The Best Treasure, Chapter 20
CHAP. XX.
The Confirmation of the new Covenant is the Fruit of Chriſt's purchaſe, prov'd by ſeveral Arguments.
ANother glorious Fruit of Chriſts blood, and purchaſed Treaſure for ſaved Souls, is, the eſtabliſhment of the new Covenant, to Believers, and Believers in the Covenant. This is the certain effect of Chriſt's death, the making ſure the Covenant to all his ſeed: That there is no more poſſibility of making it void to the Heirs of promiſe. This is the great thing undertaken in the new Covenant, that it ſhall be ſure to all the ſeed, Rom. 4. 16.
There are Eight things which ſecure this to Believers.
Firſt, This new Covenant muſt needs be firm and unalterable, becauſe the reaſon why God …und fault with the old Covenant; was, becauſe it was weak, and could not ſecure thoſe that were within it, Heb. 8. 8, 9. Which Covenant they brake; though I was an Husband to them, ſaith the Lord, Jer. 31. 32. Now if this were the reaſon why God did alter the firſt Covenant; then the new Covenant he makes in the room of it, muſt n…eds be free from this Imperfection and mutability, or elſe it would abundantly reflect on the infinite wiſdom of God to make a new Covenant guilty of the ſame errour.
Secondly, This was Gods deſign in making a new Covenant, that it might be ordered in all things, and ſure, 2 Sam. 23. 5. That it might be firm, and eſtabliſhed upon better promiſes, Heb. 8. 6. Why are they called better promiſes? Are there better promiſes than the promiſes of Heaven and Glory? They are called better, becauſe more pure and abſolute promiſes, and becauſe it was Gods deſign to make them ſure, Rom. 4. 16.
Thirdly, It is confirmed by the blood of Chriſt, and therefore the blood of Chriſt is called the blood of the Covenant, Mat. 26. 28. This is my blood of the new Teſtament: 'Tis the blood of the new Teſtament, in that it ſeals to the fulfilling of this Covenant. The death of the Teſtatour makes the Teſtament to be in full force, Heb. 9. 17. That now all the Promiſes and Legacies are certain, and cannot be diſappointed to the Legatees and Heirs of Salvation. Again, this blood of Chriſt is the blood of the Covenant, and confirms it, in that it makes good all the conditions of it, that whatever is required to make this Covenant good, is undertaken by Chriſt, in the behalf of all his feed, and therefore he is called the ſurety of the new Covenant, Heb. 7. 22. By death he hath fulfill'd the Condition of the firſt, and undertaken for the fulfilling of this new Covenant, in and by Believers: Yea, his obedience is for them, to preſent them compleat to the Father, notwithſtanding all their failings.
Fourthly, This new Covenant is ſure to Believers, becauſe the Adminiſtation of it is in the hands of Chriſt, Heb. 8. 6. But now he hath obtain'd a more excellent Miniſtery, by how much he is the Mediatour of a better Covenant. The whole truſt about the Adminiſtration of new-Covenant-bleſſings, is devolved on Jeſus Chriſt; and therefore he is called the Mediator, and Miniſter of the Covenant: So that the Covenant muſt needs be ſure, ſeeing the diſpoſe thereof is by compact betwixt the Father and Chriſt, deliver'd into his hand upon the account of his death: Now he that is the Believers Friend, Head, and Husband, hath all power in Heaven and Earth, to make good the Covanent to them, Mat. 28. 18. So that the promiſes of the Covenant cannot be forfeited by Believers, being made over to Chriſt as to a Truſtee for them, and their Covenant ſtate alſo being ſo ſurely confirm'd, that they cannot fall from it.
