A Fathers Testament, Chapter 8
CAP. VIII.
How we attain this Portion.
SUch is the high favour which we (poor dust) have found in the eyes of our glorious Creatour, that he hath not only set us out our Portion in himself, but tyed himself to us, and us to himself in the sure bond of an everlasting Covenant, in which he hath passed himself to us, and purchast us to himself: he ours, (as before) and we his Portion, Deut. 32.9. Zech. 2.12. He our King, (Hos. 13.10.) we his Kingdom: (Exod. 19.5, 6.) He to us a Father, (2 Cor. 6.18.) in love, and providence, (Hos. 14.4. Matth. 6.26.) we to him Children, in love, and obedience, Deut. 10.12. Ier. 7.28.
This his Covenant he hath frequently en…grossed for us (that we might have it ever in our eyes) not only in his word (Gen. 17.7. Ier. 31.31, &c.) but in our hearts also, Ier. 31.33. As Ionathan, because he delighted in David (1 Sam. 19.2.) and loved him as his own Soul, regarded not the disparity of their condition, but divested himself of his Princely robes, to adorn his servant, and having given, and tyed his heart to him before, now gives his hand, and binds himself to him in a sure knot of a friendly Covenant, (1 Sam. 18.1, 2, 3.) so our most gracious Lord, having his delights with the Sons of men (Prov. 8.31.) loving us beyond knowledge, (Ephes. 3.19.) so far descended (in the depth of his love) from the height of his Majesty, that he even bound himself to the clay of his hands. Perhaps the learned Heathen might have some dimm sight of this great Myst…rie, and veiled it under the Fable of P…gmalion; who having framed a curious statue in the form of a Woman, fell into love with it, and when he had gotten it enlivened married it. Love even desires union… and communion with the beloved. This incomprehensible goodness of God, and great Mysterie of Godliness will be best opened unto us by way of Question, and Answer. Quest. 1. Hath God never made more Covenants with man than one? Answ. God hath made divers Covenants; (as Gen. 9.9, &c.) but specially two, the Old, and New, (Jer. 31.31.) or the first, and second Covenant, (Heb. 8.7.) Quest. 2. With whom did God make these Covenants? Answ. With the two Adams: the first with the first Adam, and his seed: the second with the second Adam, and his seed: the first made with a servant, and therefore a Covenant of works, in this tenure, Do this and live, (Gal. 3.12.) The second made with the Son, and therefore a Covenant of Grace, wherein God giveth what he asketh, and worketh, what he commandeth: bids us, Live, and so gives us life, (Ezek. 16.6.) commands his Covenant, (Psal. 111.9.) and so writes it in our hearts, Jer. 31.33. Thus our new Covenant is made first, and immediately with Christ our Redeemer, and mediately with us through him our Mediatour, See Isa. 59.20, 21. Gal. 3.16. Quest. 3. Was then that first Covenant broken? Answ. By the first Adam it was utterly broken, (Gen. 3.) and so by all mankind, (Ier. 31.32.) And hence with the root dyed all the branches, (Rom. 5.12.) And certainly never can we sufficiently admire, or bless that miracle of Gods mercy, in which, after that by our treacherous revolture, and rebellion, we had broken Covenant, and were utterly fallen into eternal death, and misery, he hath taken advantage (by our breach of Covenant) to make a better Covenant with us, and by our sin, and rebellion to glorifie his grace, in doing us more good than ever: that seeing we so waveringly fell in the first, we migh… invincibly stand in the second Adam; and having lost our selves, and all our blessedness in the one, we might regain, and eternally re…ain i… in the other.
And hence the first is called the figure of the second Adam, (Rom. 5.14.) because as the first was the Head, and Root of our first Covenant, in whom we were all blessed if he stood, and cursed if he fell: so the second is the Head of our second Covenant, with whom (because he cannot dye) our li…e is hid up in God, (Col. 3.3.) in whose eternal blessedness we are everlastingly blessed.
