The Ark of the Covenant Opened, Chapter 17

The Ark of the Covenant Opened · Chapter 17

CHAP. XVII. Of the ſeveral Relations which Chriſt ſuſtaineth in the Covenant of Grace: and, 1. Chriſt a witneſs to the People.

IT is not eaſie to find out and determine all Chriſts relations to the Covenant of Grace; they are ſo many and ſo comprehenſive, that I know not whether to ſay, that Chriſts relations ſeem to exhauſt the total of the Covenant; or that the compend and ſum of the Covenant is comprized in his relations, which he ſuſtaineth in it. I ſuppoſe there is a truth in both; for whatſoever is neceſſarily related to the Covenant, is in him, whether it be Parties, Articles, Promiſes, Conditions, Confirmations, Witneſs, Mediator, Meſſenger, &c. and in him is to be found the whole Covenant, therefore he is called the Covenant it ſelf, Iſa. 42.6. & 49.8.

Chriſt hath ſeveral relations to the Covenant:See Mr. Rutherf. trial, &c. Triumph of ſaith. p. 1. c. 7. 1. He is a Party Covenanting. 2. He is Mediator of the Covenant. 3. He is the witneſs of the Covenant. 4. He is the Meſſenger of the Covenant. 5. He is a Servant in the Covenant. 6. He is the Surety of the Covenant. 7. He is the Teſtator. 8. He is the Covenant it ſelf.

I ſhall ſpeak nothing here of the firſt two relations, how Chriſt is a ſide, or the one half of the Covenant; nor how he ſtandeth as a middle perſon between the diſagreeing Parties. But for theſe I refer to that I have ſaid of the Parties covenanting, and of the Mediator of the Covenant; only before I proceed to ſpeak of theſe other relations, I ſhall premiſe theſe few things, as being of common uſe for underſtanding of the whole relations.

Firſt, Whatſoever relations Chriſt beareth in the Covenant, he was from Eternity choſen and deſigned unto thoſe in the counſel of God, and by an everlaſting Decree, Pſal. 2.7, I will declare the decree, the Lord hath ſaid unto me, thou art p. 298my ſon, this day have I begotten thee; and Iſa. 42.1, Behold my ſervant whom I uphold, mine elect in whom my ſoul delighteth.

Secondly, Whatſoever relations Chriſt ſuſtaineth in the Covenant, he doth it by voluntary diſpenſation, and not by any natural neceſſity or compulſion: that he is a Party contracting, or that he is Mediator, or that he is Meſſenger of the Covenant, &c. nothing could compel Chriſt to put his name in any of theſe relations, it was all of conſent; Phil. 2.7, But made himſelf of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a ſervant, and was made in the likeneſs of men. Heb. 10.9, Then ſaid he, L… I come to do thy will, O God.

Thirdly, All theſe relations which Chriſt ſuſtaineth in the Covenant, are all acts of Grace, both upon Gods part, who deſigned Chriſt unto theſe relations, that he might act Grace in Chriſt as the firſt copy of Free-grace, and that we might ſhare with him; and alſo upon Chriſts part, who could not be hired to undertake theſe relations, knowing what they would coſt him; but the Free-grace of his own heart engaged him in theſe relations: 2. Sam. 7.21, According to thine own heart haſt thou done all theſe great things. Rom. 8.32, How ſhall he not with him alſo, freely give us all things? with Gal. 2.20, Who loved me, and gave himſelf for me.

Fourthly, Though in the Covenant of Grace Chriſt be diſpenſed in all his offices, and and the efficacy and fruit of all theſe offices, as appeareth from Iſa. 55.4, with Rom. 8.32, and Jer. 31.33, 34; yet ſome of his relations which he ſuſtaineth in the Covenant, do more eſpecially reſpect one of his offices, and ſome another; as alſo ſome of them directly reſpect all his offices: Take for inſtances, His relation as Mediator, reſpecteth all his offices: His relation as Party contracting, reſpecteth all his offices, wherein he was a publick perſon, who did repreſent many: His relation as Surety doth eſpecially relate to his Kngly office, in regard of which he was undertaker, and made potent to help, Pſal. 89.19. His relations as Witneſs, Meſſenger, and Servant, doth reſpect eſpecially his prophetical office: His relation as Teſtator, reſpecteth eſpecially his Prieſtly office, &c.

