V. Also in that this Covenant sets forth the Glory Beauty and Personal Excellencies of Jesus Christ. 1. In respect of his Person as God-Man 2. In respect of his Offices of which I have already spoken VI. It is a Glorious Covenant in respect of those Things which we are hereby delivered from and are also invested with and raised up to possess Is not that a Glorious Covenant by the Blessings of which Sinners are delivered from Sin which is the greatest Evil and that brings them out of a State of Death Wrath the Curse and Condemnation And that which also gives them through the Application thereof an Interest in God the chiefest Good or which restores God to them to be their God forever Consider what Glorious Gifts and Priviledges are given and granted in this Covenant Is not that a Glorious Covenant in which God is given Christ is given to the Soul But this I shall open more largely under the next Head But O! what Glorious Priviledges are contained herein as granted to all true Believers Moreover What Glorious Grace is by this Covenant procured for all the Elect And what a Crown and Kingdom do they hereby obtain a true Title unto Sixthly The Covenant of Peace is a full Covenant there is nothing wanting in it either respecting the Glory of God or our Good and Eternal Happiness I. It is a full Covenant in respect of Satisfaction Merit and Righteousness my Brethren neither Divine Justice nor the Law of God can require any more than what Christ hath by his Active and Passive Obedience paid God saith This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased Christ is called the Sun of Righteousness denoting that fullness of Righteousness which is in him as Mediator What is fuller of light than the Sun And who is fuller of Righteousness than Jesus Christ And as the Sun communicates its Light to all the Earth even so Christ communicates his Righteousness to all the Elect i. e. His Righteousness is imputed to all that Believe not the Effects of his Righteousness but his Active and Passive Obedience is the Material cause of our Justification and the Imputation of it is the formal cause thereof and from him by the Spirit an Inherent Righteousness is also infused into the whole Body to whom he is a Head of Influence to their Sanctification II. This Covenant is a full Covenant because in it or in Christ who is the Sum of the Covenant there is a fullness of Sufficiency and in the application of it by the Spirit There is a fullness of Efficacy to all the Elect He is the Head of the Body the Church the Fullness of him that filleth all in all Christ makes the Covenant Effectual or Efficatious to all his Members filling all who believe with all grace by the Spirit leaving not one believing Soul empty of what is truly good Doth the Soul want light Christ will give it He is the Light of the Gentiles The Light of the World Doth he want Liberty Christ releases the Captives Doth he need Rest Christ gives the weary and heavy-laden rest In a word Christ in the Covenant is Food to the Hungry Cloaths to the Naked Strength to the Weak Health to the Sick Courage to the Faint-hearted Succor to the Tempted Beauty to the Deformed Riches to the Poor Peace to the Troubled Life to the Dead Christ is all in this Covenant III. It is a Full Covenant because it answers not only all the wants of the Soul but of the Body also He will give meat to them that fear him he is ever mindfull of his Covenant Meat to the Soul and Meat to the Body Also Trust in the Lord and do good and so shalt thou dwell in the Land and verily thou shalt be fed All things both for the Body and Soul which God sees is good for us we shall have he will give Grace and Glory and no good thing will he withold from them that walk uprightly But yet we must not be the Judges of what is good but leave it to God We may think that is good for us which he may see to be hurtful IV. It is a Full Covenant because in it there is the Mediators Fulness Communicated to all such that are united to him as the effects thereof 't is not a Creature-Fulness that is in Christ no but the Fulness of God For it pleased the Father that in him all Fulness should dwell in him dwelleth the Fulness of the God-head Bodily The Fulness of the God-head dwells as truly in the Son as in the Father and of his Fulness do all Believers partake Of his Fulness all we receive and Grace for Grace 1. Therefore in this Covenant we do not only receive Light but the Fulness of Light 2. Not only Life but the Fulness of Life because Christ is our Life whom we receive in this Covenant 3. Not only Strength but the Fulness of Strength The Lord is the Strength of my heart and my Portion for ever 4. Not only Pardon of Sin but a Fulness of Pardon or the Fullest Pardon compleat Pardon 5. Not only Righteousness but the Fulness of Righteousness perfect and compleat Righteousness and you are compleat in him 6 Not only Peace but the Fulness of Peace Peace that passeth all understanding 7. Not only Beauty but the Fulness of Beauty For it was perfect thro' my Comliness which I put upon thee saith the Lord God 8. Not only knowledge but the Fulness of knowledge And ye also are Full of all goodness filled with all knowledge c. The parts may be weak yet where Christ dwells or hath taken possession of the heart there the Soul hath a Fulness of Spiritual knowledg Our Vessels may be full tho' but small And 9. Not only Joy but the Fulness of Joy These things have I spoken unto you that my joy might remain in you and that your joy might be full Again he saith Ask and ye shall receive that your joy may be full 't is called unspeakable joy and full of Glory 10. Lastly And not only Glory but the Fulness of Glory for the Fulness of the Glory of Heaven is contained in this Covenant or the perfect and full enjoyment of God even the Beatificial Vision Seventhly It is a seasonable Covenant I. In respect of God's early contrivance and making of it for us with Christ it was provided my Brethren before Man sinned or ready against the very time of need Poor Adam when he had sinned knew nothing of it But God provided the Plaister before we received the Wound he provided us a Physitian before we were Sick or a Saviour in this Covenant before we had sinned had not this Covenant been made before with Christ for us we had been lost no doubt for ever that very moment Man fell every thing being Beautiful in its time or proper season 'T is
effect of Man's Rebellion or of his First Sin II. As this in part sets out the Nature of this fearful Breach by reason of Sin on Man's part so also hereby God is become an Enemy to Man and hence David saith The face of the Lord is against them that do evil to cut off the remembrance of them from the Earth Some conceive by the Face of God here is meant his Anger because Anger discovers it self in the Face others think by the Face of God in this place is meant all his Attributes his Justice Wisdom Power Holiness c. are set against them 2. GOD is said to abhor the ungodly the wicked boasteth of his hearts desire and blesseth the covetous whom the Lord abhorreth This is an amazing Text and enough to terrifie all greedy Worldlings or covetous Persons and such that commend and bless them True all Sinners are abhorred upon the account of Sin ' yet none more hated and abhorred than the covetous Person is Covetousness is Idolatry 3. It is said That God is angry with the wicked every day if he return not he will whet his Sword he hath bent his bow and made it ready he hath also prepared for him the instruments of Death he hath drawn his Sword his Bow is bent and his Arrows are on the string ready to shoot Ah! Who is able to Encounter with such an Enemy or to stand before his Indignation 4. He hath laid all Mankind as considered in the First Adam under the Curse of the Law Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the Book of the Law to do them yea the Elect themselves by Nature are Children of Wrath as well as others All the World is become guilty before God such is the Nature of the Breach through Man's Sin and Disobedience in breaking the Law of the First Covenant 5. The Wrath of God abides upon all them that believe not Brethren the Sentence is past upon all the whole Race of Mankind in the First Adam even the Sentence of Everlasting Death They are all condemned already tho the Sentence is not presently executed IV. Proposition That the Breach betwixt God and Man was occasioned by the violation of the First Covenant which God entered into with Adam as the Common or Publick Head and Representative of all Mankind which Covenant was a Covenant of Works I say God gave a Law or entered into a Covenant of Works with the First Adam and his Seed and in that Covenant he gave himself to be our God even upon the strict and severe condition of perfect Obedience