confess oâ— sins God is just and faithful to fuâ—give our iniquities and to cleanse us from all our unrighteousness Come to me all ye that labour Mat. 11 2â— and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Thus you see what use is to be made of this consideration with respect to the application of the Covenant it is a Covenant offered to sinners therefore we must see our selves to be sinners and judge our selves for our iniquities that we may take it and having a sight of our own unworthiness and being wounded with the sense of sin we must not out our selves off from the Covenant whâ—se the Word of God doth not â—ut us off as I willsay to the impenitent secure presumptuous sinner Why medlest thou with the Covenant Hands off it belongs not to thee so I would say to any humble mourning penitent self-judging sinner Poor soul why standest thou so far off Behold the Lord calls thee and offers his grace to thee therefore draw thou near and lay hold on the Covenant of his mercy and love You have seen a second rule that is to be observed by those who desire duly to apply the Covenant Remember that it is God's Covenant of Grace offered to sinners 3 That you may not misapply the Covenant or catch at that which belongs not to you keep this in mind That God's Covenant is made only to Abraham and his seed Now Abraham's seed children of Promise included in the same Covenant with Abraham are in general all the Elect but God's Election is a secret which cannot be known à priori but only by God himself who alone knows who are his yet we may have a knowledge of it à posteriori when we find that we are called with a holy and effectual calling Now I say you must apply the Covenant as being Abraham's â—eed finding a true work of grace in your hearts the saving effects of the Covenant upon your souls whence you may conclude your Covenant relation to God and interest in his precious promises or else you do not apply the Covenant truly and honestly but unjustly laying a false claim to it 4 As we must make God in his Covenant our end so we must make Christ as Mediator our way and therefore in applying the Covenant must look to him and act Faith primarily on him by whom the grace of the Covenant is purchased for us and in and through whom it is conveyed to us we must accept of Christ for our Lord and Jesus that we may receive the Covenant of Grace and Peace and salvation through him 5 We must know that the Covenant is propounded and offered conditionally Faith and Repentance and New Obedience are the condition of Pardon and Salvation It is certain none are saved but by Covenant by a Covenant of Grace but it is by the Covenant kept therefore I must not think without any more ado to take this Covenant to my self not having any regard to the fulfilling of the condition of the Covenant in my self where there is not Faith and Repentance a true worke of grace and holiness there can be no right application of the Covenant So much now as to the first branch of the fourth General Counsel Apply the Covenant truly 2 Apply the Covenant thorowly Apply surely and thorowly see that you make sure work of it make sure to your selves your Covenant interest Seeing there is such a Covenant of Grace so precious and so necessary for us which belongs to the feed of Abraham and to them only why should we be content to live without assurance of our interest in it They who are in Covenant are for Heaven and they that are out of Covenant are for Hell Oh how desirous should we then be to be resolved and assured whether we be in Covenant or no How can we think or speak of God with comfort or without fear and trouble in our spirits while we are uncertain whether he be our God or no whether he be our friend or our enemy Let us labour therefore to be at a certainty in this point an infallible certainty of our interest in God's Covenant may be had Oh let us strive to it Now to quicken you in this case to excite you to diligence in making up to a thorow application of God's Covenant even to the full assurance of Faith I shall hint to you something of the benefit and comfort of assurance the unspeakable advantage that hence accrues to the soul Fruits of assurance 1 This assurance of Faith will sweeten to us all Providences and every condition of life 2 Cor. 4.16 17 18. while a Christian lives by Faith in a clear apprehension of the love of God who hath made an everlasting Covenant with him no outward changes can work any great change in his spirit or make much impression pression upon him assurance of God's love will make a Christian to sit down under changes quietly and comfortably with the Prophet Habakkuk rejoycing in the Lord and joying in the God of his salvation 2 Assurance of God's love will sweeten to us our enjoyments in the world be it more
through Christ upon the mercy and grace of a Covenanting God till the love and grace of God be revealed from faith to faith 3. We must take heed that we do not greive but please the spirit of God the Comforter that reporteth the love of the Father unto Souls and sealeth them up to the day of Redemption The way to assurance of Gods love is to comply with and give content to the witnessing sealing Spirit 4. If we desire that God should bestow upon us the riches of full assurance then let us be thankful for the least glimps of Light that he maketh to shine into us let us not look at any of the consolations of God as small but let us be thankful for any pledge of his favour The Lord in making out his love to the Soul deals saith one as Boaz dealt with Ruth he first gave her liberty to glean in his fields then to glean even among the sheaves then invited her to eat bread with him and to dip her morsels in the vinegar and at last he took her to be his Wife to lye in his bosome so doth God discover his love to believers first more sparingly and as at greater distance then draws nearer and reveals himself more clearly shewing himself more friendly to them and familiar with them and then at length he gives his Spirit into their bosom to assure them of his love and of their interest in all his grace Now the ready way to attain all this to have such manifestations of Gods love to us is to be truly thankful for the least appearance of Grace Then will God say to such a Soul art thou so thankful for a beam of Light I will fill thee with the fountain of Light art thou thus thankful for crumbs that fall under the board I will feast thee with marrow and fatness at my Table 5. One other great means conducing to a certainty of our interest in Gods Covenant is a serious trial of our hearts and of the state of our Souls by and according to the Word of God the Scripture tells us who are the people of God his Covenanted ones what are their qualifications and properties therefore let us see what the Scripture holds forth in this point and then let us diligently prove our selves whether we be such persons so qualified that by this means we may come to a certainty of our estate Now for direction herein to make short work of it know this that where holiness is there is the Covenant of God his love Holy Beloved Col. 3.12 all holy Souls are beloved of