Fifthly, Whatſoever relations Chriſt ſuſtaineth in the Covenant p. 299of grace, he beareath all theſe relations by Covenant, and by explicite contract he hath undertaken them; ſo that as we ſay of his offices, he was a King, a Prieſt, and a Prophet by Covenant, Pſal. 89.3, I have made a Covenant with my choſen; I have ſworn unto David my ſervant: We ſay the ſame of all his relations in reſpect of the Covenant. He is by Covenant and Compact with God, by the Covenant of Suretiſhip, whatſoever he is in Covenant-relations. He is by Covenant, Mediator of the Covenant: He is by Covenant, a Party in the Covenant, repreſenting others. He is by a Covenant, the Witneſs, Meſſenger, Servant, Surety, Teſtator of the Covenant, Heb. 10.9. Iſa. 59.21. & 53.10, 11, 12. Heb. 2.10, 12. Joh. 17.2, 6, 12, &c.

Sixthly, For whomſoever he beareth any of theſe relations in the Covenant, for them he beareth them all; if he be for, and unto any perſons, Mediator to God-ward, he hath engaged as party contracting with God for ſuch perſons; he is become Surety for ſuch, he hath and ſhall be Witneſs, Meſſenger and Servant, for promoting and manifeſting the things of this Covenant unto ſuch; he hath teſted in his Legacy things pertaining to ſuch perſons, &c. Iſa. 42.1. & 53.10. Joh. 6.37. Joh. 17, throughout.

I proceed now to the third relation which Chriſt ſuſtaineth in the Covenant of Grace; he is the Witneſs of the Covenant, Iſa. 55.4, Behold, I have given him for a witneſs to the people. Rev. 3.14, Theſe thing ſaith the Amen, the faithful and true witneſs. Rev. 1.5, And from Jeſus Chriſt, who is the faithful witneſs. Chriſt may be conſidered as the witneſs of the Covenant in a double reſpect. 1. He is the Witneſs witneſſed. 2. He is the Witneſs witneſſing. The Hebrew word foreign Ghned is rendred, and doth frequently ſignifie Teſtimonium, as well as Teſtis; and ſo the LXX render it, Iſa. 55.4. foreign.—Chriſt is the Teſtimonium and the Teſtis, the foreign, or foreign, and the foreign, ſee Rev. 3.14; Write, theſe things ſaith the Amen, the faithful and true witneſs; with 1 Tim. 2.6, Who gave himſelf a ranſome for all, to be teſtified in due time. Firſt, I ſay Chriſt is the Witneſs witneſſed, or the great evidence and teſtimony of the Covenant betwixt God and his people, (and in this ſenſe a Witneſs is uſed frequently in the Scripture to ſignifie not only a perſon that beareth teſtimony, p. 300but for any thing that doth evidence as a witneſs. Heb. 11.4, By which he obtained witneſs, that he was righteous; God teſtifying of his gifts. Luk. 22.71, And they ſaid, what need we any further witneſs, for we our ſelves have heard of his own mouth)? For, Firſt, He is given of God as the great evidence of Covenant-love, and of that ſpecial good-will to ſinners which gave the firſt riſe to the Covenant, Joh. 3.16, For God ſo loved the world, that he gave his only begotten ſon, that whoſoever believeth in him, ſhould not periſh, but have everlaſting life. Luk. 2.10, 11, And the Angel ſaid unto them, fear not; for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which ſhall be to all people; for unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Chriſt the Lord. Secondly, He is given as the great evidence of Covenant-intereſt, and relations betwixt God and ſinners, as the ſign and evidence that the diſagreeing parties are made one in him: Iſa. 7.14, Therefore the Lord himſelf ſhall give you a ſign: Behold, a virgin ſhall conceive and bear a Son, and ſhall call his name Immanuel. Thirdly, As the great evidence and witneſs of Gods fulfilling all the promiſes of the Covenant, 2 Cor. 1.20, For all the promiſes of God in him are Yea, and in him they are Amen; therefore Chriſt was of old given as the ſign of fulfilling all promiſes, and accompliſhing all deliveries to the Church before his coming in the fleſh. Zech. 6.12, and he ſhall build the temple of the Lord, Iſa. 7.14. Fourthly, As the great evidence and witneſs of the ſtanding-perpetuity of theſe Covenant-relations betwixt God and his people, Pſal. 89.34, 35, 37, My Covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Once have I ſworn by my holineſs, that I will not lye unto David. It ſhall be eſtabliſhed for ever as the moon: and as a faithful witneſs in heaven. Selah. Fifthly, As the great evidence of the nature and complexion of the Covenant, he is ſo given of God for a witneſs, that all the Covenant is compriſed in him, Iſa. 42.6, And will give thee for a Covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles: and therefore alſo when it was firſt revealed, there was nothing heard of but this witneſs Chriſt, in the promiſe of whom all the Covenant, the union of God and man, was ſimmed up, Gen. 3.15, And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between p. 301thy ſeed and her ſeed; it ſhall bruiſe thy head, and thou ſhalt bruiſe his heel.