personally to be performed by Man himself with that Divine Threatning of Death and Wrath if he broke the Covenant In the Day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die Yet some may doubt as one observes whether this was a Covenant of Works because here is only a threatning of Death upon his Disobedience to this one positive Law Answ. But as he well observes Man in his First Creation was under a Natural Obligation to universal compliance to the Will of God and such was the Rectitude of his Nature it imports an exact Conformity to the Divine Will there being an inscription of the Divine Law upon Adam's heart which partly still remains or is written in the hearts of the very Gentiles tho much blur'd which is that light which is in all or that which we call The light of Nature Tho evident it is that God afterwards more clearly and formally repeated this Law of Works to the People of Israel it being written into Two Tables of Stone tho not given in that Ministration of it for Life as before it was to Adam yet as so given it is by St. Paul frequently called the Old Covenant and the Covenant of Works which required perfect Obedience of all that were under it to their Justification at God's Bar and so made Sin appear exceeding sinful and tended to aggravate Man's Guilt and Misery upon his Conscience tho the Design of God hereby was to discover unto Man how unable he was in his Fallen State to fulfil the Righteousness of God that so that Law together with the Types and Sacrifices might be a Schoolmaster to lead us to Christ. Now in that Ministration of the First Covenant given to Israel when they came out of Egypt there seemed to be a mutual Contract and Stipulation betwixt God and them God enjoin'd perfect universal and continual Obedience of them and they promised and covenanted formally so to do 2. Brethren Pray consider The First Covenant required Perfect Righteousness of Man as the condition of his Justification c. and that not enjoined by the Holy God as a simple act of his Sovereignty as some conclude but as it resulted from his Holiness and the Rectitude of his Nature It being inconsistent with the Justice Holiness or Purity of God's Nature to justifie any Man who is not perfectly righteous or wholly without sin even in Thought Word and Actions 3. That Adam before the Fall had Power to answer this Covenant of perfect righteousness and which he was obliged to do yet had no Surety to engage to God for him 4. Moreover he breaking this Covenant as you have already heard he was utterly undone and all his Off-spring in him and his Credit being lost for ever with God the Lord will not Treat with him any more nor enter into any Terms of Peace without a Surety and that too upon the Foundation of a better Covenant or not at all V. Proposition That there was none in Heaven nor Earth I mean neither Men nor Angels that could make up that Breach which Sin hath made between God and Man And as no Man nor Angel could do it so no Repentance no Tears tho Tears of Bloud no Reformation nor any Sacrifice no not a Thousand Rams nor Ten Thousand Rivers of Oil nor the fruit of the Body I say none of these could atone for the Sin of the Soul or make our Peace with God It is not enough for a Man to say he will sin no more for he hath sinned and stands obliged to God to pay Ten Thousand Talents and yet hath not one Farthing to repay neither will God forgive one Rebel or any Debter the least Mite as a simple act of Mercy but doth require a Full Satisfaction for the whole Debt Moreover Man is both a Debter and a Criminal VI. Proposition That God presenteth himself not as an unreconcilable Enemy for tho he be Just yet he is gracious Mercy and Goodness are a like glorious Attributes or Properties of his Nature as Justice Holiness c. Yet the Display of his Favour Love Mercy and Goodness ought to be considered with respect had to his absolute Sovereignty He was my Brethren No more obliged to magnifie his Mercy in a Surety and Saviour to Mankind than he was to
bloud was To declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God v. 25. To declare I say at this time his righteousness that he might be just and the Justifier of him that believeth in Jesus vers 26. that is That no wrong might be done to the Essential Purity of God's Nature or Rectitude of his Will nor yet to his immediate Justice by which he cannot but hate Sin and for it require a Satisfaction 3. In regard of the Truth of God's Threatning pronounced against all Mankind in Adam upon his Disobedience legal Threatnings are such that they admit of no Pardon without Satisfaction be made to the Justice and Holiness of God and this was signified by all those Typical Sacrifices and Offerings under the Law therefore in vindication of the Truth or Veracity of God together with the Honour Equity and Sanction of the Law there must be Satisfaction made or no Peace with God for fallen Mankind and this could not be done but by such a Mediator as Jesus Christ is For that which could not be done by Men or Angels nor as a simple Act of God's Mercy without the Impeachment of his Holiness Truth and Justice c. could not be done at all But no pardon no Peace could be procured by Men nor Angels nor as an absolute or simple Act of Mercy without the Impeachment or eclipsing the Glory of the Attributes of God's Justice Truth and Holiness c. therefore it could not be so done at all 4. To say God might have entered into a Covenant of Peace for us any other way than by the Mediator Jesus Christ or through his Death and Atonement would as one observes reflect upon his Love to his own dear Son For why should the Son of God be made a Curse for us or suffer the cursed Death of the Cross to make our Peace if Peace could be made any other way without the least injury to the Justice Law or Holiness of God c. No doubt my Brethren but that the Son of God had been spared if he had foresaw that our Peace might have been made some other way Moreover would it not then follow that there might have been two Ways to obtain Peace and Reconciliation with God which is contrary to what our Blessed Lord says No Man cometh to the Father but by me that is cannot come to have Peace with God any other way but by me by my Death or through my Blood nor without believing or depending upon me For thus it is with the adult 5. There is no other way of Peace with God and therefore a Necessity of Christ's Mediation because without the shedding of Blood there is no Remission no Pardon and so no Peace there could be no discharge from the guilt of Sin no removal of the Punishment of Sin nor any Purgation from the filth and pollution thereof without the Blood of Christ be shed 6. Because it is positively said There is no other Name given under Heaven whereby we must be saved If there is no other Name Way or Means given but by Jesus Christ then there is a Necessity that our Peace be made alone by him But this is so therefore there is a Necessity of Christ's Mediation In the next place we will enquire what is absolutely necessary for the Mediator of our Peace to do or were Requisites in him according to the Articles agreed on in this Covenant to make our Peace with God 1. A Mediatour of this Covenant of Peace must understand the Nature of that difference or breach which was betwixt God and Man and what Terms the Holy God who is the Injured Party stands upon and must have granted him if ever our Peace be made and who but Jesus Christ who is God knew this It was he only that well knew what it was that could satisfie Infinite Justice Had it been proposed either to Men or Angels to resolve this Question i. e. By what Means shall fallen Man come to be reconciled to God and God be righted as touching all that wrong Sin and Sinners have done him What Answer think you could they have made Alas no meer created Being could resolve such a Question 2. He that is the Mediatour of this Covenant or that maketh our Peace must not only know what will do it but also he must be able to answer all God's Demands both in respect of his Law and Justice and also be able to supply all our Wants and Necessities He must seek the Honour of the Blessed God and equally seek and be able to relieve poor Sinners and none but Jesus Christ could do this who is an indifferent Person or one equally related unto both he being both God and Man in one Person 1. He being God the one and the same Eternal God he could not know what concerned the Glory of his Father and therefore would not could not eclipse his Glory 2. And he being Man he could not but sympathize with the poor Creature and as being God he did not only know all our Wants but he is able also to supply them This brings me to the next particular III. The Mediator of this Covenant must therefore be every ways suitably