God prove your selves then whether there be a true work of Grace wrought in you by the spirit of God whether you are of the number of Gods holy ones Qu. How may this be known who are holy ones An. Where corruption is by Grace so far subdued that sin reigns not there is holiness when a Soul is delivered not wholly from sin that will not be in this life but from the law of sins so that sin hath not dominion over him The Apostle saith Rom. 6.12 Let not sin reign in your mortal bodies that ye should obey it in the lust thereof he doth not say ne sit let not sin be in you though we must not allow it in our selves or suffer it to be quiet but ne regnat let not sin reign in you Sin reigneth when it hath the wil 's consent the hearts delight and commands the whole man when a man is a willing servant of sin and as the Apostle saith yields his members weapons of unrighteousness unto sin is in a readiness to obey sins commands and to fulfill the lusts of the flesh Sin cannot be said to reign when a man doth unwilling service to sin bewailes and hates the evil that is in him and the evil that is done by him and wars against sin and prays against Sin and desires and endeavours to shake off the yoke of sin I say here sin cannot properly be said to reign though it exerciseth a Tyrannical power forcing a poor soul many times to do its commands and where this reign of sin is not there is holiness but where sin reigneth there is no Saintship 2. He that is universal and serious in his desires to be good and do good having respect to all Gods commands that truly desires to be filled with the knowledg of Gods will in all wisdome and spiritual understanding and to walk worthy of the Lord unto all well pleasing and to be fruitful in every good work that desires and endeavours to order his conversation aright in the fear of God and to keep his Conscience void of offence toward God and toward men to be conformed to the mind of God in internal as well as external holiness and righteousness he is a holy man though he may have many infirmities falling short of his duty and doing oft times that which is displeasing to God 3. If a man be sincerely diligent in using the means of Grace setting his heart to seek God in them aiming at the profiting and perfecting of himself by them and bewailing his unprofitableness and barrenness under them such a person is to be numbred among holy ones true desires of Grace and cadeavours to get Grace are a sign of the truth of Grace but where the means of Grace are slighted and neglected and God is not songht unto for Grace there is no Grace no work of Holiness yet wrought in the Soul for Grace is such a good thing such a precious thing and Holiness is so desirable so comfortable and delightful that he who hath any thing of it desires more and thinks that he can never have enough Well thus prove your real spiritual estate that hereby you may come to a knowledge of your relative estate This is the way to assurance of an interest in the Covenant of Gods love Thus much briefly touching the way to assurance the means by which it may be attained Marks of assurance Now for some marks or evidences of the assurance of Faith to shew you how it may be discerned from Presumption 1. The presuming heart is a proud heart that is lifted up in it self and makes no humble acknowledgment of the grace of God but the assured soul is humble in it self and admires the love of God toward it in Christ Jesus Ah Lord who am I that thou shouldst thus manifest thy self to me Oh what a mercy is this and what manner of love is this that thou shouldst thus embrace me in thine armes and take me into thy bosom and kiss me with the kisses of thy mouth O my God what rich grace is this that thou shouldst give me assurance of my interest in thee of my Union and Communion with thee of thine everlasting love toward me 2. The presuming soul resteth satisfied with that of God which he presumeth he hath but a true Believer earnestly longeth after a fuller enjoyment of God and
him for ever 3. This will be an excellent means to quicken and strengthen hope I say hope of all needful blessings here and of eternal Salvation hereafter Is the Lord my God and shall I not hope Have I God's Promise and Oath and shall I not hope Is not the Promise of God so sure that hope therein maketh not ashamed Therefore in wants and straights and difficulties and in my greatest sufferings I will say with the Church Lam. 3.24 The Lord is my portion therefore I will hope in him It is Jehovah who hath promised to bless me and save me the almighty God can do it and the faithful God will do it he will perform his promise his Covenant therefore I have hope in wants in trouble in sickness in death I will hope in my God to the end 4. A diligent serious meditation of God's Covenant and our interest in it will raise our joy God hath made with me a Covenant of Peace a â—ovenant of Life the Lord is my God and will be my God forever The Covenant which he hath made with me is his deed of gift whereby he hath made over himself to me and hath bestowed upon me the everlasting inheritance it is my Fathers good pleasure to give me a Kingdom he hath promised me a Crown of Glory and this promise of his is surely a ground of joy Rejoyce therefore O my Soul in hope of the Glory of God Thus you have had a Fifth Counsel Having applyed the Covenant to thy self and gotten some assurance that it is thine now meditate on it and set it to thy heart for the exciting of love and desire and hope and joy in thy soul 6ly Let us admire and adore the mercy love Couns 6. Admire the grace of God in the Covenant and grace of God in this Covenant of his his mercy toward the miserable his love to Enemies his grace to sinners in setting himself down to us and taking us into Covenant with himself who had otherwise been utterly lost and miserable for ever Let us cry out with admiration O the hight and depth and length and bredth of the love of God O free-Grace O rich-Grace O glorious-Grace Why did God pass by those Angels that fell leaving them in a remediless condition and take the Seed of Abraham into Covenant with himself to pardon them and save them who is a God like unto our God that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgressions of the remnant of his People performing his truth to Jacob and his mercy to Abraham 7thly Hath God made such a Covenant Couns 7. Bless God for it and do we apprehend our interest in it then let us bless God for it and abound in all thankfulness to him who is the Fountain frâ—m whence such streams of Grace do flow how should they who have tasted the goodness of Gods Covenant have their hearts and mouthes and lives filled with his praises God's Covenant is a Covenant of pardoning sin and healing diseases of redeeming our life from Destruction and of Crowning us with his loving kindness and tender mercies and for these mercies whereof believers are made partakers by vertue of the Covenant David stirrs up himself to bless God Psa 103. Bless the Lord O my soul who forgiveth all thine iniquties c. Oh let our souls bless God let all that is within us praise his holy Name for the Covenant