If Chriſt be given to the people for a witneſs in this ſenſe; then, 1. You who are under the Preaching of this Goſpel, qua faedus anunciatum, conſider the office of Chriſt, and underſtand it as the great witneſs and evidence of Gods commanding and approving will, that you ſhould enter in Covenant with him, and that you ought to believe on the Son of God; and know for a certainty, that if you obey not the command of believing and taking hold of this Covenant, the offers of Chriſt that hath been made unto you, ſhall be for a witneſs and evidence that ſhall acquit the Lord of your condemnation, and ſhall cut off all excuſe from you, in as much as your Obligation and Duty to believe, was revealed unto you, and the offer of Chriſt is the witneſs of this, to all the people who have heard the Goſpel, 1 Joh. 5.23, And this is his commandment, that we ſhould believe in the name of his ſon Jeſus Chriſt. Joh. 15.25, If I had not come and ſpoken unto them, they had not had ſin: but now they have no cloak for their ſin.

2. To ſuch as have the Covenant of grace acted in an effectual and powerful way upon their hearts, according to Gods Decree and Will of purpoſe; I mean, ſuch as have been brought under the bond of this Covenant upon their hearts, Eze. 20.37, in which ſenſe the Covenant is ſpoken of, Jer. 31, and Ezek. 36, &c. I would have you to underſtand Gods giving of Chriſt unto you, as he doth intend it, to wit, as a witneſs and teſtimony of his Covenant with you, as the greateſt evidence and demonſtration that can be of his Covenant-love to you, of your Covenant-intereſt in him, of the continuance of that Covenant-relation betwixt you and him, and of the nature and ſubſtance of that Covenant: you fearch for witneſſes within you, and from Heaven, to teſtifie of your Covenant-ſtate through grace; you long for that which may evidence it ſatisfyingly unto you (and it may be moſt of us ſin more on the other hand, through neglect of fearching after theſe witneſſes which are attainable); but it's a pity that believers who have received Chriſt freely given to them by God, ſhould ſlight the greateſt witneſs that ever God gave to his people; a witneſs p. 302is at hand, and you receive not the teſtimony thereof: it may of this be ſaid, He that believeth on the ſon of God hath the witneſs in himſelf, 1 Joh. 5.10, 11, 12. He hath Chriſt the great witneſs of the Covenant; and who knows but we may be left of God to wander the more in the dark, about our Covenant ſtate, becauſe we lay ſo little weight upon the having of him whom God hath given for a witneſs to the people? O let us not tempt God by ſlighting him thus; but let us look upon the having of him given to us, as the witneſs of all theſe things before-mentioned, concerning a Covenant betwixt God and us, he being given of God for this end; ſo may we find the door and way which we grope for, how to be eſtabliſhed in the faith of our Covenant-relation to God.