qualified or capacitated for this Work and Mediatorship and to this end I say he must be God nay God in our Nature for a meer Man could not satisfie Infinite Justice his Obedience or Sufferings else could not therefore have been meritorious For it was from the Union of the Divine Nature with the Humane that put such a Worth or meritorious Efficacy in his Sacrifice I say Jesus Christ our Mediator must be God 1. Because those Evils which he was to expiate could never be taken away by any Person that was not God or whose Sacrifice or Atonement had not an infinite Worth and Satisfaction in it because Sin is against the Infinite Majesty of Heaven 2. Jesus Christ as Mediator must be God because otherwise he could not sustain or bear in his Body and Soul that great weight of Sin and Wrath laid upon him for if but the guilt of one Sin was laid on any meer Man it would sink him down to the lowest Hell much more then would the weight of all the Sins of God's Elect have sunk down the Lord Jesus Christ when laid upon him had he not been God but a meer Man How doth David cry out of the burden of his Sins Mine Iniquities are gone over mine Head as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me Nay my Brethren when our Sins were laid upon our Lord Jesus Christ and he began to bear and feel the weight of them tho he was God how did he cry out and he began to be sore amazed and said My Soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto Death Tarry ye here and watch and he went forward a little and fell on the Ground The weight of our Sins and
Hypostatical Union of the two Natures in the Person of Christ we had never been able to have drawn near to God nor have been united mystically to God had not there been such an Hypostatical Union of our Nature to the Divine Nature in Christ's Person for that was the Spring I say and Foundation of our Union 2. Moreover Christ must be God-man because the Covenant of Peace was transacted with Christ not as God simply so considered but as God-man or as Mediator and as so he struck Hands with God Christ-God as one observes could not be under the Law nor represent Man and take his Law-place nor could the Godhead suffer and pay the price of Blood nor receive a Mission and Mandates Christ simply considered as God could not be a Messenger nor be sent nor as God could there be Promises made to him nor any Rewards given him but as Mediator this was done 3. Had Christ not been God-man how could there been two Parties Covenanting with each other about making of our Peace For Christ-God the second Person could not constitute a Party distinct from God considered essentially one I and my Father are one but a Mediator is not a Mediator of one but God is one Therefore the Covenant of Peace was made with Christ as God-man God in our Nature I shall now proceed to shew you what a Mediator signifies and so open the Work of Christ as Mediator 1. A Mediator properly signifies a Midler a middle Man a Reconciler or a Days Man that lays his Hands upon both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one that interposeth to make up the Breach or Difference that is between disagreeing Parties Now Jesus Christ is a middle Person and fit every ways to be a Mediator betwixt God and Man he is at an equal distance and equally drawing near to and a like related unto both he being God and Man in one Person he is a meet and a proper Reconciler of God to Man and of Man to God For there is one Mediator between God and Men the Man Christ Jesus and for this cause he is the Mediator of the New Covenant c. For as he is God's Son so also he is our Brother or Kinsman and so the Right of Redemption falls upon him 2. A Mediator must have a legal Call to this Office or be authorized to manage this great Trust as well as be every ways fitly qualified so to do and must be allowed to undertake herein by the Injured Party Now my Brethren Christ was Chosen Called Authorized and Anointed by the Father to be Mediator and willingly as I have shewed you he accepted of this Work and Office He did actually interpose or step in betwixt God and Man and acted and executed the Mediator's Office as a Days-man's part in this Treaty of Peace by the Appointment Call and Authority of God God accepteth him for us to make our Peace I have made my Covenant with my Chosen He was chosen Behold mine Elect Again God saith I have called thee in Righteousness and will hold thy Hand c. God did with him strike Hands with us the Stipulation on our part was made by him I have laid help upon one that is mighty I have exalted one chosen out of the People In Christ we were represented by mutual Agreement in those Covenant Transactions with his Father 3. A Mediator must comply with the just demands of the wronged Party and do that which he requires without which he will never make Peace Jesus Christ therefore must be Man because the shedding of his Blood is absolutely necessary in order to the making of our Peace the just Right of the offended Soveraign of Heaven and Earth must be vindicated and to this End the Son of God took our Nature upon him that he might offer up or Sacrifice that Body to the Justice of God he laid down his Life as the Father gave him Commandment for he is our Peace who hath made both one And that he might reconcile both unto God in one Body by the Cross having slain the Enmity thereby and having made Peace by the Blood of his Cross by him to reconcile all things to himself c. 4. A Mediator must be a Person that hath interest in both Parties and be one whom both Parties may trust being equally affected unto both seeking to do all just right to one and to relieve the offending Party so far as he is capable to do it Now our Lord Jesus Christ hath interest in God being his own Son and one and the same God and being Man he is nearly related unto as God therefore can trust him as his most Faithful Servant and God in Mercy and Infinite Love chose him as our Trustee knowing that he would not could not fail us therefore he committed our Interest and Concernments of our Peace to him we having no other Friend in Heaven nor Earth And this Brethren was before we had any Being or were able to dispose of our Interest or Concernments 5. A Mediator ought to be a Person that is a Well-wisher to Peace or one that loves Peace longs after it there being nothing more acceptable to him than Peace Jesus Christ is called the Prince of Peace not only a peaceable Prince but the Prince of Peace the only Person of Peace or Peace-maker Never did any Person give such clear full and undeniable Proofs and Demonstrations of his being a Well-wisher to Peace or a Lover of Peace as Jesus Christ hath done As I. Witness how freely he offered himself to the Father in our behalf to treat about and yield to the terms of and sign this Blessed Covenant of Peace II. Witness the Glory he was willing to leave in order to his actual accomplishment thereof III. Witness the long Journey he took from Heaven to Earth that he might reconcile God and Man IV. Witness his great Abasement and wonderful Condescention for being in the Forâ— of God he thought it not Robbery to be equal wiâ—â— God not equal by a delegated Power from God for in Essence he is Co-equal Co-essential and Co-eternal with the Father but made himself of 〈◊〉 Reputation and took upon him the Form of a Servant and was made in the likeness of sinful Man his Condescention was free and voluntary oâ— unconstrained unless it was by Love he suffered his Glory for a time to be eclipsed yet he did not lay down the essential Form of God no that was impossible but he assumed the Form of a Servant by taking our Nature into Union with his Divine Nature and all this to make our Peace V. Witness how desirous he was of Peace by considering what in that Body he past through from first to last that he might make Peace 1. Consider his Bloody Agony Divine Wrath touched his Soul he sweat great Drops or congealed Clots of Blood tho it was in a cold