of his mercy and love which he hath given us and that he hath so clearly revealed this Covenant to us and hath given us to apprehend our interest in it Now there are these reasons among others why believ is should â—tirr themselves up to bless God for his Covenant Incentives 1. The end of Gods goodness to his Creatures is his own glory Surely this is the end of his making and confirming his Covenant to Abraham with his seed that Abraham and his seed miâ—ht glorifie him this is the great end of all his works of grace in Christ Jâ—sâ—s he hâ—th done all to the praise of the gl ry of his grace Eph. 1.6 12. that we should be to the praise of his glâ—ry 2. The Covenant it self is so precious such a rare gift that it well deserves our praises God is worthy to be blessed by us for such a bleâ—â—â—ng as this for First Consider of what worth those things are which the Covenant doth give believers a Title to and intâ—rest in O pretious things an inheritance immortal and undefiled a â—â—own of life an exceeding great and eternal weight of glory 2 Consider what matchless consolations the Covenant affordeth to believers even when all outward comforts fail Thy word is my comfort in my afflictions Ps 119.50 fâ—r it hath quickned me Gospel-comforts those which flow from the Covenant of mercy and peace to such as are interrested in it are the purest and surest and fullest comforts Now by the way from the preciousness of the Covenant in respect of the worth of the things promised in it and the excellency of the comforts that flow from it I infer this That the worst of a believer is better than the best of an unbeliever or That the lowest estate of one interrested in the Covenant of promise is better than the most raised condition of any one that is uninterrested in it and a stranger to it A believer may be a stranger in the world and afflicted with want of food and cloathing convenient and may meet with a great deal of hard usuage yet he is a Citizen of the Heavenly Jerusalem he is the Lords Free-man he hath God for his Father Jesus Christ is his Brother and though he hath little or nothing at present to the eye of the World yet he is rich in hope though he hath nothing in possession visible he hath a rich Inheritance a Kingdom an immortal Crown in revertion Who is the better man the poor Christian whom God hath chosen to be rich in Faith heire to a Kingdom to the Kingdom of Heaven or the rich and honoured Worldling that wears a Gold-ring and hath the highest room given him in the Assmblies surely there is no happiness like to the happiness of a believer that hath an interest in the Covenant of Grace the Lord is his God this is the Crown of all enjoyments the compendium of all happiness Whence it follows that God is to be praised by us for nothing in this world so much as for giving us an interest in his Covenant 3. This Covenant which is so precious and so comfortable aâ— intâ—rest wherein makes us happy is freely given us of God nothing moved him to it but his own goodness it was free grace that made God to be a Promiser a Covâ—nanter now that which is excâ—â—â—â—ng prâ—cious anâ— freely given to us is to be received with much thâ—nkfullness 4. We can make no other return but love and thanks for aâ—ithâ— love of God â—â—â—râ—â—ore let us lovâ— God and
my God 5. The frequent actings of faith upon the Covenant bringing it home to our selves by renewed application will be an execllent means to frame our hearts to contentedness with our condition we have a notable instance of this in David Although my house be not so with God 2 Sam. 23.5 yet he hath made with me an everlasting Covenant well ordered in all things and sure It is not indeed with my house alâ—ogether as I hoped not fully answerable to the letter of the Promise which God hath made to righteous Rulers That they shall be as the Light of the morning when the Sun riseth c. yet this is my comfort I am in Covenant with God he hath made an everlasting Covenant with me this helps all and this is all my desire though he maketh not my house to grow I am contented with that which I have in the Covenant Qâ—est Whence is it that the Soul acting faith upon the Covenant fetcheth such contentment from it Ans 1. Because when Creature-comforts that are the Conduit-pipes conveighing Gods goodness to us are cut off faith goes to the Fountain and drinks there The believing soul makes God its portion and finding all in him is satisfied with him this is the excellent skill singular art of faith thus to supply wants and so to bring contentment by taking up all in God 2. Faith in Gods Covenant presents the believer with the principal full blessing of the Covenant and gives it into the bosom of the soul faith gives the soul a light of Heaven and sets the Crown the everlasting inheritance before the believer Heb. 12.1 Faith is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the subsistence of things hoped for that which makes Heaven and future glory present to the soul Thus Faith fetcheth contentment from the Covenant by appropriating the Covenant and looking into the grace and riches of the Covenant and ascertaining the soul hereof The carnal man hath his contentment such as it is or at least he seeks contentment in that which he sees before him and that which he hath about him here in the World but the believer fetcheth contentment from what he hath in hope upon account of his interest in the everlasting sure Covenant of God 6. The constant acting of Faith upon Gods Covenant Ours will help us to improve our Covenant interest in God to a Saint-like Son like dependence on him for protection and provision for all needful mercies and comforts Thus David excellently improves his interest in God unto such dependance on him and confidence Psa â—3 in him The Lord is my Shepheard I shall not want Though I walke through the valley of the â—hadow of Death I will fear nonâ— evil for thou art with me Surely mercy and goodness shall follow me all the days of my life for the Lord is my God and so in another Psalm Psal 71. In thee O Lord do I put my trust deliâ—â—â— me O my God thou art my hope An active faith makes a sweet improvement of the Souls interest in God unto such confidence in him to make him our all-sufficiency in all estates And there is very good reason why believers in the exercise of faith should rely on God in Covenant with them 2. Because they know that God is all-sufficient for them in every estate 1. There is in him a sufficiency of wisdom to find out ways for the bettering of the conditions of his people and to understand what is good for them 2. There is in him a sufficiency of Power to act by the means which he finds out and to render them effectual for our good yea and he can do us good without means his Power is unlimited he can do what he will and how he will 3. There is in God likewise a sufficiency of Goodness and Mercy to put forth his wisdom and power for his peoples good Truly God is good to Israel the Prophet Isa tells us Isa 63.7 of the loving kindness of the Lord and his great goodnes and his mercys and the multitude of his loving kindnesses towards his People This Mercy and