The Balm of the Covenant, Part 3
III.
That it is a sure Covenant. So David stiles it in my Text. The certainty of the Covenant, is the glory of the Covenant, and the comfort of all that are in it. The certainty of it in it self is past all doubt, by what hath been said before. It is certain God did make such an everlasting Covenant with his People in Christ, and it must remain an eternal Truth, that such a Covenant there is betwixt God and them. It is as impossible that this everlasting Covenant should not be made with them, as it is impossible for God to lye, Heb. 6.18. If he might make himself not have covenanted, everlastingly with them, when once he had so covenanted, such a supposition would turn up the foundation of all Faith and Certainty, and overthrow the Apostles consequence on which the Faith and Comfort of Believers is built. Nor is it any infringement of the Almighty power, to say, God himself cannot do that which implies a plain contradiction, as factum infectum reddere, to make that which was done, not to be done.
But of this there is no doubt; it is a sure Covenant in it self: That which makes to my purpose here, is to prove it capable of a personal security and certainty to us. David had, and all the Federates, as well as he, may have a subjective or personal certainty also. He speaks categorically and positively in the Text, Yet hath he made [with me] an everlasting Covenant.
Object. If it be said, he might have a personal certainty of it, because it was revealed to him in an extraordinary way by the Prophet Nathan, 2 Sam. 7.12, 13, 14. and extraordinaria non currunt in exemplum, this was a peculiar favour, which we may not expect.
Sol. I reply, And why may not we know it with as full a certainty to whom God is pleased to make it known in his ordinary way? Think you his Word and Spirit cannot ratifie it as fully and firmly to our souls, as Nathan's discovery of it did to David's soul? God give me but such a Seal of it in his ordinary method and way of confirmation, and I will desire no more of him in this World for my relief and comfort, whatever Afflictions it shall please him to lay upon me.
And thus you see all the Properties of a compleat Remedy in the Covenant, and of it every Believer may say, This is all my salvation, and all my desire, though he make not my house to grow. And now what hinders, but that all Gods afflicted should say from henceforth,Psal. 116.7. Return unto thy rest, O my soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. I have all the desires of my heart in the Covenant of God, though he take away the desire of mine eyes upon earth with his stroke. In this Covenant my soul is at rest, and my very heart is centred. No Affliction can be great enough to make the Consolations of the Almighty seem small in mine eyes. Worldly sorrows may swallow up worldly comforts, but no sorrows upon Earth can swallow up the consolations of the Covenant.
I know many Christians droop and are dejected under the Rod, notwithstanding such soveraign Cordials are prepared for them in the Covenant; but this is not for want of Efficacy in the Covenant, but for want of Faith to clear their interest, and draw forth the vertue of it to their relief. Some are ignorant of their priviledges, and others disfident about their interest. It is with many of Gods Children, as it is with our Children in their infancy, they know not their Father, nor the Inheritance they are bo…n unto.
That which remains, is the improvement of this Truth to our actual comfort and relief in the day of trouble. And this I shall assist you in as God shall assist me, by way of,
1. Information.
2. Exhortation.
3. Examination, and
4. Consolation.