of his Son as Mediator for tho the Father might make the first Proposal of this to his Son yet 't is by Christ's Undertaking that God is pacified c. He was made a Curse for us therefore as by the Offence of one Judgment came upon all Men to Condemnation so by the Righteousness of one the Free-gift came upon all Men unto Justification of Life For as by one Man's Disobedience many were made Sinners so by the Obedience of one shall many be made Righteous As Adam brought us into Debt and made us obnoxious to Divine Wrath so Jesus Christ hath paid our Debts by his active Obedience to God's Law and by bearing that Wrath on his Soul and Body which our Sins had brought upon us For the Transgressions of my People was be stricken 2. See how the Mediator prevails with God for instead of God's demanding an inherent Righteousness a Righteousness wrought out in our Persons he accepts of an Imputed Righteousness wrought out in the Person of his own Son in our Nature as Mediator Who of God is made unto us Wisdom and Righteousness and Sanctification and Redemption In the Lord shall one say have I Righteousness and Strength And then on the other side 1. Christ is of a mollifying Temper towards Man for he brings Man that he might partake of the Blessings of Peace to forego or give up all his own Righteousness as good for nothing nay to account it as Dung in point of Justification at God's Bar or when it is compared to the Righteousness of God in Christ and instead of seeking Justification by our own Righteousness or by our Faith and sincere Obedience utterly to renounce it and to submit to the Righteousness of God That we may be Justified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus 2. Not to work to be Justified not to repent or love God to be Justified But to work not but believe in him that Justifies the Vngodly 3. Not to work for Life but from Life i. e. from a Principle of Life wrought in the Soul not to change one Work or Act of the Creature in Justification to another Work or Act of the Creature I mean not to renounce all Works of the Law in point of Justification and to include Gospel-works or Faith and Obedience as part of our Justifying Righteousness before God no no but to exclude all manner of Works Faith and Obedience whatsoever and to rest upon Christ alone or on his Righteousness exclusive of all the Creature doth or can do 4. And tho the Soul sees he is already Justified and accepted in the Beloved and for ever delivered from Wrath and Condemnation yet to live a Holy Life and renounce all Sin and Iniquity from a Principle of Faith and because Sin is so hateful unto God and so abominable in his Sight and because Christ is his Lord therefore to do all things whatsoever he commandeth him and all this in Love to Christ not to seek his Acceptance and Justification by the Worth of his Faith and Obedience but in Christ and to account himself an Vnprofitable Servant when he hath done all that Christ hath commanded him 5. Christ never leaves his Elect until he hath brought them to these Terms XIII A Mediator whose Mediation is rejected after long Patience leaves the Offended and Obstinate Person to the Severity of that Law he hath broke and under the Sentence thereof So my Brethren will the Lord Jesus Christ after long Patience and Forbearance leave all Obstinate Rebellious and Unbelieving Sinners to the Severity of the Law of God which they have broken and to the Wrath and Vengeance of God He that believeth not is Condemned already All are condemned in the first Adam and their Condemnation will be aggravated upon them because they reject the Offers of Peace or the Mediation of Jesus Christ and believe not in him and indeed all Men would do this was not Infinite Love shewed and Power put forth towards some according to God's Eternal Purpose in Election XIV A Mediator leaves no liberty of an Appeal after he hath passed the definitive Sentence Moreover it is some times left to him also to pass that Sentence So my Brethren the Lord Christ at the last Day will leave no room for any Sinner to appeal to any other Court or Person there will be no relief for God the Father hath committed all Judgment to the Son he will therefore pass the definitive Sentence against all Mankind in the Day of Judgment For the Father Judgeth no Man but hath committed all Judgment to the Son All Judgment in the Administration of the Mediatory Kingdom is given to Jesus Christ and in and by the Son will God Judge the World Because he hath appointed a Day in the which he will Judge the World in Righteousness by that Man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance to all Men in that he hath raised him from the Dead The Mediator of this Peace shall Judge all Men he shall execute Judgment because he is the Son of Man and this God will do That all Men may honour the Son even as they honour the Father Which shews that the same Honour and Divine Worship is due to Christ that is due to God the Father he being the very same Eternal God So much at present as to Christ's Work as Mediator of this Covenant of Peace And now let me apply this before I proceed to the next thing which is the Suretiship of Christ. APPLICATION 1. We infer from hence that Sin is exceeding sinful O what Evil is there in Sin That nothing can atone for it nor make our Peace but the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ the Mediator It is not his bare Pleading but it must be done by his bleeding or dying for us or in our stead And O how great was that Breach which nothing could make up but such a Bloody Sacrifice 2. We also infer from hence that God's Love to us in Christ is an amazing and wonderful Love our Peace shall be made tho it cost God the Blood of his own dear and beloved Son God so loved the World How was that Who can conceive of the greatness of it Even so as he gave his only begotten Son to die for us even for his Enemies God commended his Love towards us in that while we were yet Sinners Christ died for us for when we were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son Not that God was only reconcileable but by that Sacrifice God was reconciled our Faith doth not reconcile God to us but we thereby receive the Atonement or the Blessing of Peace and Reconciliation 3. We infer likewise from hence that the Love of Jesus Christ was wonderful and his Condescention exceeding great What did God take our Nature into Union with
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
Blood was shed for shall have the Vertue thereof applied to them whatsoever is not efficient is not sufficient to attain the End thereof See a late Treatise Object If this be so why is the Proclamation so Vniversal 1 Answ. Because no sort of Sins nor Sinners by Name are excepted or exempted Who can say he was not included in this Covenant of Peace to whom the Gospel comes 2. Because Ministers know not but that every one to whom they Preach may be comprehended in this Covenant or in the Election of Grace 3. Because if any sort of Sinners were excepted unless God should discover them by Name who were included Multitudes might utterly despair 4. The Proclamation doth not run to all otherwise than thus viz. He that Believeth he that comes to Christ c. or that believes the Record God hath given of his Son or that receives the Atonement or believes the Testimony of the Gospel See Mark 16.16 Joh. 3.36 This brings me to the next thing Fourthly What are the Terms upon which Peace is offered and proclaimed The Terms on which Peace is proclaimed run thus viz. 1. That whosoever it is that believeth shall be saved True if Faith was not the Gift of God but the Condition agreed on as required of the Creature by his own power to act and exercise it would not only be hard but impossible because Faith must be wrought in our Hearts by the same Power that raised Christ from the Dead but he that calls dead Lazarus to rise from the Dead is able to quicken and by his commanding Voice to raise the Soul dead in Sins and Trespasses The Gospel in the Hand of the Spirit is a mighty Instrument of Christ's Power in the begetting or working of Faith in poor Sinners 2. The Proclamation runs to him that thirsteth Oh every one that thirsteth come to the Waters c. Jesus stood up and cryed If any Man thirst let him come to me and drink This thirsting may refer to thirsting after Happiness desiring to be saved yet others think it is a Thirst begotten in the Soul by the Spirit from the sight and sense of the Excellencies that Siners see in Christ and the Necessity of him they desire and thirst after him Faith draws Vertue from Christ but the Branch cannot draw Sap from the Root until it is grafted into the Stock Faith is the Fruit of the Spirit therefore the Seed must be first sown in our Hearts And this originally proceeds from our foederal Union with Christ in the Covenant of Peace And Secondly by our Mystical Union with him by the Spirit for it is hereby Faith is wrought Can any thing but evil Fruit grow out of a wild and evil Stock and Root all Works before Grace are Dead Works and profit us not 3. The Terms are to look to Christ Look to me and be saved all ye Ends of the Earth This is all one with Believing the Israelites that were stung with Fiery Serpents were to look to the Brazen Serpent so Christ is lifted up that whosoever looketh to him or that believeth on him should not perish but have Everlasting Life 4. 