Goodness and love of God will surely put forth his wisdom and power for the good of his People and this is that which faith lays hold on to cause the true believer to cast himself upon his God 2. The Soul that acteth faith upon Gods Covenant given him is sensible of God his relation to him and of his relation to God and hath herein a ground of confidence for if we be God his Covenanted ones 1. He is our Shepheard and we are his sheep now every good Shepheard is careful of his flock to defend it and provide for it upon this account David promiseth to himself all needful supplys from God and his gracious Protection because the Lord is his Shepheard See how the Prophet Isaiah holds forth Gods provident care for and indulgence and tenderness toward his People Isa 40.11 who are his Sheep He shall feed his Flock like 〈◊〉 Shepheard he shall gather the Lambs with his armes and carry them in his besome and shall gently lead those that are with young 2. If we be Gods Câ—venanted ones Mal. 1.6 then he is our Master and we are his Servants a good Master hath a care of his servants a counts himself to stand charged by vertue of his relation to look after them and provide for them now surely God is the best Master he is most loving toward most careful of and makes the best provision for his servants 3. God is a Father to his Covenanted ones and they are his children and like a Father he loves them and pities them and is ready to minister to all their necessities surely Gods bowels are more tender than man's and his love is infinitely beyond the love of earthly Parents Tam pater nemo tam pius nemo there is no Father like him none so indulgent as he is If ye being evil know how to give good gifts to your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give When God promises to heal Israels condition he gives this reâ—sâ—n of it Jer. 31.9 For I am a Father to Israel This relation of a Father works much upon the heart of God so that he remembers his children when they are unmindful of him 4. God is a Husband to those that are in Covenant with him Isa 54.5 and they are his spouse his dearly beloved now in this near relation â—â—â—iction is dâ—awn out between Creatures to do what they can to â—elp and comfort and procure the good of one another and though there may be a failing between a Man and his Wife for want of â—ower or ability and sometimes or want of a good disposition and due conjugal affection yet God â—annot fail to answer this relation 〈◊〉 the full Now the Soul I say acting faith â—pon the Covenant is confident in God upon account of such relation of God to
I better to thee then ten sins as if she should be satisfied in him but suppose she had had ten such comforts as she longed for ten Sons and imagine her Elkanah to be an enjoyment ten times more comfortable then he was yet all this could not be satisfactory Ahabs Kingdom was as nothing to him till he had Naboths Vineyard and was he think you satisfied when he had that Could not a World satisfie Al xander no more would the whole World content us These things when we seek to fill our selves with them seem to say to us as Jacob to Rachael What are we to yâ—u instead of God The good that is satisfactory to the Soul must be aptimum maximum the best good that it may sistere appetitum fix the appetite there being nothing so desirable as it and the greatest good that it may implâ—re appetitum fill the appetite there being nothing needfull beside it Now when faith is acted upon the Covenant the soul takes up such a comfort such a good viz. Deum optimum maximum God the best good there being nothing so desirable as he is and God the greatest good even the all comprehending good that brings all with him and so is satisfactory to the Soul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have fed said the Epicure 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have found said the Philosopher there was a kind of a sudden ravishment with the enjoyment of their sensual and intellectual pleasure an empty delight but when the believer acting faith upon the Covenant as his feeds upon the goodness of God in it he may wel cry out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have fed upon that which fills me with a gratful satiety My sâ—ul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have found that which contents me which fills me with delight let David come in and attest this when acting faith upon the Covenant he had tasted afresh the consolation of his interest in God he cries out Ps 73.25 Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none on Earth thâ—t I desire beside thee God is mine I have enough 3. Covenant comforts those which faith fetchâ—th from the Covenant have this excellency in them beyond all Creature comforts that they are durable abiding comforts Creature comforts have in them a vanity of Corruption as well as a vanity of emptiness they last but for a time even a short time like Jonah's gourd they are transient and momentary we can have no assurance of any worldly comfort no not for a day fâ—r who knows what a day may bring forth But now the comforts which faith doth fetch from the Covenant are streams issuing from a living Fountain that is always yeilding out they are day comforts and night-comforts summer-comforts and winter comforts to support and refresh the Soul in the night of trouble and the winter of adversity as well as in the day of outward peace and summer of prosperity Gods Covenant is an everlasting Covenant which yields everlasting comfort to those that are interested in it and if a Soul that hath an interest in it do at any time or in any case want comfort from it it is for want of a lively acting of faith upon it 4. The best of Creature-comforts are applicable only to some particular condition they are not a salve for every sâ—râ— but the comforts of the Covenant are suitable to every condition of a believer It is not the God of all comforts who hath given us this Covenant in which he hath given himself to us so that there is no case wherein the sould acting faith upon the Covenant shall not find comfort in its God 5. To urge one argument more that may perswade to the acting of faith upon the Covenant This will be a notable means of making a sweet and happy improvement of our interest in the Covenant I shall shew this in particulars 1. By familiarizing God to the Soul through the frequent constant actings of faith upon God in Covenant with us the thoughts of God will be sweet and comfortable to us The greatness and power and jealousie and justice of God when sâ—â—oâ—sly thought upon must needs be troublesom and terrible to those that are lirangers to him and have no apprehension of an interest in him but this will be matter of comfort to the believer that is interested in the Covenant of Gods love and frequently acteth faith upon it Why this is may God his greatness and his power and his justice shall be for my advantage put forth for my good and Oh! what a comfort will it then be to the soul to consider my God is merciful and gracious abounding in goodness and truth forgiving miquities healing diseasâ—s redeeming the life of his