Fifthly, Chriſt's ſufficiency to ſee new-Covenant-promiſes made good, and new-Covenantends accompliſhed to them, is ſecurity enough for their ſafety. He is an alſufficient Saviour, able to ſave to the utmoſt, all that come to God by him, Heb. 7. 25. He is able to ſee Gods part fulfilled, having all the promiſes in his hand, and all the things promiſed at his diſpoſe; and he is able to ſee the Believers part fulfilled alſo, for he hath all that in him which is needful for the making of the Condition good on their part: For,
Firſt, He hath all Wiſdom in him, to make them wiſe to Salvation, Col. 2. 3. He is made of God to his people Wiſdom, 1 Cor. 1. 30. Appointed of God to receive Wiſdom for them, whatever they need to guide them in the way, and fit them for Salvation: Knowledge is neceſſary to Eternal Life, Joh. 17. 3. The Image of God conſiſts partly in it, Col. 3. 11. Without it the heart is not good, Prov. 19. 2. No Faith without Knowledge, 2 Cor. 4. 4. No Obedience without Knowledge, Pſa. 18. 44. This is needful to diſcern the wiles of Satan, 2 Cor. 2. 11. The ſinfulneſs of ſin, Rom. 7. 13. The preciouſneſs of Chriſt, 1 Pet. 2. 7. The beauty of holineſs, Pſ. 110. 3. The love of Chriſt, that paſſeth knowledge, Eph. 3. 19. The hope of your calling, and the things freely given of God, 1 Cor. 2. 12. And for this end all Wiſdom is laid up in Chriſt to be given out to his people by his Spirit through his word; hence 'tis ſaid, that Believers have an Unction from the holy one, to teach them all things, 1 Joh. 2. 20, 27. And the promiſe of the Spirit is made to them, to lead them into all truth, Joh. 16. 13. So that whatever is needful for Saints to fit them for Covenant-Duties and Mercies, all this is in Chriſt for them, and ſo he is able to make the Covenant good to them.
Secondly, He hath all Grace in him that tends to the fulfilling of this Covenant in Believers and for them: He hath received the Spirit without meaſure; Joh. 3. 34. And why is this? But that from his fullneſs Believers may receive Grace for Grace, Joh. 1. 16. He is the fullneſs that filleth all in all, Eph. 1. 23. And therefore hath promiſed Grace ſufficient to his people in all their temptations, 2 Cor. 12. 9. 1 Cor. 10. 13. under all their burdens, Pſa. 55. 22. For all duties and undertakings, Phil. 2. 12, 13. Chap. 4. 13. I can do all things through Chriſt that ſtrengtheneth me.
Thirdly, He hath all power in Heaven, and Earth put into his hand, Math. 28. 18. Power to bruiſe Satan under his peoples feet, Rom. 16. 20. To ſubdue Corruptions in them, Mic. 7. 19. To vanquiſh all their Enemies for them, Joh. 16. 33. Rev. 12. 11. To heal all their backſlidings, Hoſ. 14. 4. To work all their works in them, and for them, Iſa. 26. 12. To give them Faith, and to finiſh it, Heb. 12. 2. To keep them faithful to the death, 2 Theſ. 2. 3. And to ſecure the promiſed Fruit of all for them, Rev. 22. 12. and therefore ſufficiently able to make good Covenant-Promiſes to them, and to fulfill Covenant-duties in them.
Sixthly, Chriſts engagement to, and for his people, and his intereſt in them, is another ground for the fulfilling of the Covenant; Chriſt hath promiſed the Father that he will bring them all to Glory, and hath undertaken all their work for them, Heb. 10. 7. And he hath promiſed to them to make good his Covenant when he perſwaded their hearts to him. Heb. 8. 9, to 13. Iſa. 55. 11. Again his own intereſt in them is ſecurity enough: All the fruit of his death and purchaſe lies in the fulfilling of the Covenant; if that be broken, he loſeth all his hopes, and Obedience, he hath dyed in vain, his blood and Interceſſion are to no purpoſe, for herein lies all the travel of his Soul, Iſa. 53. 10, 11. In this is the enjoyment of all his delights, if this Covenant be not ſure then no Soul can be ſaved, and Chriſt ſhould loſe thoſe delights he had in the habitable parts of the Earth before the World was made. Pro. 8. 31. Saved Souls are Chriſts Crown and Glory, and how mangled and defective would Chriſts Crown be, ſhould any one Periſh who are intereſted in this Covenant? Upon this depends all Chriſts Mediatory Glory, Joh. 17. 4, 5. And ſhould there be a failure here, he would loſe his expected Glory as Mediatour. So that you ſee the fruit of his Purchaſe, the delight of his Soul, and his Eternal Glory with the Father, are all wrapt up in the accompliſhment of this Covenant.