'T is made to all them that come to Christ Come to me all ye that labour and are heavy laden c. All that the Father hath given me shall come unto me and he that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out 5. It runs to every one that hears but it is to such that hear Christ's Voice Hear and your Souls shall live The Dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God It is also to every one that will and whosoever will let him take the Water of Life freely Whosoever God hath inclined their Will or made willing to accept of Peace by Jesus Christ If any Soul believes in Christ thirsteth for Christ looketh to Christ or cometh to Christ and yet Christ rejecteth him then charge him with Injustice But where lives that Man tho he was never so Vile and Ungodly that did thus but he found Mercy O see how Free and Universal the Proclamation is Object 'T is not so Free but Vnbelief puts in a Bar. Answ. A Sinful State is no Bar to the Power of God for what tho some believe not shall their Vnbelief make the Faith of God of none Effect God forbid Object But Men must be humbled first before they come and they must renounce their Idols c. Answ. Grace only humbles They shall look to me whom they pierced and shall mourn But God first pours upon them the Spirit of Grace before they can thus look or mourn See Zech. 12.10 all previous Qualifications before Grace are abominable to God because the State of the Soul is such and all such things that proceed not from Faith God abhorreth 't is but a working for Life and not from Life Is the Improvement of Common Grace the Foederal-Condition of geting Special No surely APPLICATION 1 Infer From hence we may infer That in the Covenant of Peace the Promises of God are Absolute and that this Absoluteness implies that all the Conditions that are required on the Creature 's part Grace is promised to them to perform them on God's part Who works in us to will and to do of his own good Pleasure 2. This Proclamation is not so Universal but that it wholly dependeth upon God's Sovereign Pleasure who shall reap the Benefit of it 'T is sent to one Nation and not to another God is not obliged to send it to all Kingdoms and Nations nor to all in that Nation whither he is pleased to send it but if Christ died for all I mean in the stead of all to satisfie Divine Justice for every individual Person then he would be Unjust in not sending the Gospel to them all But he must Call all and be sure he would give all the lesser Gifts as well as the greater viz. the Gospel and Faith c. to all as well as his Son to die for them all and not let them perish in their Sins and Unbelief for whom Christ died for without Faith all Adult Persons must perish And how shall they believe on him whom they have not heard And how shall they hear without a Preacher 3. This Proclamation offers Free Pardon of all Sins both past present and to come to all that believe in Jesus Christ And therefore a final Deliverance from the Curse of the Law and the Wrath of God Rom. 8.1 4. Free Justification by Christ alone is therein offered also 5. With a Supply of all Grace to the End to all them that are in Jesus Christ Phil. 4.19 6. It proclaims God to be our Father and we his Sons and Daughters upon receiving Jesus Christ. 7. Moreover where any Elect Sinners are or dwell thither the Proclamation shall and must go to bring them all into the Bonds of the Covenant 8. And also whosoever receive this
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
Christ's death cover thy self wholly with his death wrap thy self wholy in his death and if God would judge thee say Lord I place the death of our Lord Jesus Christ between me and thy Judgment and no other ways will I contend with thee And if he shall say unto thee thou art a sinner say I place the death of our Lord Jesus Christ between me and my sins and if he shall say unto thee that thou deservest Damnation say Lord I put the death of our Lord Jesus Christ between thee and all my sins and I offer his Merits for my own which I should have and have not If he shall say that he is Angry with thee say Lord I place the death of Christ between me and thine Anger O Sinner here is thy relief it is in the Blood of the Covenant it is Christ's death under all Fears Temptations Dispair and Anguish of Soul here is peace even under the accusations of thy own Conscience and Satan's temptations even in Life and at the hour of Death O Blessed Covenant of Peace Who is it that is just a going to God's Tribunal that dares to plead what he hath done or is wrought in him alas all hands will be weak all hearts faint and all felf-confidence will faâ— them This Covenant is therefore all oâ—â— Hope our Peace and all our Salvation and in it there is indeed a Salve for every Sore VSE 1. Sinner take hold of this Covenant and tho thou art an Eunuch i. e. a poor dâ—â— barren and fruitless Soul yet if thou takâ— hold of God's Covenant or canst but geâ— Faith to take hold of Christ God will givâ— thee a Name in his House better than that oâ— Sons and Daughters 2. Saints do you fix your eyes also upoâ— this Covenant to plead the Blood and Merits of Christ in this Covenant Rest alonâ— upon the Lord Jesus and on the Faithfulnesâ— of God in his promises in this Covenant foâ— tho thou knowest nothing of thy self yet thâ—â— art not thereby Justified nor can thy sâ—â— condemn thee if thou art in Christ for thoâ— art perfect in him touching thy Justification before the Throne of God 3. With what comfort then mayst thou 〈◊〉 Believer take the Sacrament as a Token 〈◊〉 the Covenant-blessings Yea thou takest iâ— as a pledge from God that all his wrath 〈◊〉 over in Christ and that Divine Justice is satisfied towards thee in Christ and that all thâ— Sins are for ever pardoned that God is thâ— Father Jesus Christ is thy Saviour and Heaven is thy Inheritance but here I shall Conclude at this time SERMON X. Shewing the Covenant of Peace is a try'd Covenant that it is but one Intire Covenant viz. That the Covenant of Grace and Rededemtion are not Two distinct Covenants as some lately affirm but only one and the same Covenant That t' is a Covenant full of the Strongest consolation and lastly an Everlasting Covenant ISA. Liv. x. Neither shall the Covenant of my Peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee I AM upon the opening the nature of the Covenant of Peace or to shew you what kind of Covenant it is I have passed thro an Induction of Nine Particulars already shall proceed Tenthly It is a Try'd Covenant I. All the faithfull Children of God venturâ— their Souls and their Salvation upon it and never failed any one of them Adam no douâ—â— ventured his Soul and Salvation thereon 〈◊〉 did Abel Enoch Noah Abraham Isaac and Jacob and all the Holy Patriarchs and all thâ— Holy Prophets and the Apostles of Jesus Chrisâ— together with all the Saints both in thâ— times of the Old and New Testament anâ— they all found it having try'd it a Sure Covenant II. Multitudes of Souls departed this Liâ— are already made Perfect in Heaven by thâ— Grace and Blessings thereof they find it tâ— their own unspeakable Joy and Comfort a sum and happy Covenant For it was by the Merits and Righteousness of Jesus Christ or blooâ— of the Everlasting Covenant they are all goâ—â— to Heaven III. Never did any person venture 〈◊〉 Soul upon Jesus Christ by vertue of this Covenant by Believing truly on him but 〈◊〉 found it a Firm and saving Covenant 〈◊〉 how many have try'd and found it so tâ— be IV. Satan that great enemy of Believers and of the Souls of Men hath often tryd 〈◊〉 and endeavoured to shake the hopes of Believers and break this Covenant but hâ— to his shame and confusion sees that he cannoâ— break the bonds thereof Eleventhly It is one intire Covenant i. e. the Covenant that was made with Christ â—rom Eternity is the Covenant of Peace and â—econciliation or the Covenant of Grace â—s well as of Redemption For 1. Was it not made with him as our Coâ—enanting Head and so in him with all Gods â—lect and for them Some of late times would â—ave this Covenant to be a Covenant of Reâ—emption and not the Covenant of Grace â—nd Reconciliation but a distinct Covenant â—nd so plead for Two Covenants besides the â—ovenant of Works which we read no where â—f in the Holy Scriptures 2. Was it not wholly of the Free Grace â—f God yea and the highest Act and Deâ—onstration thereof that he was pleas'd to â—nter into that Covenant with his own Son â—s our Surety and Mediator 3. Was not all the good which we receive â—n time promised to us in Christ before the World began See Tit. 1.2 Nay was not all â—race given Foederaly to us in Christ in that Covenant See 2. Tim. 1.9 Who hath savâ—d us and called us not according to our works â—ut according to his own purpose and Grace which â—as given to us in Christ before the World beâ—an 4. Was it not that Covenant that was made â—etwixt the Father and the Son that Christ was made the Mediator and Surety of and Confirmed by his death and did not he unâ—ertake to Die for all Gods Elect when the Fulness of time was come Or was not God in Christ in and by vertue of that Covenant from everlasting a reconciling the World to himself And if so Was not the Covenant made with Christ of Redemption a Covenant of Peace and Reconciliation also Was it not representitively made then for us in Christ and actually made with us by Application and that it might be thus Apply'd to us in time did not Christ engage to see it done for us before time in that Holy Covenant then agreed on 5. Is there any one Promise one Blessing or one Priviledg which we received which was not Primarily granted to Christ for us in that Covenant viz. That our Acceptation should be in Christ that our Justification should be in him and our Sanctification should be in and by him c 6. Was not the Covenant of Redemption made with Christ as a Publick Person a Second Adam And if so was it not made in him with all his Seed Take here what a