people from destruction and crowning them with his loving kindness and tender mercies 2. By thus acting faith upon the Covenant which God hath given us we shall be sweetly emboldned in our requests to God O Lord I come to thee now in a weighty case and in my great necessity to implore thy goodness toward me and why should not I with an humble boldness approach to the Throne of thy Grace being confident of acceptance through Christ seeing thou art verily my God and hast given me a promise to hear me and help me and to grant my requests for thy Sons sake 3. This will wonderfully sweeten all mercies When my heart is kept up in a believing frame and my acquaintance with God is encreased and assurance of his love toward me strengthened by renewed acts of faith what comfort may I now take in my enjoyments what sweetness may I find in inseriour good things and in those that comparatively are small matters why this is from my God and that is from my Father this is a gift of God's good will it cometh from a Father's love this is part of the blessing of the Coverant and all these gifts are the beginnings and earnest of everlasting mercies 4. By acting Faith upon the Covenant and by a frequent believing recognition of our interest in God we shall be enabled to bear afflictions patiently and to undergo them with chearfullness The sting of afflictions and the burden of the Cross is the apprehension of Gods anger in it but while this perswasion is kept up in the Soul that God is my God that the Covenant of his love is with me here is a surpassing comforting consideration in the greatest affliction Surely my God means me no harm he intends no evil to me in this he hath promised that all things shall work together for my good while he afflicts me he is my God still he threatens me and loves me still it is all for my profit I know that in faithfullness he afflicteth me all Gods ways are mercy and truth to his Covenanted ones O my Soul lye quietly under the red chear up under his affliction it is a fathers rod it is the dispensation of
let us be readie to do good to the soules and bodies of our fellow creatures specially let us desire and endeavour to be instrumental for the saving of others 6. Did God give such a price for us Couns 6. Then let us remember that we are not our ovvn vve are not Satans therefore we must not live as we list must not seek to please our selves must not be ruled by Satan If God hath given such a price for us Nor be devoted to the world he is worthy to have us and we must be wholly his own therefore let us yeild our selves unto God as those that are alive from the dead as the Redeemed of the Lord and our Members as Instruments of Righteousness unto God Consider my beloved wherefore God gave his Son and to what end Christ gave himself viz. That he might Redeem us from all Iniquity Tit. 2.14 and purifie to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Christ died not only to redeem us from Hell and Condemnation but also from our vain and wicked Conversation 1 Pet. 1.18 Christ was given to Death for us not only that we should not die for sin 1 Pet. 2.24 but that we should die unto sin and live unto Righteousness We are taught in Zacheriahs Song Lu. 1.74 That for this end Christ hath delivered us from the hands of our Enemies that we might serve him in holiness and Righteousness and if we refuse to serve our Redeemer thâ—s is to deny the Lord that bought us This was an Argument which the People used to provoke one another to return to their obedience to David and to cleave to his Service 2 Sam. 19.9 even the consideration of the deliverance that they had by him and this is the Argument which Ezra useth to tye himself and the people to strict Obedience to God Seeing thou O Lord hast given us such a deliverance as this Ezra 9.13 14. should we again break thy Commandements O let us Consider what a deliverance God hath wrought for souls by the Dâ—ath of his Son and let us think what horrible ingratitude this would be if we should deny his service and serve his Enemies Well to conclude this Use and so to finish this point Do vve lay claim to Christ and pretend to an interest in his Death vvhich he suffered for the Redemption of souls then let not the Devil have any more service from us let not lusts be any longer obeyed let us not make provision for the flesh let us not serâ—e Mammon Christ died to Redeem us from these Tyrants to himself therefore let us willingly serve our Redeemer and let us glorifie God in our soules and bodies for they are Gods I Come now to speak something to that other great point which I promised to take into consideration He who hath delivered up his own Son for us h w shall he not with him freely give us all things Sâ—e the te Text upâ—ned and dvided in the beginning of this dcoâ—rse and you will be able to prevent me in raising from hence the point which I am now about to hold forth to you from the Apostle his way of arguing and manner of expression this truth naturally â—â—weâ—â— Iesus Christ is the greatest and best gift of God Doctrine 2 I shall give a brief but full account of this assertion clearing up the truth of it and then shall improve it Christ is the principal best gift because 1. He is the most comprehensive good demonstration 2. He is a conveighing gift as well as a gift conveighed 3. He is the Engaging gift of God the Father 1 Iesus Christ is the most comprehensive good carrying in him that which serve 's for a supply of all the wants of Soules Hence it is that we have such resemblances of Christ that he is compared to those things which are most useful and comfortable Iohn 6. He is bread to feed the hungry Soul and to nourish it to everlasting life Ieâ— 2 13. He is a fountain of living waters of which who so drinketh shall never thirst more but this water shall be in the soul a well of water springing up unto life eternal Ioh. 4.14 hiâ— flâ—sh is meat indeed Ioh. 6.55 ch 15. v. 1. and his bloud is drink indeed he is a vine the true vine which beareth the sweet grapes of consolation Rev. 3.17 for the comforting and glading of the souls of his people he is rayment to cover the nakedness of people and to put a comliness upon them and adorne them Rom. 13.14 put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ he is a father and a husband to every believer his Name shall be called the everlasting Father Thy maker is thy husband Now Christ is held forth to us under such notions Isay 9.9 c 54. v. 5. and by such metaphors not only to way-lay our thoughts that we should look up to Christ in all these things but to teach us that whatsoever sweetness is in the creature all that and much more is to be found in Christ Is bread usefull is water useful is wine usefull is rayment usefull is a tender father or a good husband or wife or a towardly hopefull off-spring a blessing and a comfortable enjoyment why of more use of more concernment a greater comfort than any of these yea than all these is Iesus Christ to the soules that enjoy him 2. Christ is a conveighing gift he is the Lord high-Steward as I may say of God the Father who by the appointment of God giveth to every one of the