Seventhly, The Immutability of Gods Counſel, and the certainty of his engagement, confirmed by an Oath, renders the new Covenant ſure, Heb. 6. 17, 18. Wherein God willing more abundantly to ſhew to the heirs of promiſe the immutability of his Counſel confirm'd it by an Oath: Theſe are two immutable things, Gods purpoſe, and his engagement, and becauſe theſe could admit of no variation, therefore the things Promiſed muſt be fulfill'd indue time. Heaven and Earth ſhall paſs away, but the Counſel of God that muſt ſtand: 'Tis laid upon Infinite Wiſdom, and all things in order to the fullfiling of it, are made ſo ſure, that it cannot poſſibly be fruſtrated: He wants not ſufficient Power and faithfulneſs to reach his own deſigns, and therefore what he hath determined muſt come to paſs, and upon this purpoſe of God is laid his promiſe: He having firſt reſolved upon it, is engaged to it.
Laſtly, Another reaſon to prove the certainty of the new Covenant is taken from the nature of the promiſes; they are abſolute; 'tis true there are ſome conditional promiſes as the effects of the other, but the fundamental promiſes, and thoſe which compleat the Covenant of grace are altogether abſolute; 'tis true alſo, faith is a neceſſary qualification to intereſt a Perſon in theſe promiſes, but when the Soul comes to have a propriety in them, the tenure of them then is abſolute, Jer. 31. 33, 34. Heb. 8. 9. He will put his Spirit within them, and will cauſe them to walk in his Statutes, Ezek. 36. 25, to 28. I will be a God to them, and they ſhall be my People, Jer. 32. 40. And I will make an Everlaſting Covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them to do them good: But I will put my fear in their hearts, that they ſhall not depart from me: In which you ſee the condition is undertaken and ſecured, as well as the promiſe and things promiſed; had it indeed depended upon conditional promiſes alone, which doubting Souls have moſt in their eye, then the failure of the condition would have forfeited the promiſes, and then they had been null'd: But you ſee the promiſes of the new Covenant are abſolute, and therefore ſure to all the ſeed, even to every one that believeth in Jeſus Chriſt: Theſe are the grounds of hopes the believers have, that the Covenant, and every tittle of it, ſhall be made good to them; but that which doth meritoriouſly confirm it, is the blood of Chriſt: His death and ſuffering, on which account it may be lookt on as the ſealing and confirming of it, and ſo believers may ſee to whom they are beholding and oblig'd for all their new-Covenant ſtability.
ƲSE. From this grand and glorious truth: The fulfilling and aſſurance of the new Covenant, flows, 1. Wonderful Comfort to all true Believers. 2. Great Obligations on them to thankfulneſs and Obedience.
Firſt, This yeilds abundant Conſolation to Believers, on a double account.
1. From the certainty.
2. From the Excellency of this Covenant.
Firſt, From the certainty of this Covenant flows theſe ſtreams of comfort. Firſt, In that all occaſions of Jealouſie about the love of God are cut off; for if the Covenant be ſure, then Gobs love is ſure, and ſecured from all mutability, and ceſſation, this being one great thing contained in it. Jer. 31. 3. I have loved thee with an Everlaſting love. Gods love to his People is Eternal, therefore ſure: He doth reſt in his love to them, Zeph. 3. 17. The word is (Jachariſh) he will be ſilent in his love. Bucer renders it Silebit cum dilecta ſua: He ſhall be ſilent in his Beloved; that is (ſaith he) He ſhall ceaſe from contending with her, being wholly delighted in her. But Montanus renders it in the abſtract, he ſhall be ſilent by reaſon of his love. Propter dilectionem ſuam. But Cocceius and other Interpreters, render the letter (Beth) In: He ſhall be ſilent in his love, or reſt in his love, alluding to the wonderful exceſs of affection in a Perſon, that through exceeding amorouſneſs cannot ſpeak or expreſs it for a time: Cocceius takes it for the pardoning of their ſin, and ceaſing from thoſe former ſtroaks of his diſpleaſure: And this I ſuppoſe may be chiefly intended here; to wit, The greatneſs of his love no…ed by ſilence, and exuberant Joy, with a remove of all tokens of his anger, and this to be fixt and perpetual; ſo the Apoſtle aſſures Believers, that the love of God in Chriſt is irremoveable, Rom. 8. 35. All the World cannot withdraw Chriſts heart from his People, where he once loves he loves to the end, Joh. 13. 1. This a believer may be aſſured of in the New Covenant, that Gods love changeth not, his heart is ſtill towards his people, however his dealings may be with them.