have not only Crucified the Flesh or are become dead to Sin but have Crucified the World also But God forbid that I should Glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the World is Crucified unto me and I unto the World The World careth not for them and they care not for the World they are dead to the Honours Pleasures and Riches of the World Moses contemned all the Glory of Pharaoh's Court yea all the Pleasures of Sin and Riches of Egypt and so do all God's sincere People contemn this World If any Man love the World the love of the Father is not in him 3. They that are God's peculiar People are become dead to the Law to that cruel Husband and to all their own Righteousness accounting it but Dung or a dead Carkase or Dogs-meat in comparison of Christ Ye also are become dead to the Law by the Body of Christ c. The Union with that Husband is dissolved they seek not Life and Justification by the Law or are not in love with Self-Righteousness but dead to it whilst others make an Idol of it and trust in it 4. They have renounced themselves also and confess they are not their own but that their Souls their Bodies their Substance their Graces their Gifts their Time their Strength their Lips and their Lives are all the Lord's and for him for as all that God hath which is communicable is theirs or freely imparted to them and for them so all they are and have they account it is the Lord's they being but only Stewards of all they have and do possess Shall such think that they are the Lord's who live to themselves seek themselves or only bring forth Fruit like empty Vines to themselves No they that are the Lord's People esteem all they have to be his and for his Service and are willing to render it up to him when he calls for it Nay they have given God their Hearts not their Lips only or their Tongues nor their Ears nor their Substance but their Hearts also My Son give me thy Heart God complains of some that drew near to him with their Lips and sate before him as his People sate and with their Tongues shewed much kindness but saith he their Hearts went after their Covetousness after the World these God's Soul abhors and he will not own them to be his People Some give their Hearts to Pleasures to strange Women and to Vanity and to meer Folly and others give their Hearts to Riches but God's Covenant-People give their Hearts to him not a part of the Heart but their whole Heart they love the Lord their God with all their Hearts with all their Souls and with all their Strength Others have their Hearts divided between God and the World between God and their Lusts but such that love not God with their whole Heart hate him for the lesser Love is accounted Hatred in Scripture II. They that are God's peculiar Covenant-People are Begotten and Born of God for they this way as you heard become his Children there are none my Brethren that are the Lord's People by Adoption but they are his also by Regeneration they have his Image formed in them they are like to their Father in Holiness Heavenliness in Humility Mercy Meekness Love Goodness Charity c. they partake of the Divine Nature every one resembles the Son or Daughter of a King Then said he unto Zeba and Zalmunna What manner of Men were they whom ye slew at Tabor And they answered As thou art so were they each one resembled the Children of a King They are nobly descended they have sublime Spirits Holy Hearts Desires Aims and Ends in all they do they are not meer Dunghil-Rakers like the Men of the World but far excel all others The Righteous is more excellent than his Neighbour he has an excellent Spirit Life and Principles in him III. They that are God's Covenant-People Trust in him as their God as well as Love him as their God all People trust in their God tho it be a God of Gold or Silver a Worldly Man's strong Confidence is his Wealth he makes Gold his Hope So they that have God to be their God trust in him depend upon him They that know thy Name will put their Trust in thee They trust in the True and Living God God is their Hope their Confidence they rely upon his Power his Mercy his Love his Faithfulness his Covenant and on his Blessed Promises and this at all times in Afflictions Desertion Temptations c. and when called to any hard Service in Prosperity and in Adversity in times of Want and Necessities and in Times of Fulness in Life and also at the Hour of Death This tends my Brethren to the Glory of God and by this they shew what a value and esteem they put upon God How often does David say he trusted in the Lord and because God was his God O my God I trust in thee Job says Tho he slay me yet will I trust in him Tho they see not feel not or have no sensible Comfort or Relief yet can and will trust in God tho God hides his Face or they walk in Darkness and have no Light IV. God's peculiar People highly love value and prize the Lord Jesus Christ They can say with David Whom have I in Heaven but thee Neither is there any on Earth that I desire besides thee They have tasted how good the Lord is and beholding his Beauty can say He is the chiefest among Ten Thousand they live upon Christ fetch all their Comfort and Hope of Salvation from him and rejoyce in him alone Serving God in Spirit and have no Confidence in the Flesh. Moreover when they have done all things that Christ hath commanded they look upon themselves Unprofitable Servants they live in him to him and by him their living in him shews Christ is their Life their living to him shews Christ is their ultimate End their living by him shews Christ is their Strength they receive the Spirit and so live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit they bring up the bottom of their Lives to the top of their Light they do not only know what is to be done but do what they know the Darkness of Carnal Professors will be the blackest because their Light seemed to be the clearest but these are better inwardly in substance than outwardly in appearance in a word they are as much in love with the Imployment of Holiness as with the Injoyment of Happiness or to be Holy here as well as Happy hereafter or to live to God on Earth as well as with him in Heaven V. God's Covenant-People ascribe all the Glory to him and take all the Shame to themselves Both Riches and Honour come of thee the Power the Glory and the Victory is thine and of thine own have I
so Good yea so Precious so Sweet in his Love and Favour that I am not able to express it as if he should say Therefore pray taste your selves and then by experience you will find it to be as I say Solomon also found by experience this was the best Trade Wisdom is better than Gold and to get Vnderstanding rather to be chosen than Silver Yea better than Rubies all things that may be desired are not to be compared to it Solomon had the experience of all other Things he had Riches in abundance Honours beyond all Men on Earth and Pleasures of all sorts and such Wisdom also which no meer Man ever attained to yet he cries out Vanity of Vanity all things are Vanity Doubtless God might let him try the Nature of all Worldly good or whatsoever the Heart of Man could desire that by him all Men might know even by his Experience the emptiness and vanity of them no Man ever decry'd the Vanity of all things under the Sun more than he did And in the close of all by that experience he had how doth he commend Spiritual Things or the Merchandise of Wisdom i e. the Love and Favour of God in Christ or our Lord Jesus Christ himself whom he sets forth under the Name of Wisdom Moreover Moses chose rather to Trade in these rich and rare Commodities than in all the Treasures and Glories of Egypt or of Pharaoh's Court nay he esteemed the Reproaches of Christ greater Riches or much better than all the Riches and Treasures of Egypt or all the Pleasures of Sin for a Season Also