houshold his portion It is in and by Christ Iesus that God blesseth us with blessings spiritual and temporal we are elected in him adopted in him justified by faith in his bloud sanctified through him and by his spirit and saved by him and all things are bestowed upon the people of God through him whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name ye shall receive Ioh. 16.23 Now it is good for us to note the fulness and the freeness of the conveighance of mercies and blessings made to us in and through Christ It is a full conveighance the fullness that was put into the person of the mediator was all for poor souls that of his fulnes we might receive grace for grace and there is through him a conveighance of all things pertaining to life and godliness 2 There is a free conveighance of Gods bounty to us through Christ Jesus how shall he not with him freely give us all things If the first gift were free the accessories must be free also but the first gift was free whether we look to the decree or the execution what was there to move God to appoint his Son to be mediator and to send him in the fulness of time to work out the redemption of sinners surely nothing unless it were the creatures misery 3 Jesus Christ is the engaging gift of God the Father
God having given his Son cannot but with him also give other things for 1. An argument from the greater to the lesser concludeth probably in reason but the conclusion made by faith is necessary in this case if we look to Christ as heire of all things upon whom all is â—ntailed as I may say 2 This appear's more clearly if we look upon God's faithfulness in making good his promise and his Justice engaged by Christ his purchase Jesus Christ purchased all things for those for whom he gave himselfe therefore God is engaged to give all things together with Christ Now if Jesus Christ be such a comprehensive gift such a conveighing gift and such an engaging gift then he is the principa gift of God a gift above all other gifts I come to some improvement of the point by application Application I shall make a fourfold use of the doctrine Vse 1 1. If Christ be such a comprehensive good Information then we see the nearest way and indeed the only way to the enioyment of all needfull good things whether should we go for water but to the fountain when it is near now Jesus Christ is near he is brought home to us and there are free offers of Christ made to our Souls and he is a Fountainè that is alwaies full alwaies open and alwaies running therefore let us make out to Christ from whom and in whom we may have all supplies when all other comforts fail when riches flie away and when friends die away and when health is gone and life is going then Christ wil stand us instead and be All and more then all those things to us When the the leaking Cisterns will be found emptie then shall we find the fountain full and that will still yeld us as much as we need if we want not the Bucket of Faith to draw water out of this well 2. If Christ be the conveying gift of God then we must seek all good from God in and through Christ and give thanks to God by Christ for all the good that we receive God bestoweth in and through Jesus Christ all that he giveth graciously and in a way of love and so God receiveth all from us in the way of duty and service by the hand of Christ So that we must have mind upon Jesus Christ and take in the consideration of Christ in all our prayers and praises 3. If Christ be the engaging gift of God and if we reckon that God hath bestowed his son upon us and so as it were bound himself to give us all other needful good things then there is an engagement upon us to give our selves back unto God it is contrary to Religion and reason that we should think to be loose from God and yet to have him bound to us 4. We are informed hence who are the richest men and women surely they are believers such as enjoy Christ for though such may be sometimes in a poor outward condition yet they cannot want any thing that is necessary for their Spiritual and Eternal welfare and having Christ they have that which can supply all wants that which can satissie the Soule When Paul was come to Christ then he had learned in what soever estate he was therewith to be content 5. This speaketh the unspeakable happiness of those soules that enjoy Christ God giveth all things with him and all proced's from love There is a great difference betwixt Believers and Vnbelievers as in point of hope for the future so in respect of their present enjoyments 1. They are exceedingly distinguished in their hope Alas What hope hath a wicked man or a carnal worldling why he is full of vain hopes He hopes that he shall live and see many good dayes upon Earth he hopeth to encrease his estate he hopeth that his posterity shall prosper But what hope hath the Hipâ—crite Job 27.8 when God taketh away his soule Alas the confidences of vvorldly men shall be plucked up their hopes shall perish they build in the sands and building sinketh the house falleth it is the house built upon the Rock that standeth hope sixed on Jesus Christ will never fail will never make a man ashamed It is true that carnal worldly men such as are faithless and Christless do profess their â—opes of happiness hereafter Some bear themseves up upon their good meaning and honest lealingâ— civil honesty is the best soundation that their hope hath Others that have not this foundation that have no honesty nor civilitie yet say they hope well and they trust God will be merciful to them many souls are undone for ever by presuming upon the mercy of God turning the grace of God into wantonness Sottish drunkards and prophane sweaters and such as live viciously slatter themselves in their sins and even die with this in their mouths God is merciful but be not deuived saith the Apostle Neither Fornicators nor Idolaters â—â—r Adulterers 1 Cor. 6 9. nâ—r Thieveâ— nor Covetous nor Drunkards no such ungodly wicked persons shall inberit the Kingdom of God Let no man decive yâ—u wiâ—h vain words Eph. 5 6. for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience It appears from both these scripturs that there were divers who had such deceitful thou hâ—s as if livng and dying in such sins as are there mentioned they should yet go to heaven presuming upon Gods mercy but friends this is most certain that no man hath any reason to hope for salvation till by faith he hâ—th â—aid hold on Jesus Christ who is the only Saviour of souls God deals out mercies through Christ where he bestoweth Christ there he giveth grace glory and withhold's no good thing but without Christ and out of him there is no exibition of any thing to men and wâ—men in a gracious way nothing proceeding from loue Christ is the convâ—ighing gift of God who brought all good with him out of the bosom of his Father to those that enjoyhim now if other gifts of Gods good will lesser gifts be not bestowed but through Christ with Christ then surely he will not give Eternal life without him or out of him Therefore so long as soules are â—â—thout Christ strangerâ— to him 〈◊〉 they close with him by faith â—â—d take him as Lord and Jesus â—â—y have no ground to hope for â—â—lvation He that hath the Son â—â—blife 1 Ioh. 5 12 This is the will of him â—â—t sent me that every one which 〈◊〉 the Son and beleeveth on him Ioh 6.40 â—â—y have everlasting life The spirit of God speaketh exâ—â—sly 1 Ioh. 5.11 that eternal life is in Jesus â—â—ist and that he who hath not 〈◊〉 Son hath not life that people â—â—not have a confident expectaâ—â—â—n of any good from God out of â—â—rist But now it is as clear as the Sun â—â—t many who pretend hope of â—â—vation are without Christ and â—â—thout Faith for where Christ â—â—meth he worketh
