The Covenant of God Entered with Mankind, Summary
A Scheme of the whole.
This Treatiſe contains
1. An Introduction.
2. The body of the Treatiſe.
The Introduction doth contain
1. The figurative acceptions of the word, Covenant.
2. Requiſites in a Covenant; properly ſo called. Chap. 1.
3. A diſtribution of Covenants into the in ſeveral kinds.
4. Seven Reaſons of Gods dealing with men in a Covenant way.
5. The Covenant between God, and man defined.
The body of the Treatiſe contains a diſtribution of the Covenant into the
Covenant of Works. Chap. 2.
Covenant of Grace.
The Covenant of Grace is conſidered,
1. In the general nature of a Covenant.
2. Joyntly with the Covenant of Works.
1. As conſidered in the general nature of a Covenant, we may obſerve
1. A Covenant in the proper nature of it between God and fallen man aſſerted. Chap. 3.
2. This explained in ſeveral propoſitions.
1. The Covenant of Grace is between God and man, and not between God and Chriſt. Chap. 4.
2. The outward, and not the inward Covenant is a Covenant properly ſo called,
1. Aſſerted and argued. Ch. 5.
2. Cleared in 6 poſitions. Ch. 6
3. The conditionality of the Covenant of Grace
1. In five arguments proved. Ch. 7.
2. Objections anſwered.
Ch. 8.
Ch. 9.
4. God keeps up his ſovereign y,
1. In the power and authority of his Law. Ch. 10, 11, 12.
2. In exerciſe of Diſcipline and correction for ſin. Ch. 13.
2. Conſider joyntly with the Covenant of Works, we ſee
1. Their agreement in eight particulars. Chap. 14.
2. Their differences
1. In the Covenants themſelves.
2. In the Conditions annext.
Differences in the Covenants are
1. Primae.
The Covenant of Works was entered in mans integrity. Chap. 15.
The Covenant of Grace was entered in mans fallen condition.
2. A prima ortae.
Differences, à prima ortae
The Covenant
of Works was for mans preſervation.
of Grace for mans reſtitution. Ibid.
The Covenant
of Works had its precedency in time.
of Grace followed after.
Aſſerted.
Objections anſwered.
The Covenant
of Works was of ſmall time in uſe.
of Grace is of everlaſting continuance. chap. 16.
The Covenant
of Works had no Mediatour.
Aſſerted.
Objections anſwered.
of Grace was in and by a Mediatour
Aſſerted.
Works incumbent on the Mediatour held forth.
1. To bring men into a capacity of Covenanting.
2. To bring men within the verge of the Covenant.
1. By his tender of it.
2. Shaping the heart for it.
3. To bring the ſoul up to the termes of the Covenant.
4. To crown thoſe that come up to the terms of it. chap. 17.
Differences in the conditions.
1. Suppoſed on Gods part.
Death threatned.
Life promiſed.
The ſame in both
Aſſerted.
Objections anſwered chap. 18.
2. Real on mans part.
2 Differences aſſerted.
1. In the Covenant
of Works, the conditions were in mans power.
of Grace, they are not performed without ſpecial grace.
Aſſerted in 6. Reaſons. chap. 18
Objections anſwered. chap. 19
2. In the Covenant
of Works, the conditions kept man within himſelfe of righteouſneſſe. chap. 20
of Grace, the conditions carry man out of himſelf to be righteous by anothers righteouſneſſe.
3. In the Covenant
of Works, conditions were for mans preſervation. Ibid.
of Grace, conditions were for mans reparation.
3. Conditions diſcovered.
1. Serviceable for mans returne to God which is Faith.
1. Explained, the ſenſe of it given, and reaſons evincing it. Chap. 21
2. In 4. Propoſitions cleared.
1. God will not juſtifie a wicked perſon.
2. Man hath no righteouſneſſe of his own for juſtification.
3. Man hath a righteouſneſſe of grace tendered. Ibid.
4. This righteouſneſſe is made ours by Faith.
Aſſerted.
Explained.
1. Faith in the Sovereignty of God doth not juſtifie.
2. Faith juſtifies as an inſtrument.
3. Objections anſwe…ed. chap 22.
1. Aſſerted. Ib.
2. Object. anſw.
4. Corollary drawn, A juſtified man is fitted for every duty. Ibid.
2. Serviceable for mans reparation in his qualifications to hold up communiō with God, which is repentance
1. Objection a prevented. It is not the ſame with faith. Chap. 23.
2. Duty explained.
In the pre-requiſite godly ſorrow
Aſſerted in ſix particulars limited. Ibid.
In the eſſentials.
Privative, Ceſſation from ſinne. Ibid.
Poſitive. Returne to God.
3. Objections anſwered.
1. Joyntly againſt Faith and Repentance. They are mans conditions, not Gods. chap. 24.
2. Particularly againſt repentance it ſelf.
1. It is not hereby made a Covenant of Works.
2. Repentance neceſſarily flowing from Faith, is not thereby diſerabled Ibid. from being a condition in the Covenant of Grace.
4. Degree of obedience required in our returne.
1. Perfection of degrees not called for of God in Covenant,
2. Covenant of Grace doth not call for perfection, and accept ſincerity.
Aſſerted.
Objections anſwered.
3. Our Evangelical righteouſneſſe is imperfect. Chap. 25.
4. Covenant of Grace requires and accepts ſincerity.
4. Corollaries drawn.
1. Neceſſ…y of a conſtant ſtanding Miniſtery to bring men into Covevenant with God, and to bring them up to the termes of it.