Secondly, Then all the grounds of tormenting fear are now removed. If the Covenant of grace be confirmed to believers, then there's no Juſt ground for them to entertain ſlaviſh fear, Rom. 8. 15. For ye have not received the Spirit of Bondage again to fear. There's no cauſe for ſuch to fear, 1. That God is their Enemy; being once reconciled to them in his Son, he can hate them no more. 2. Their ſins ſhall never Condemn them, Rom. 8. 1. 3. God will never totally leave them, Heb. 13. 5. 4. They ſhall not wholly fall from God. Jer. 32. 40. 5. They have no cauſe to fear the wrath to come, Rom. 5. 9. Much more being juſtified by his blood we ſhall be ſaved from wrath through him. Thus you ſee all the grounds of tormenting fears are gone: 'Tis true a Cautelous fear and circumſpection may be maintained, but the workings of a Bondage-Spirit are removed.
Thirdly, Then dejecting Concluſions from ſelf-impotency to fulfil this Covenant, and all ſeeming difficulties in the way are wholly Inſignificant; if this Covenant be confirmed by Chriſt to and for Believers, then no inſufficiency in them to make good theſe Covenant-Duties can render it void. Becauſe,
Firſt; the Certainty of this Covenant depends not on the Creatures ability, but on Gods Faithfulneſs; 'tis true, if this new Covenant (as the firſt) did wholly depend upon the Integrity and Faithfulneſs of the Soul in Covenant; then indeed the enjoyment of thoſe mercies and promiſes comprehended in it would be very dubious; but 'tis not ſo, for God himſelf hath undertaken the accompliſhment of it, 1 Cor. 1. 8, 9. Who ſhall alſo confirm you to the end, that ye may be blameleſs in the day of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; God is faithful by whom ye are called to the fellowſhip of his Son Chriſt Jeſus our Lord. So 1 Theſ. 5. 23, 24. So that the Saints Confirmation in holineſs, and preſervation to glory depends on the faithfulneſs of God in Chriſt, who having perſwaded their hearts to embrace his call, will finiſh Salvation-work in, and for them.
Secondly, Strength ſufficient to finiſh their work, and to obtain Salvation is enſured to them. 2 Cor. 12. 9. My grace is ſufficient for thee, my ſtrength is made perfect in weakneſs. Grace in thee may fail, but grace in God cannot: Chriſt hath a ſtock ſufficient for thee, to carry thee through Temptations, and to lift thee above thy Corruptions. So Ezek. 36. 27. I will put my Spirit within you, and cauſe you to walk in my ſtatutes. The Spirit is a Fountain that will fill up your empty veſſels, ſupply all your wants, and engage your hearts to keep the way of his Commandements.
Fourthly, Then none of the well-grounded hopes of believers ſhall be loſt, Pſal. 119. 49. Remember thy word unto thy Servant upon which thou haſt cauſed me to hope. God will never forget to fulfil thoſe promiſes which he cauſeth us to confide in, for he is faithful who hath promiſed, Heb. 10. 23. Rom. 5. 6. And hop… maketh not aſhamed. That is, by reaſon of a diſappointment; ſhame uſually ariſeth from ſome fruſtrations of expectation, but this cannot befall well-grounded hopes, becauſe they have their dependence upon the firm word of God which cannot be diſappointed.
Fifthly, Then your labour ſhall not be in vain in the Lord, if the Covenant be confirmed, then you cannot run in vain, or loſe any part of that work you do for God, 1 Cor. 15. 58. Gal. 6. 7, 8. What a man ſoweth that ſhall he reap. He that ſoweth to the Spirit ſhall reap life Everlaſting: O Souls, all your ſincere duties will appear again, and bring their reward with them. All your pains in ſerving God, hardſhips in following him, dangers in owning him, and induſtrious labours to pleaſe him, ſhall be fully and certainly recompenc'd with a far more and exceeding Maſſy Crown of Glory.