from the tempest as Rivers of waters in a dry place as the shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land he hath a fellow-feeling of thy sufferings and will not suffer thee to be tempted above measure and his grace is sufficient for thee to strengthen and support and comfort thee in every affliction and troâ—ble and to give thee a great advantage by it causing sweet to come out of the sower and meat out of the Eater and in due time to deliver thee wholly to deliver the burden from thy shoulders So that believers may have what our Saviour promised to his Disciples peace and and comfort in Christ when in the world they have tribulations Doth death look upon thee with a grim countenance to put thee in fear Now consider that Christ who is thine hath overcome Death for thee and hath by his Death destroyed him that had the power of Death hath delivered thee from the wrath to come hath opened to thee the way to Heaven and every gate of Heaven he himself is the way and the doore for thee to enter in by and he will be to thee the Resurrection and the life Thus if Christ be thine he is thy Propitiation thy Justification thy Srength thy Salvation Wherefore let Faith carry thee to leane on him in all temptations and afflictions that thou maist be borne up by him and comforted with the thoughts of thy interest in him Yet I cannot thus leave this theam but must add something for a further amplification of the comfort of Believers who are received Christ As I have shewed you that the having of Christ is to believers a firm ground of comfort for Faith to pitch upon in all Spiritual and corporal inward and outward afflictions so I shall give you to see how Christ is actually effectually a Comforter in such cases to those that have received him If the soul be afflicted with strong temptations Christ comforteth it with this Word My grace is sufficient for thee to keep thee from being overcome and to make thee more then a Conquerour If Satan hath prevailed against the Christian by temptation and drawn him into some great sin whereupon there followeth soul affliction when the conscience is awakened Then Christ comforteth the soul leading to the Fountain which is set open for sin and for uncleanness presents to it the flowings of his Bloud sets before it the fulness and freeness of the Grace of God in Christ for the pardon of all sins for the refreshing of every weary soul for the satisfâ—ing of every hungring thirsting soul that hungâ—reth and thirsteth after Righteousness and when a humbled Christian closeth by faith with this Grace of Christ and washeth his soul in the Fountain of his Blood then is he comforted If Christ for the trial of a Christian do hide himself from him so that he is troubled and inwardly afflicted for want of the felt presence of Christ and for want of the manifestation of Christ his love to his soul in this case Christ will be a seasonable Comforter to the poor humbled soul he that casteth the soul down will lift it up again leading it by his Spirit to lay hold upon the comfort which lies for every child of God in that of the Apostle There is no temptation hath taken you but that which is common to men 1 Cor. 10.33 but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted aboâ—e that ye are able but will the temptation also make to escape that ye may be able to bear it and Christ helpeth the soul to gather up comfort from those sweet words Isa 45.7 8. For a small moment have I forsaken thee In a litle wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy upon the sai h the Lord thy Redeemer And thus Christ returns in due time to receive the spirits of his humble ones Christ in the believer is seasonable Comforter in all Spiritual distress in all soul affliction So likewise in case of outward trouble and temporal distressess Christ in heart is a Comforter telling the Believer that he is all sufficient for him tells him that there is in him a sufficiency of Wisdom to find out a way for his deliverance and a sufficiency of power actually to accomplish his deliverance how great soever the evil be that lies upon him yea and a sufficiencie of Love and grace to make out his power and wisdom for his good and so comforteth him abundantly filling him with this perswasion that all things shall work together for good to him Here is the happiness of a Believer that he hath a Comforter in his bosome in the midst of all troubles This is made out clearly in the experience of the Saints of which I might give you sundry Scripture instances David in his soul trouble found Christ a Comforter When Peter was by Herod cast into prison was not Christ there a Comforter to him When the Jews fell maliciously and desparately upon Stephen and in their rage Stoned him did not he receive then glorious comfort from Christ dwel ing in him Paul found this to be true at sundry times and in sundry cases And Paul and Sylas together in the Prison had experience of this truth Where Christ is in the soul helping the soul to act faith upon him he is actually a Comforter in all conditions in every distress of soul and body Well now for a clâ—se I shall summ up in few words the happiness of believers upon account of their interest in Christ and possession of him Christ brings with him all good to those that enjoy him 1. They have by Christ all temporal good things as much as is needful for them and that which God sees good for them to have now if a man hath what is for his necessary use and so much as is for his good is he not well provided for and he that hath Christ hath that which will make full amends for all seeming and conceited wants that which is infinitely better than those things which God is pleased to withhold from them and Christ being in contentation to many pirits so that in a poor outward estate the believer is as well pleased as if he had abundance and so he hath all in contentation he that is content wants nothing 2. Christ bringeth spiritual good to the soul bringing in the treasures of grace and the riches of consolation though to some soul he giveth more of that treasure more of these riches than he doth to others Christ is made to us sanctification he is the author and worker of grace and holiness so that the hearts in which Christ is must needs be gracious and holy he giveth in wisdome and meekness and love and zeal and other graces of the spirit and he tells his Disciples and all believers in them that he will not leave them comfortless I am he that comforteth you saith the Lord Christ 3. Jesus Christ bringeth believers to the enjoyment of eternal good he bringeth them to heaven â—ven all those souls to whom he is united on earth Father I will that those whom thou hast given m be with me Jo. 17.24 where I am that they may see my glory My sheep hear my voice Jo. 10.27 28. and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life Every soul that is here an habitation of God through the spirit in whom Christ dwelleth shall be received into everlasting habitations with Christ This is the happiness of every soul that enjoys Christ And now as the Apostle saith Christ in you the hope of glory so I may say Christ in you a spring of comfort Blessed soul that can truly say Christ is mine FINIS