you may take Paul's Experiences on this account What says he But what things were Gain to me those things I counted Loss for Christ yea doubtless I account all things but loss for the excellency of the Knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but Dung that I may win Christ. In his Judgment all things in comparison of Christ were but as Dung or Dogs-meat O! that every Soul that hears me this Day would but endeavour to play such a Game as Paul did or get such Experiences as he had 5. By this Trade also the Soul is inriched with all the Promises of God precious Promises exceeding great and precious Promises Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promises Whereby that is through the Knowledge of God in Christ That by these ye may be Partakers of the Divine Nature Those Promises by which we partake of the Nature or Image of God must needs greatly inrich the Soul it is by and through them we attain to an Impress of the Divine Nature or Divine Qualities and Dispositions as Knowledge Righteousness Mercy Goodness Holiness c. They are full Promises suitable Promises suited to every Condition and seasonable Promises and also sure and certain Promises 6. Because this Trade inriches both the Soul and Body too they that drive this Trade in a right manner shall have their vile Body changed and made in likeness to Christ's Glorious Body and be Crowned with Glory for evermore 7. This Trade through Faith in Jesus Christ gives the Soul full Satisfaction it fills it with Joy and Comfort for as hereby we come to have a likeness to God so also to have Communion with God and Jesus Christ it is therefore a most sweet and honourable Calling it makes us happy while we live and happy at Death also Thus in respect of the Subject these Merchandises do inrich it appears it is the best Trade in all the Earth Secondly This will further appear by considering of the Nature of the things about which the Soul Spiritually Trades I. They are Things of great Worth Riches or of an Inestimable Value This appears 1. In respect of the great Price by which they were bought which was the Blood of Jesus Christ they cost an Infinite Sum of rich Treasure 1 Pet. 1.18 19. Who would not highly account of Things bought with such a Price and part with all things for them as Paul did The Merchant-Man sold all he had and bought the Pearl of great Price The Redemption of the Soul is precious c. That which is most costly is commonly most preferred My Brethren Jesus Christ did not over-buy them he never repented that he laid down so great a Price to purchase them for us O costly Ware saith one O dear bought Goods For which the Pearl of great Price went Will you not value those things highly which the Son of God bought with his own Heart's Blood 2. They are Heavenly Things Heavenly Riches What are the Nature of all Earthly Things to Heavenly Things Alas God gives the Things of this World to his Enemies to such that hate him What said Luther of all the Turkish Empire It was but a Crust that God casts to a Dog Brethren we shall never fully know the Worth and Nature of Heavenly Things till we come to Heaven 3. They are Incorruptible Things and Things that Thieves can't steal and Things that corrupt not perish not they are not the worse for keeping their Nature changes not all other things perish in the using and as our Lord shews Moth and Rust corrupteth them But God is unchangable and Christ is the same Yesterday to Day and for ever The Word of God is incorruptible which liveth and abideth for ever 4. They are Vnsearchable Riches no finding out perfectly either the Quality or Quantity of this vast Mine of rich Treasure To me who am less than the least of all Saints is this Grace given That I should Preach among the Gentiles the Vnsearchable Riches of Christ What are the Spanish Gold Mines or the Riches of Mexico or Potosi to Christ's Riches Mines of Gold may be exhausted or such that have those Mines may be poor as the Spaniard is Brethren Millions of Millions live upon Christ yet his Treasure is full the Riches of Christ are permanent abiding Riches With me are durable Riches and Righteousness 5. The Riches procured by this Covenant in this Trade are not only Soul-satisfying but also Soul-fatening Riches Eat that which is good and let your Soul delight it self in fatness These were those Riches that satisfied Divine Justice and appeased Divine Wrath and that quiets a guilty and wounded Conscience they fill the Soul faten the Soul They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy House and thou shalt make them drink of the Rivers of thy Pleasures They shall be fat and flourishing c. 6. They are certain Riches the Riches of this World are called Vncertain Riches they make themselves Wings and fly away Besides they will not avail in the Day of Wrath they will stand in no stead then nor any ways profit the Wretched Sinner at Death nor in the Judgment Day But Godliness is profitable for all things
't is great gain every ways profitable at all times in all States and profitable to the Soul and Body too 7. The Things that Believers Trade in are the best Things of Heaven the best Things of God he has no better Things to bestow as you have heard all good is comprehended in these Riches and hence these Things are only given to his own People to his Beloved ones as a Pledge of his Eternal and Special Favour in Christ. What exceeds himself His Son his Spirit his Love his Grace his Peace Peace with God Peace of Conscience and Joy in the Holy Ghost and Eternal Happiness in Heaven 8. They are Eternal Things The Things that are seen are Temporal but the Things that are not seen they are Eternal These are Everlasting Wares you shall carry them out of the World with you These things have I spoken that my Joy might remain in you and that your Joy might be full O! what a Trade by this Peace is opened to Believers Thirdly This is the best Trade in respect of our Blessed Correspondent whom we Trade with or who manages all our Affairs at the Court of Heaven namely Jesus Christ. I. Consider that the Father hath put the Management of all our Affairs into Christ's Hands as our great Trustee Moreover every true Believer has committed himself and all his Concerns to Jesus Christ The Poor committeth himself unto thee II. Consider his Power he is the King of Heaven and Earth All Power is given to me in Heaven and Earth he is the Mighty God this made Paul say For I know whom I have believed and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that Day I have committed my self to him my Soul to him my Life and all I have and hope to receive to him and I doubt not of his Power and Ability to keep it III. Consider of his Faithfulness other Correspondents oftentimes deceive and prove unfaithful Stewards but Jesus Christ is Faithful he never failed any one poor Soul that truly trusted in him God is Faithful and Christ is called A Faithful High Priest c. IV. Consider of that great Price he gave for all those Things which we Trade with him for Moreover and that he bought them for us and has opened a Blessed and sure way of Conveyance of them and besides he hath obliged himself by Covenant to give them down to us as we need them V. Consider of that Relation Believers stand in to him and of his Infinite Love and Affections to them he Trades or Intercedes for his Friends for such he ransomed with his own Blood for his Spouse whom he hath betroathed to himself for ever VI. Consider what Returns he makes some venture much and that which is great in worth but hardly sometimes have returns of the full intrinsical value again but thus doth not Jesus Christ deal with us First Christ makes great and vast Returns 1. To appoint them that mourn in Sion to give them Beauty for Ashes Beauty especially Spiritual Beauty is a precious Thing but what are Ashes worth What are our Duties Our Fastings and Prayer and Humiliations Why of no more worth then a little Ashes Yet here is Beauty returned for Ashes yea Beauty on the Soul Glorious Beauty 2. And the Oyl of Joy for Mourning we mourn and weep for our Sins well and pray what are a few Tears good for Are these of any worth in themselves No certainly Yet Christ makes returns of the Oyl of Joy for this Mourning or in lieu of these Tears even the Holy Spirit which fills the Soul with Joy and Comfort 3. And the Garment of praise for the Spirit of Heaviness Christ approves of Sadness of Heart that rises from that Sense we have of that Unworthiness that is in us and of that Dishonour which is done to him But how little Worth is there in this Heaviness as in it self But he returns the Garment of praise i. e. he cloaths the Soul in Beautiful Garments all these Expressions shew that whatsoever we receive is in a way of Free Grace and that there is no Worth in our