Sixthly, Then all your warrantable deſires ſhall be ſatisfied in due time: For this is part of the Covenant-promiſe, Pſa. 37. 4. Delight thy ſelf alſo in the Lord, and he ſhall give thee the deſires of thy heart, Pſalm. 145. 16, 19. All the breathings of your Souls after God, and unfeigned longings for more ſpotleſs holineſs, more perfect victory over ſin, for humble ſubmiſſion to divine pleaſure, more ſincerity of heart, and raiſed capacities for ſervice, ſhall certainly be ſatisfied firſt or laſt.
Seventhly, If the Covenant of grace be ſure, then nothing can make the believers ſtate miſerable, indeed he may ſeem to be in a bad condition, when under the power of temptation and corruption, and preſſed grievouſly with ſevere and bitter Providences, and ſtroaks of ſeeming vengeance, but yet his ſtate is good; who could have paſt a favourable interpretation on the afflictions of Job, when on a dunghil, and on the tryals of David when purſued by Abſalom? yet we find there was hony in theſe Rods, and David could notwithſtanding lye down and ſleep in peace, Pſa. 3. 5. So Joſiah in an evil day, when wars and frowning providences did ſurround him all about, yet dyed in peace, 2 Kings 22. 20.
Laſtly, Then a gracious Soul is a bleſſed Soul, both here and to all Eternity, becauſe this Covenant takes care for the good things of this …ife, and that which is to come: 1 Tim. 4. 8. Godlineſs hath the promiſe of this life and that which is to come: Hence the Scripture doth ſo often pronounce the Godly Man to be a bleſſed Man, Pſa. 119. 1. Bleſſed are the undefiled in the way, Pſa. 112. 2. Pſa. 141. 2. Thus we have now briefly toucht on ſome grounds of Comfort that Believers may derive from the certainty of this new Covenant; we now come to conſider,
Secondly, The excellency of this Covenant which the blood of Chriſt ſo confirms to Believers; this new Covenant is a choice and precious Covenant; what David ſaid of Goliah's Sword may be affirmed of this; That there is none like it, 1 Sam. 21. 9. This would abundantly apear, could I with conſiſtency to my deſign here, run out at large in the demonſtration of this great truth; but to touch a little on ſome evidences of its excellency under theſe two general conſiderations.
1. The things that are promiſed in this Covenant.
2. The way appointed of God to attain them.
Firſt, The things ſtipulated in this Covenant, are,
Firſt, Great and glorious things, the products of infinite Grace, and diſcoveries of unconceivable greatneſs, ſuch Promiſes as were never offered in any other Covenant: In this Covenant God makes over himſelf to Believers to be their God, their Sun and Shield, their exceeding great reward, all that he is, and all that he hath to be theirs, ſo far as they are capable to receive: I will be to them a God; that's in the Covenant: He whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain; whom the Angels cannot define, far above the ſearches of the moſt refined Spirits, far beyond the knowledge of thoſe that always dwell in his ſight; this inviſible unknown God in this Covenant makes himſelf over to Believers: He will be theirs for ever, Heb. 8. 10. A God in the neareſt Relations that Creatures are capable to approach to him in: He will be a Father, Husband, Head to them, and to every one of them in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt: To love and delight in them; to feed and cheriſh them; to care and provide for them; to dwell and abide with them; to impart, and Communicate of all his fullneſs and ſweetneſs to them, ſo far as it ſutes with the meaſure of Chriſt, and their beſt good: Is not this a great thing indeed, that God ſhould make over himſelf to the Believer? O glorious Covenant!
Again, Another great and glorious thing engaged in this Covenant is, That Believers ſhall be to him a people, a peculiar people; his own people, his Jewel, his Treaſure, Mal. 3. 17. They ſhall be the Apple of his Eye; the delight of his Soul, a Seal upon his Heart: A people near to God, Pſa. 148. 14. Nearer to him than all the world beſides; nearer than the Angels, that never ſinned: What a wonderful thing is this! They ſhall be dandled on his knee: Lye in his Boſom; ſit at his Table here; and ſit down on Thrones in his Kingdom to all Eternity: O what a wonderful Covenant is this! This ſhould fill the Believers heart brim full of Joy and Conſolation.