But I come to ſpeak of the ſecond, which I take to be chiefly meant, Chriſt is the Witneſs witneſſing, or the perſon who beareth witneſs of all that is contained in the Covenant: For opening of this, conſider theſe four particulars. Chriſt is the Beholding-witneſs, the Acting-witneſs, the Declaring-witneſs, the Confirming-witneſs of the Covenant.

1. Chriſt is an Eye-witneſs of the Covenant; that is, he was preſent, and heard and ſaw the whole tranſaction of the Covenant, from the beginning to the end; in which reſpect the Scriptures call perſons preſent at any thing, and beholders of it, witneſſes, 1 Tim. 6.12. & 2.22. 1 Joh. 1.2, 3, becauſe they are fit to bear witneſs in that thing, having certain grounds of knowledg of it: Thus was our Lord Jeſus a fit witneſs of the Covenant, for he was preſent at the very firſt motion of it, and heard and ſaw all the convey of it, Prov. 8.22, 23, 30, The Lord poſſeſſed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was ſet up from everlaſting, from the beginning; or ever the earth was, then I was by him, as one brought up with him; and I was dayly his delight, rejoycing always before him. 2 Tim. 1.9, Who hath ſaved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpoſe and grace, which was given us in Chriſt Jeſus, before the world began. So that we may ſay of him in reference to the Covenant-tranſaction, that which John ſaith of him with reference to creation, Joh. 1.2, 3, The ſame was in the beginning with God, all things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made p. 303that was made. Nothing was done in that buſineſs without him, neither indeed could it be, he being not only preſent, but the alone party with whom God had firſt dealing with reference to this Covenant.

2. Chriſt is an Acting-witneſs of the Covenant, who not only was preſent, and did-ſee the whole tranſaction of that buſineſs; but had an active hand in it; yea it was acted upon his perſon, when before Pontius Pilate he witneſſed a good confeſſion, 1 Tim. 6.13: and in this ſenſe it is that the Apoſtle Peter, 1 Ep. 5, calleth himſelf a Witneſs of the ſufferings of Chriſt: becauſe he had experience of them in his own perſon; he was partaker of them, and had them acted upon him. 'Tis beyond queſtion, that Chriſt was ſuch a witneſs of the Covenant, he had an active hand in it from beginning to the end, in the making of it, and in the fulfilling of it; he was a prime actor and undertaker from eternity. Hence it is that the Apoſtle, Heb. 8.10, 11, aſcribes the making of the new Covenant, to Chriſt; for its of him and his Miniſtry that the Apoſtle ſpeaks in that place; ſo Joh. 17.2, 6, &c. As thou haſt given him power over all fleſh, that he ſhould give eternal life to as many as thou haſt given him. I have manifeſted thy name unto the men which thou gaveſt me out of the world: Thine they were, and thou gaveſt them me; and they have kept thy word, Joh. 15.15: for all things that I have heard of my father, I have made known unto you: yea, I ſay the whole Covenant was acted upon him, the union of the contrary diſagreeing parties was acted upon his perſon; the bringing of man near to God, and Gods coming near to man; the paying of the ranſome, and the acceptation of it, it was acted upon him; it was a bloody act upon his perſon, Iſa. 53, throughout. Zech. 13.7, Awake, O ſword, againſt my ſhepherd, and againſt the man that is my fellow, ſaith the Lord of hoſts; ſmite the ſhepherd. 2 Cor. 5.10, To wit, that God, was in Chriſt, reconciling the world unto himſelf, not imputing their treſpaſſes unto them.