Duties and also that Christ in a way of Grace will make Blessed Returns My Brethren Rewards of meer Grace are far greater than those of Debt as I have often told you But further 4. He that gives or ventures a Cup of cold Water to a Disciple in the Name of a Disciple shall not lose his Reward This is a small thing indeed yet here is a great Return for this when given to a right Object and to a right End and if he that gives or ventures a Cup of cold Water has such Returns what shall he have that ventures his All yea his very Life 5. And every one that hath forsaken Houses or Brethren or Sisters or Father and Mother or Wife or Children or Lands for my Name sake shall receive an hundred fold now at this time and in the World to come Eternal Life An hundred fold is a wonderful Return as when a Man that ventures one Pound to Sea to India or to any other place and receives a Hundred Pounds in lieu of it 't is a mighty Return but this is more in Quantity and better in Quality and that in this Life an Hundred fold here and a Crown of Glory in the Life to come Who would not Trade with such a Correspondent or not enter into such a Calling Will you not this Day become Spiritual Merchants What do you say II. He will fill our Treasures and that with Riches and Honours yea with durable Riches and Righteousness That I may cause them that love me to inherit Substance and I will fill their Treasures III. He hath promised to return Glory in Heaven for Sufferings on Earth For I reckon the Sufferings of this present time not worthy to be compared with the Glory that shall be revealed in us Let us weigh one against the other and see what a vast difference there is For our light Afflictions that are but for a moment work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory But did I say these Returns are for what we venture No no not for but in venturing in keeping Christ's Precepts there is an exceeding great Reward For all Returns are in a way of Free Grace 't is a Free Trade 1. Without Money and without Price without Money or Monies worth We Trade for nothing receive nothing for what we had or give for it as you have heard 'T is true Buying denotes our parting with something that is our own that we may have that we want But what is ours which we must part with Is it of any worth We must 1. Part with all our Sins Evil Courses Evil Habits and old Companions 2. With our old Hopes of Heaven 3. Our own Righteousness in respect of
Children of Wrath before they believe Faith also must be somewhat more than an Evidence the Soul having that in its actual possession which it had not before 2. Because they that believe God says Are passed from Death to Life that is from a State of Death and Condemnation into a State of Life and Justification See Joh. 5.24 1 Joh. 3.14 3. Because the Holy Spirit in Convictions represents the state of an Elect Sinner to himself to be before Grace wretched and miserable who is a true and faithful Witness and cannot lie Brethren as the first Adam and all in him were Condemned by the pronunciation of the Sentence of the Holy God in Paradise so the second Adam or all his or all in him are for ever Justified And as whilst we remain in the first Adam his first Sin is imputed to us so not till we are in Christ is his Righteousness to our actual and personal Justification imputed to us tho I grant Foederally and Representatively in Christ it was imputed before to all the Elect yet 't is through the reception of Grace or the infusion of the Spirit whereby Faith is wrought that the Soul receives the Atonement and comes actually possessed with the Blessing of Peace The God of Hope fill you with all Joy and Peace in believing There is no Peace to the Wicked saith my God And this because they have not an actual Interest in Christ Where the Spirit of Christ is there is liberty and therefore Peace and in none else 7. And thus the Sinner is brought to God and comes to be taken into the Covenant of Grace the which the Spirit doth renew and confirm in his Baptism Rom. 6.1 2 3 4 5. and which is further renewed and confirmed to him in the Holy Ordinance of the Lord's Supper which is a Sign or Pledge of the New Covenant in or by Christ's Blood Hence called The New Covenant in his Blood 8. Moreover let it be noted That a Man may be in a State of Grace and Peace and yet not know it all that have Faith or do believe do not know they have Faith or believe but have Doubts about it 1 Joh. 5.13 all injoy not what they have in possession therefore true Faith as to the Essence thereof cannot be a simple Evidence to the Soul of what it hath nor a full Perswasion that Christ is mine and I am his for if so then he that has not this Evidence or Assurance is no true Believer or if he lose it he loses the very Essence of Faith and so ceases to be a Believer Moreover it would then follow that there are no weak Believers or Babes in Christ for every Babe must be a Strong Man were it thus For is not he a strong Christian that has a clear Evidence of his Justification and a full assurance of Eternal Life 9. There is no steady and full Injoyment of this Spiritual Peace without keeping up and maintaining a War against Sin also this War is maintained by every Faculty the whole Soul being united in carrying it on and also against every Sin Moreover it is a War in which the Soul by the Spirit prevails Sin shall not have Dominion over you c. 'T is a resolute War or carried on with uttermost Revenge against Sin and likewise always even to the end of our Days and if called to it to resist unto Blood striving against Sin All my Brethren that have Peace with God or are Reconciled to him are at War with Sin Satan and the World resolving never to be Reconciled to these Enemies or be at Peace with one Sin whilst they live 10. Our Peace as to the degree of it as in our selves is and will be according to that degree or measure of our Faith we have a weak and doubting Believer hath but little Peace in his own Conscience he being too subject to ground his Peace on his good and lively Frame or to judge of his Justification by the degrees of his Sanctification or inherent Holiness tho the State of the weakest Christian is as safe as the strongest yet he has not that Peace and Comfort others have But no more as to this Secondly I shall open the Nature of this Peace 1. It is Peace with God the Mighty God God is hereby become our Friend all Enmity or Wrath in God against the Soul is gone for ever and all Enmity that was in the Soul against God is removed or taken away also there being a Mutual Peace and Reconciliation I do not say God can no more be offended with the Soul but if he be yet he will not be provoked to Wrath or to let out his against such a Person any more for ever 2. All the actings of God towards his People are in Love tho the poor Believer perhaps cannot see it thus but fears the contrary My Brethren God receives us into his intire Affections and le ts out his Love and Bowels towards us and acts always towards us as a tender Father to his Children 3 We hereby enter actually into a League with God God takes the Soul into an everlasting Covenant of Peace and the Soul also takes God to be his God in the same Everlasting Covenant as you have heard which Covenant all the Powers of Hell and Darkness can never break or violate the Peace and Union with Christ in this Covenant is indissolvable The Covenant of my Peace shall not be removed saith the Lord Tho we may sin yet God will blot them all out Sin nor Satan nor the World nor Life nor Death neither any thing else can separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord their Sins and Iniquities I will remember no more All the Attributes of God are for us and no Accusation of Satan can provoke God against us so as to become our Enemy True Sin or Satan may spoil the sensible Peace and Comfort of our Souls but they cannot spoil our Peace with God or break our Union 4. It is Soul-Peace Spiritual Peace O! how great how sweet and precious is that Peace Earthly Peace National Peace Congregational Peace and Family Peace is good and to be prized But what is any kind of Peace to true Spiritual Soul Peace As no Trouble no Sorrow is like Soul-Trouble so no Peace is to be compared to Soul-Peace Great Peace have they that love thy Law and nothing shall offend them 5. Such have Peace also with the Holy Angels the Angels of God are at Peace with them that God is at Peace with they are hereby become our Friends and take our part and fight for us and against the Devil our grand Enemy they War against the Evil Angels who hate and envy us And they Minister unto them that shall be Heirs of Salvation nay the Angels of God encamp round about them that fear him They also War against
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