which is to be applyed we say a blind man may catch a Hare it is possible though not probable but a blind ignorant soul cannot apply the Covenant of Promise as it is fabulously reported of Ixion that he imbraced a dusky dark Cloud instead of bright beautiful June So do ignorant souls imbrace the delusions of Satan and the phantasmes of their own deluded spirits instead of the true real Covenant of Promise therefore before I exhorted you to application I advised you to study the Covenant of Grace 2 You must apply the Covenant as God's Covenant of Grace offered to sinners There are three specialties in this to be taken notice of 1 It is God's Covenant 2 A Covenant of Grace 3 A Covenant offered to sinners 1 It is God's Covenant not mans and seeing it is God's Covenant It is worth the laying hold on for God doth not covenant to give to the Heirs of Promise small petty things but great matters indeed 2 Pet. 1.4 The Apostle saith that God hath given us exceeding great and precious promises such are the things promised to be given exceeding great and precious God gives like himself gifts worthy the giver Gods Covenant of Promise is the riches and treasure of the heirs of promise This is one consideration to draw us in to the Covenant to make us desirous of it it is worth the having 2 Seeing it is God's Covenant we may be sure it shall be performed A mans covenant with God or man may be broken because either he may be unable to make it good or he may prove false and deceitful and oh what falshood is there found with men and how common a sin is covenant-breaking but now we cannot question God's performance 1 Because there can be no want of power for the fulfilling of his Covenant To thee O Lord Ps 62.11 belougeth Power We are taught in the Lord's prayer to ascribe this unto God Thine is the Kingdom and the Power God is Almighty so that there cannot be any check given to his Power by the greatest difficulty that can be imagined there is nothing too hard for God to do nothing at all difficult to him Hereby Abraham his Faith in the Promises was born up because he was perswaded that what God had promised Rom. 4.21 he was able to perform 2 There can be no failing of God's truth and faithfulness he is not as man that he should lye nor as the son of man that he should repent Dent. 32.4 The Lord is a God of truth These considerations will make the soul desirous to apply the Covenant when it considers that it is Gods Covenant and a covenant concerning very great matters and a covenant that shall surely be performed by the Almighty faithful unchangeable God And as this consideration may serve to draw the soul to the Covenant so it may give direction and be helpful respecting the right manner of applying it 1 If it be the Covenant of God it is to be applyed humbly and with self-denial and self-abasement O Lord I would have it I desire to close with it but truly I am most unworthy of it Blessed and glorious God what am I that thou should'st tender to me the covenant of thy love 2 If it be God's Covenant concerning great and precious things that he will give then it is to be applyed earnestly We are too earnest and greedy to catch at the things of the world which we look upon as great matters though they are not so indeed Oh if we did understand the things which concern the wealth and peace and happiness of our souls then we should be as earnest to lay hold on the riches of God's Covenant the good things therein promised which are great matters indeed 3 If it be the covenant of God Almighty and unchangeable who abideth faithful for ever then apply it fiducially without staggering at the promise as being confident of the performance Thus much of the first particular it is God's covenant The second specialty to be taken notice of in the second general rule of direction is this 2 It is God's covenant of Grace this is to be considered Now this consideration will be of special use in the application of the Covenant Nothing moved God at first to make this Covenant but his own goodness herein he expressed his love and discovered his free grace which was the ground of the Covenant and truly that is it which carries it on to full accomplishment by every step and in every parcel of it The whole business of saving from first to last is meerly of grace Now see what a direction and help this will be in the application of the Covenant 1 If it be a Covenant of Grace then we must go out of our selves to take it and must take it wholly as a Covenant of Grace I say we must go out of our selves i.e. we must be taken off from our own bottom so as to have no confidence in our selves nor any conceit of our own worthiness we must come off from our graces and duties from our own righteousness must have no Opinion of that though the work of grace in us clear to us may be our warrant to apply the Covenant to our selves when we find this effect of the Covenant in our own souls this condition of enjoying the promises yet our graces and duties must not be lookt upon as giving us any right to it or rendering us any way worthy of it no it must be a self-denying application taking it by Faith as purely from grace 2 This consideration that it is a Covenant of Grace will help to carry on the self-judging self-condemning soul to an application of it A precious sweet Covenant saith a poor heart that hath a sight of its own sinfulness and vileness oh it is a blessedness to have an interest in it but I vile wretch am unworthy what have I to do with the Covenant of the great and holy God it belongeth to holy ones to those that have better hearts then I have and are more in duty then I am and perform duties in a better manner then I do and that have greater abilities to serve and glorifie God Now let such a soul consider the freeness of the grace of God in the Covenant Dost thou judge thy self before the Lord and mourn over the corruption and carnality and laziness and barrenness and deadness of thy heart Dost thou bewail thy unworthiness and unprofitableness and thy backwardness to holy duties and thy miscarriages in them Are thy sins thy souls burden and thy weaknesses the matter of thy grief and complaint Why to thee the Covenant doth belong which is a Covenant concerning Sanctification as Justification and a Covenant of Grace holding forth the mercy and goodness of God to those that have need of it and not to those that deserve it The good God gives his Covenant as a gift of grace to all those whom he takes into