3. Chriſt is the witneſs of the Covenant, who did declare and reveal the great ſecret of the Covenant, even all that he heard, and faw, and acted about it; he doth witneſs and declare even the whole Counſel of God concerning his Covenant, his purpoſe and will of grace concerning his people; p. 304which things we had never known, had not the witneſs of the Covenant revealed and declared them, Pſal. 25.14, The ſecret of the Lord is with them that fear him: and he will ſhew them his Covenant. Joh. 1.18, No man hath ſeen God at any time: the only begotten ſon which is in the boſome of the father, he hath declared him. Eph. 2.17, And came and preached peace to you which were afar off: and to them that were near. The reaſon is manifeſt, becauſe Natures light, which can ſhew ſomething of God, yet it's utterly blind concerning Chriſt and the Covenant of grace. 1 Cor. 2.7, 8, 12. But we ſpeak the wiſdom of God in a myſtery, even the hidden wiſdom which God ordained before the world, unto our glory, which none of the princes of this world knew: For had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory. Now we have received, not the ſpirit of the world, but the ſpirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Mat. 13.11, He anſwered and ſaid unto them, becauſe it is given unto you to know the myſteries of the kingdom of Heaven, but to them it is not given. And in this ſenſe it is that the Miniſters of the Goſpel who reveal and declare that myſtery, are called witneſſes, Act. 1.8. Rev. 11.3, 10. There be three great myſteries and ſecrets of the Goſpel and Kingdom of Heaven, which had never been known unleſs Chriſt the witneſs of the Covenant had declared them, but by him they are revealed and diſcovered unto us.

1. The myſtery of the Covenant, the Goſpel-Covenant, is one of the greateſt myſteries that ever the world heard of; Eph. 6.19. To make known the myſtery of the Goſpel. Col. 1.26, Even the myſtery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifeſt to his ſaints. It's a treaſure of hidden myſteries of ſcience and knowledg, truly ſo called; Pſal. 19.7, 8, knowledg of God and of our ſelves, Joh. 17.6, I have manifeſted thy name unto the men which thou gaveſt me out of the world. Job 42.5, 6, But now mine eye ſeeth thee, wherefore I abhor my ſelf, and repent in duſt and aſhes. A treaſure of myſteries of commerce and trade with the Land that is afar off, I mean with Heaven: Col. 3.1, 2, 3, If ye then be riſen with Chriſt, ſeek thoſe things which are above, where Chriſt ſitteth on the right hand of God: ſet your affection on things p. 305above, not on things on the earth, for ye are dead, and your life is hid with Chriſt in God. A treaſure of the myſteries of State of the Kingdom of Heaven, Matt. 13.11, He anſwered and ſaid unto them, Becauſe it is given unto you to know the myſteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it is not given. A treaſure of the myſteries of intelligence and ſecrets of correſpondence, about what is doing in Heaven and Earth, Pſal. 25.14, The ſecret of the Lord is with them that fear him: and he will ſhew them his Covenant. Gen. 8.17, And the Lord ſaid, ſhall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do? A treaſure of the myſteries of duty, or of the approving, commanding will of God in all caſes, Iſa. 8.20, To the law, and to the teſtimony: If they ſpeak not according to this word, it is becauſe there is no light in them. Pſal. 119.9, Wherewith ſhall a young man cleanſe his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. A treaſure of the myſteries of diſpenſations, whereby we may know the moſt unknown footſteps of providence in dark diſpenſations, Pſal. 77.19, And thy footſteps are not known: with Pſal. 73.17, Ʋntil I went unto the ſanctuary of God; then underſtood I their end. A treaſure of the myſteries of the ſecret Counſels and will of God, as it's acted upon the hearts of men, Eph. 1.9, Having made known unto us the myſterie of his will, according to his good pleaſure, which he had purpoſed in himſelf. Heb. 6.17, Wherein God willing more abundantly to ſhew unto the heirs of promiſe, the immutability of his counſel, confirmed it by an Oath. A treaſure of myſterious paradoxes, and ſeeming contradictions, wherewith the Goſpel-Covenant is filled, Gal. 2.20, I am crucified with Chriſt; nevertheleſs I live, yet not I, but Chriſt liveth in me, and the life which I now live in the fleſh, I live by the faith of the ſon of God, who loved me, and gave himſelf for me.