1. Explained.
2. Aſſerted.
1. In ſeven reaſons evincing that ſuch a Miniſtery is eſtabliſhed.
2. In reaſons evincing ſuch a Miniſtery to be thus eſtabliſhed.
3. Objections anſwered.
Joel 2. 28, 29. Vindicated. ch. 26
Jer. 31. 31. &c. Vindicated.
2. Schooles and Nurſeries of learning in order to a gifted Miniſtery.
Aſſerted. Chap. 27.
Objections anſwered.
3. Orderly way of admiſſion of men into a Miniſterial function neceſſary.
1. Aſſerted by ſeveral reaſons, Chap. 28.
2. Explained by diſtinguiſhing of Callings.
3. Ordination defined, in the parts of it explained.
4. Miniſters of Chriſt muſt bring their people up to the termes of the Covenant.
1. Explained.
2. Aſſerted. Chap. 29.
Objections anſwered.
5. People in Covenant muſt come up to the termes of the Covenant. Chap. 30.
The Covenant of Grace is either the Old or New Covenant.
In which obſerve
1. Agreement in 6 particulars. Chap. 31.
2. Differences. Chap. 32.
Differences.
1. Real in ſix particulars.
2. Suppoſed or imaginary.
Nine Poſitions premiſed for a right underſtanding of the Old Covenant. Chap. 33.
Differences themſelves aſſigned.
Differences aſſigned are
1. Laying the Old Covenant too low.
2. Putting too great a reſtrain… on the New.
I. Laying the Old Covenant too low.
1. Suppoſing it to conſiſt of meere carnal promiſes,
1. Intereſts to which this deives.
Popiſh.
Socinian.
Antipaedobaptiſtical. Chap. 34.
2. Contrary aſſerted, and the ſpiritualty of the Old Covenant maintained.
2. Suppoſing it to be a mixt and no pure Goſpel Covenant. Chap. 35.
1. Meaning enquired into.
2. Grounds.
Examined.
Enervated.
II. Putting too great a reſtraint on the New Covenant.
1. Limitting it alone to the Regenerate.
1. To which ſomething is ſpoke.
1. By way of conceſſion, that ſundry Divines ſeeme to ſpeak to that purpoſe.
2. By way of Avoidance, from their owne words.
2. Contrary aſſerted.
1. In Old Teſtament-times.
1. By confeſſion of the adveſarie.
2. By Scripture-teſtimony.
36
2. In New Teſtament times.
1. by New Teſtament Scriptures
Mat. 28. 19
Mat. 22. 24
Heb. 10. 29
1 Pet. 2. 9
37
2. By Arguments of ſundry ſorts. ch. 38
3. Objections anſwered. ch. 39
4. Corollaries drawn.
1. Profeſſed Beleevers are under a Covenant of Grace, and not a Covenant of Works. chap. 40
2. Intereſt in a Church-ſtate, is of equall atiude with the Covenāt. c. 41
3. Such Covenant-intereſt is ſufficient to give acceſſe to, and intereſt in particular viſible Churches. chap. 42
4. Dogmatical Faith entitles to Baptiſme. chap. 43
5. Impenitence and unbelief in profeſſed Chriſtians is a breach of Covenant. chap. 44
Five Poſitions concerning particular Churches
1. Where nothing is wanting to the being of a Church, yet much may be wanting for the wel-ordering.
2. A people in a vicinity ought to aſſociate themſelves.
3. Profeſſing Chriſtians upon tender, ought to be received.
4. Reformation of abuſes is the work of Chriſtians, rather than ſeparation.
7. Rules concerning ſeparation.
5. Together Churches out of Churches unwarrantable.
2. Terminating it onelyonly in the perſon actually entring & excluding the iſſue, in which
1. Queſtion ſtated as to Abrahams natural iſſue Chap. 45
2. Arguments concluding the natural iſſue of Abraham to be in Covenant. Chap. 46
3. New-Teſtament Teſtimonies evincing it. Ibid.
4. Objections from Rom. 9. 6, 7, 8. anſwered. Chap. 47
5. The extent of it to the iſſue of Beleevers in New-Teſtament times.
1. Aſſerted. Chap 48
2 Proved.
1. By Scripture teſtimonies
Rom. 11. 16. Chap. 49. & 50
1 Cor. 7. 14. Chap. 51
Galat. 4. 29 Chap. 52.
Matth. 19. 14.
Marke 10▪ 14
Luke 18. 16.
Chap. 53
2. By ſeveral arguments. Chap. 54.
6. Corollary for Infant-Eaptiſme. Chap. 55
1. By Arguments aſſerted, objections anſwered.
2. The reality of connexion between the Covenant and the Seal vindicated.
Chap 56
3. Sin of Sacriledge upon the repulſe charged. Ch. 57
4. The title of all infants of profeſſing parents aſſerted. Chap. 58
7. Practical uſes concerning parent and iſſue inſerred. Ch 60
1. All poſſible engagements to holineſſe of life. Ibid.
2. Parents muſt ſee that their childrens breeding anſwer their birth.
3. There is great danger in oppoſing Gods Covenant-people
4. Conſolation from this Birth-priviledge,
1. In reference to Nations.
2. In reference to ſingle perſons.
1. Themſelves.
2. Their poſterity.