Quest. 4. What is our new Covenant? and the matter of it? Answ. In a word, as Christ Iesus is the Head, so is he also the matter of our Covenant. For whatsoever God bestows on us is in Christ, and we receive it in him; and whatsoever he requireth of us, Christ doth it in us, and we perform it in him: so he all in all, Col. 3.11. Hence he is often called our Covenant, Isa. 42.6. & 49.8. Observe it in some particulars: 1. He promiseth to save us from all our enemies, (Luk. 1.74.) and gives Christ to be our Salvation, Act. 13.47. He Covenants to make us blessed, and gives him to be what he promiseth to give, Gen. 22.18. 2. He sees that we are filthy, (Psal. 14.3.) and therefore demands of us that we wash, (Ier. 4.14.) and be pure as he is pure, (Levit. 11.45.) He knows how unable we are to do it: For though we wash us with nitre, and take much sope, yet our iniquity is marked before him, (Jer. 2.22.) As well can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the Leopard his spots, (Jer. 13.23.) Himself therefore undertakes it, and covenants to wash and cleanse us from all our filthiness, Ezek. 36.25. Hence he openeth a …ountain to us (even in the side of the Lord Iesus) for sin and for uncleanness, (Zech. 13.1.) gives us Christ, and Christ washes us in his blood, Rev. 1.5. 3. He knows our foolishness. My people are foolish, sottish children, (Jer. 4.22. Tit. 3.3.) that we are beasts, and bruitish in our knowledge, (Jer. 10.14.) And his infinite Wisdom can take no pleasure in fools, (Eccles. 5.4.) commands us therefore to be wise, (Psal. 2.10.) and often exhorts us to it. O… that they were wise, (Deut. 32.29. Again, Ye fools! when will ye be wise? (Psal. 94.10.) but knows it is out of our reach, (Wisdom is too high for a fool, Prov. 24.7.) Himself therefore gives it liberally, and upbraids not (Jam. 1.5.) gives Christ (his wisdom, 1 Cor. 1.24.) to be our Wisdom, (1 Cor. 1.30.) 4. The Lord knows we are Captives of Satan, taken by him at his will, (2 Tim. ….26.) servants, or slaves to divers lust…, (Tit. 3.3.) commands us to loose our …elves from our bonds (Isa. 52.2.) to deliver our selves, (Zech. 2.7.) knows we can never be free till the Son makes us free, (Joh. 8.36.) Himself therefore proffers to be our Redeemer, (Isa. 41.14.) and gives the Lord Iesus to be our Redemption, (1 Cor. 1.30.) In a word; we are dead, and he our life; we hunger-starved, and he our food, (Joh. 6.35.) we naked, and poor, he our cloathing, and riches (Rev. 3.17, 18. Gal. 3.27.) we blind, and even darkness, (Eph. 5.8.) he our light, (Joh. 8.12.) we excluded from the Kingdom of Heaven, he the Door to enter us, (Ioh. 10.9.) we straying, lost sheep … he our way, (Joh. 14.6.) and Shepherd to conduct us, (1 Pet. 2.25.) we dull, he the Quickening Spirit, (1 Cor. 15.45.) we weak, and can do nothing, (Ioh. 15.5.) he our strength, through whom we can do all things … (Phil. 4.13.) we altogether empty, no good thing in our flesh, (Rom. 7.18.) he our fountain and fulness of grace, Joh. 1.16.
Quest. 5. What special benefit do we receive by him, being now made the Head, and matter of our Covenant? Answ. Infinite, and specially that fulness (even now) in him which we cannot yet have in our selves, and that perfection whereby our weak persons, and failing actions are accepted in him… Thus the righteousness of the Law is fulfille… in us, (though not yet by us) Rom. 8.3, 4… for he is the end, or perfection (foreign) of the law for righteousness unto every believer, Rom. 10.4. we are in him unblameable, in him accepted, Ephes. 1.4, 6. To which end he is made sin for us, (who knew no sin) that we might be made the righteousness of God in him, 2 Cor. 5.21.
Secondly we receive in him a sure, and immoveable estate: a Kingdom which cannot be moved, Heb. 12.28. a life, that cannot dye: for being grafted in him, we cannot …ut live: because he lives, we shall live also, Joh. 14.19. He dyeth no more, death hath no more dominion over him: and (foreign) In the same manner are we dead unto sin, but alive …nto God in Iesus Christ our Lord, Rom. 6.9, 11. And as grafts which are implanted …n any stock, receive continual sap from …he root, and by it live, and grow, and as …hey increase in bulk, increase also in the nourishment, which is supplyed continually unto them through their stock, till they come to their fulness; so the branches of this …rue Vine make increase, (Ephes. 4.16.) hav…ng nourishment ministred, they increase with …he increasing of God, (Col. 2.19.) till we …ome to a perfect man, to the measure of the …ulness of the stature of Christ, Eph. 4.13.
This is that great Prerogative of the second Covenant, made with the second Adam, in which the Saints rejoice, triumph, and sing. Who shall separate? &c. Rom. 8.35. It was granted to Adam (saith August. de Correp. & grat. c. 11.) that he might persevere if he would, but not that he would what he might; but to us, who are grafted into Christ, both tha… we may, and will persevere. And in the next Chapter. There is now given to the Saints not only such help as was given unto Adam, but such as that perseverance it self is given them: not only that without this gift they could not persevere, but also that by this gift they cannot but persevere.