Again, He hath promiſed in this Covenant, that he will write his Law in their Hearts, and put his truth in their inward parts, Jer. 31. 33. They ſhall be his Epiſtle known and read of all men, 2 Cor. 3. 2, 3. He will lead them into all truth, Joh. 16. 13. He will ſhew them his Covenant▪ Pſa. 25. 14. He will be merciful to their unrighteouſneſſes, and remember their ſins no more, Heb. 8. 12. He will put his Spirit within them, and cauſe them to walk in his ways, Ezek. 36. 27. He will give them Grace and Glory, and no good thing will he withold from them, Pſa. 84. 11. He will admit them into his ſpecial preſence at all times, through the blood of his Son, Heb. 10. 19, 20. He will give them the Spirit of Adoption to cry Abba Father, Rom. 8. 15. They ſhall be Kings and Prieſts to God, cloathed with beautiful Garments, a right noble ſeed all glorious within; and advanc'd into intimate familiarity with God in Chriſt by the Spirit, Rev. 1. 6. They ſhall be kept by his mighty power through Faith to Salvation, 1 Pet. 4. 5. O, are not theſe great things indeed for poor ſinful Duſt and Aſhes, mercy-abuſing Creatures! O we want Hearts to contain them, and Tongues to expreſs them.
Again, As this Covenant is made up of great things, ſo it contains in it all good things, Jer. 32. 40. All Gods Thoughts and Reſolves, are to do them good; all his diſpenſations are bringing them in good, Rom. 8. 28. O what a Glorious thing is this! Yea they are ſutable things that are wrapt up in this Covenant: Such as are ſutable to their Natures; ſutable to their Spiritual deſires; ſutable to their wants, and ſutable to their advantages: The new Covenant carries nothing Hetrogeneous to the well-being of the Saints: O what a wonderful thing is this! Great things indeed are contain'd in this new-Covenant, that tends to the infinite contentment, pleaſure and profit of ſaved Souls: Surely this muſt needs fill Believers Joys, and yield them merry days here, and prepare for them Rivers of pleaſure to all Eternity.
Secondly, Conſider the way which God hath appointed for the attaining thoſe glorious things, and this will advance the Believers comfort: Perſons may come at good things in a bad way, and that would abate much of their conſolation: But theſe great and glorious things contain'd in the Covenant of Grace for Believers, are g…ven out in a moſt excellent way: For,
Firſt, It is in a way of Grace; If God had given them to be bought and ſold, to be purchaſed by mans merit, it would not have been ſo ſweet: But they are held out freely, without money, without price, Iſa. 55. 1. It is by Grace you are ſaved, not of your ſelves, Eph. 2. 8. There's nothing for man to glory in, about his Salvation, that is of his own: Saved Souls are created to their mercies: They are prepared for their mercies, Rom. 9. 23. And their mercies are prepar'd for them, 1 Cor. 2. 9. They are alſo prepar'd for their Duties, in order to their mercies: They are Veſſels of mercy fitted and prepared for mercy and glory, 2 Tim. 2. 21.
Secondly, It is in a ſelf-humbling, and abaſing way: The more the Creature is abaſed, the more Divine Glory is exalted; and the more God is all in all, the more is the ſaved Souls Glory, Comfort, and Joy; the more the loftineſs of man is brought down, the more God alone is exalted, Iſa. 2. 17. And the more God is exalted, the more Believers are pleaſed: Now God gives out theſe new-Covenant mercies in ſuch a way, as may moſt abaſe ſelf; for he gives them out in a way of Believing, and no Grace more cuts off ſelf than Believing: All boaſting and Self-glorying is cut off by Believing, Rom. 3. 27. Therefore God hath ordered ſuch a way for Souls to come at new-Covenant Mercies, as may cut off all Self glorying, that ſo their comforts may riſe to the greateſt meaſure, to be full Joy and Conſolation, to ſee the Creature abaſed, and God exalted: There's nothing but Man's curſed ſelf can indeed prove a real Enemy to his comforts: A Child of God is never more filled with the pure Wine of Conſolation, than when he is emptied of all the Lees and Dregs of his own vain-glory.