This is that unspeakable comfort to our drooping souls, and so strong a prop to our weak faith, that being grounded on this Rock we cannot be overthrown. Therefore that holy Father writing upon those words of the 88 Psalm, I will build up thy Throne to all Generations, sets up this Trophy, and breaks out into this Triumph: Christ (saith he) sitteth in us, reigneth in us, and shall reign eternally in his Saints. This hath God promised, if that be not sufficient, this hath God sworn. Because therefore the promise i… sure, not according to our merits, but hi… mercies, we must not Preach that with fear, which we must not think of with doubt.
What an Heaven of joy, and consolatio… floweth from this blessed estate? we indeed in nature are bent to back-sliding, (Hos. 11.7.) and therefore he undertakes to heal our back-slidings, (Jer. 3.22. Hos. 14.4.) In us there is an evil heart of unbelief ready to depart from the living God, (Heb. 3.12.) therefore he Covenants to hold our hearts by his fear, that we shall not depart from him (Jer. 32.40.) we are gadding, and changing our wayes, Jer. 2.36. but he changeth not, and therefore we are not consumed, Mal. 3.6. It is a special part of his Royal stile, Keeping Covenant, (Neh. 1.5. Dan. 9.4. Psal. 111.5.) The Covenant consists of Promises and Duties: but those duties promised, for whatsoever Duty God demands of us, he promiseth to give, and whatsoever he promiseth, he …urely, and fully performeth, and exhibiteth in Christ; so worketh all in us, and for us, (Isa. 26.12.) much more perfectly, and acceptably than we can.
Object. But if Christ be given us, as our Fountain, and we replenished from his fulness, how then are we so empty, when he so full, and overflowing? how are we full of nothing but wants, when he so abundantly replenished with an unexhausted plenty? Answ. 1. There are some nourishing, some starving wants: want of meat, without sense of want: pines the body: wants breeding hunger drive to food, and food yields strength, and growth; were our wants without feeling, we could not hunger for the Lord Iesus, and his righteousness. … we are sensible of them, and therefore hunger, and thirst for Christ; we are blessed, and shall certainly be satisfied, Matth. 5.6… when therefore we find thirst and hunger… why should we fear to repair with all assurance to this full Fountain? What Well denies us water? how freely doth light lend, and give light? He that is the Sun of Righteousness, and Fountain of living Waters invites thee to come, and when thou comest, gives freely, Rev. 22.17. He draws thee to himself, (Ioh. 12.32.) poureth out his Spirit unto thee, (Prov. 1.23.) satiates the weary soul, (Ier. 31.25.) and will surely make it to flow with Rivers of living water, Joh. 7.38. This passage also may we conclude with that excellent Poet.
Boetius. Libr. 3. Metr. 12.
Thrice happy soul, that turns his Sphere of sight
To that grea… Sun, and Fount of goodness bright;
Thence fills his waining Orb with true, eternal light.
Happy! who loosing his clogg'd feet, and hands
From pressing earths, and hells oppressing bands,
Mounts, soaring up to Heaven, and at that haven lands.
Once Orpheus plaining at his Spouses bier,
Gave Rocks a weeping eye, and listning ear;
Brooks staid their hasty stream; woods left their roots to hear.
But when no Muse his wounded heart could plaister,
Songs fann'd his fires, and flames brake out the faster,
His verses pleasing all, but easing not their Master,
Weary of life, to hell he desperate flings,
There fits his sweetest voice to sweeter strings,
And into pitty Lords of Shades, and darkness sings.
There what his Mothers spring, there what his eyes,
(Griefs double fountain) what (which both out-vies)
Lost-longing love affords, he to stern Ghosts applyes.
Hells bauling Dog pricks up his thrice two ears,
To houl, to bark, to snarl, to whine he fears:
Haggs still their hissing snakes; and Furies melt in tears.
Then first Ixion, and his wheel take rest;
Tantale neglects his tast, his ear to feast;
The Vulture, full of verse, scorns Titius loathed brest.
Di… yields, and with this law restores his Love,
Till hell be left, his sight back must not move.
Who gives Love laws? alas… Loves only law is love.
Now past black Stix, near to the verge of Skies,
Forc'd by desire, turning his longing eyes,
Euridice (at once) he saw, he lo…, he dies.
This Fable looks to thee, who tir'd with night
Desir'st to draw thy soul to life, and light
On that Eternal Sun set, …asten, fix thy sight.
If you turn back on hellish Shades to pore,
Thou ever losest what thou wan'st before:
Thy soul more barr'd from Heav'n, in hell implunged more.
Seeing then this Covenant is all our salvation and desire, (2 Sam. …3.5.) in the next place Observe,