Thirdly, It is in a pure and clean way, that God brings ſaved Souls to theſe new-Covenant mercies: It is in a way of Holineſs: No uncircumciſed ſhall paſs therein: It is in that way of Grace, and Purity, without which none ſhall ſee the Lord: It is the upright, pure in Heart, the ſincere Soul ſhall attain to theſe great and glorious things: The clean Hands, and the clean Heart, Mat. 5. 8. Pſa. 140. 13. Pſa. 24. 4. Iſa. 35. 8.
Fourthly, It is in a ſweet and pleaſant way: A delighful way, for ſuch are all the ways of Holineſs to gracious Souls, ſweeter than Hony …nd the Hony-comb: They take wonderful …leaſure in Holineſs, Pſa. 119. 17. Prov. 3. 17. Legal ways were hard and troubleſome ways. The Yoke of the Law is a heavy Yoke, Act. 15. 10. But the Yoke of Chriſt is an eaſie Yoke, Mat. 11. 30. O that God ſhould confirm ſuch a Covenant as this, that contains ſuch glorious things, and all theſe enſured to Believers, and they led to them in ſuch a choice way; ſurely this muſt needs yield wonderful comfort, and advance the Believers Joy.
Another improvement of this grand truth is by way of Duty.
There's nothing more ſtrengthens the Believvers Bond to Obedience, than the conſideration of the certainty of the new-Covenant: Not to mention all thoſe arguments that might be urged to engage Redeemed Souls to all manner of Holineſs from the certainty of the Covenant: I ſhall inſiſt only on theſe two.
Firſt, The conſideration of that Infinite Love of Chriſt, that led him through ſuch a coſtly way to make good this Covenant: O what manner of Love is this, if duly weighed? That the Son of God ſhould come down, and be made man, take upon him the form of a Servant; engage to the Service of the firſt Covenant, to make good all the violated conditions thereof by his ſufferings, and all the precepts thereof by his Obedience: That he ſhould be made a Curſe, and taſte of death, and all to make this Covenant ſure: That he ſhould ſhed his blood, to make firm this Covenant in all the parts of it: That he ſhould come and melt himſelf to death, that the ſeal might be put upon this new Covenant. O what wonderful Love is this, for nothing could make it ſure, but the Teſtatours blood, and that he would ſhed his Blood to make it ſure. Now then there's no greater conſtraints to duty, than the ſenſe of the Love of Chriſt, 2 Cor. 5. 14. The Love of Chriſt conſtrains us. Arguments of Love are irreſiſtible; it ſilences the Believing Soul in all his reſiſtances: When Arguments fetch'd from the Law, do only drive the Soul to Duty; nay ſometimes bind back from duty: That at ſuch a time the ſenſe of the Love of Chriſt doth draw, yea poſt the Soul away to Obedience, Draw me, and we will run after thee, Cant. 1. 4. that is, Let out the potent influences of thy ſweet Love upon me, and then I will haſten after thee, or further my Obedience of thee.
Secondly, Another reaſon for Obedience is taken from the certain bleſſed Ends, and Fruit of new-Covenant Obedience, which is no leſs than Eternal Life, Rom. 6. 22. All the bleſſings of the everlaſting Covenant are enſured to ſuch, Pſ. 103. 17, 18. The mercy of the Lord is from everlaſting to everlaſting upon them that fear him; to ſuch as keep his Covenant, to them that remember his Commandments to do them: Mercies in the way, mercy in the end, are all enſured to them that fear him, to them that Evangelically keep his Covenant, Pſa. 25. 10. All the paths of the Lord are Mercy and Truth, unto ſuch as keep his Covenant and his Teſtimonies. There's great reward in the very keeping his Commandements, and reward in the latter end: O what promiſes are entail'd to Goſpel-Obedience: Nay, you will not only have the Fruit of your own Graces, but you will have the Fruit of Chriſts Grace, the Fruit of his Obedience, and his Righteouſneſs too: Therefore, O what reaſon have ſuch to obey! ſeeing the Covenant is made ſure, they cannot miſcarry, their labour ſhall not be loſt; conſidering the Love of God, that ſhould engage them to Obedience, and the bleſſed Iſſue of it.
Thus much of the ſixth Branch, and Item of Chiſt's Inventory, and the Riches of his Purchaſe.