2. The myſtery of Chriſt, Eph. 3.4, Whereby when ye read, you may underſtand my knowledg in the myſtery of Chriſt. Col. 2.2, To the acknowledgment of the myſtery of God, and of the father, and of Chriſt. There is a complication of myſteries in him; he is all ſecrets; which had never been known unleſs himſelf had witneſſed and declared them; the wiſeſt nutural Politicians, are ſtupid here, 1 Cor. 2.8, Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, p. 306they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Hence it is that he is ſo often ſpoken of, with a [Behold!]: There is a myſterie in his name; all his names need an Interpreter, need his own declaration and witneſſing, Jer. 23.6, And this is his name whereby he ſhall be called: The Lord our righteouſneſs. Rev. 19.13, And his name is called, the word of God. Matt. 1.23, Behold, a virgin ſhall be with child, and ſhall bring forth a ſon, and they ſhall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted, is, God with us. There is a myſterie in his perſon, a high myſterie in his natures, the union of two natures in that bleſſed perſon, 1 Tim. 3.16, And without controverſie, great is the myſterie of godlyneſs: God was manifeſt in the fleſh, juſtified in the Spirit, ſeen of Angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. A myſterie that cannot be throughly underſtood in this life. There is a myſterie in his offices, in his bearing them, and in his exerciſing them, Heb. 5.11, Of whom we have many things to ſay, and hard to be uttered, ſeeing ye are dull of hearing. Heb. 8.1, Now of the things which we have ſpoken, this is the ſum: we have ſuch an High-prieſt who is ſet on the right hand of of the throne of the Majeſty in the Heavens. A myſterie in his union with his Church, and his inhabitation in them, which are referred to be throughly underſtood till the day when Chriſt ſhall come again. Eph. 5.32, This is a great myſterie: But I ſpeak concerning Chriſt and the Church. Col. 1.27, To whom God would make known, what is the riches of the glory of this myſterie among the Gentiles, which is Chriſt in you the hope of glory. Joh. 14.20, At that day ye ſhall know that I am in my father, and you in me, and I in you.

3. The myſtery of the Goſpel-righteouſneſs and way of juſtifying and ſaving ſinners: This is the myſtery upon which many wiſe learned men have ſtumbled, becauſe it hath not been revealed unto them by the witneſs of the Covenant, Rom. 9.31, 32, 33, But Iſrael which followed after the law of righteouſneſs, hath not attained to the law of righteouſneſs; wherefore, becauſe they ſought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law: for they ſtumbled at that ſtumblingſtone; as it is written, behold, I lay in Sion a ſtumblingſtone, and rock of offence: and whoſoever believeth on him, ſhall p. 307not be aſhamed. 1 Cor. 1.20, 23, Where is the wiſe? where is the ſcribe? where is the diſputer of this world? hath not God made fooliſh the wiſdom of this world? But we preach Chriſt crucified, unto the Jews a ſtumbling-block, and unto the Greeks fooliſhneſs. You may obſerve ſeveral great myſtries concerning the Goſpel-righteouſnes; There is,

1. A myſtery in the imputation of it to us: what greater myſtery, than that a real Righteouſneſs ſhould come to us by the imputation of the righteouſneſs of another! 2 Cor. 5.21, For he hath made him to be ſin for us, who knew no ſin, that we might be made the righteouſneſs of God in him.

2. There is a myſtery in the inſtrument apprehending this righteouſneſs, I mean in Faith, 1 Tim. 3.9, Holding the myſtery of the faith: Which is a myſterious hidden grace in the manner of its life and acting, Col. 3.3, For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Chriſt in God.

3. There is a myſtery in the perſons to whom it is imputed, or rather in the imputation of it with reference to the perſons unto whom it is imputed; a paſſing by of the worthieſt in the worlds acount, and imputing it to the nothings of the earth, Heb. 2.16, For verily he took not on him the nature of Angels; but he took on him the ſeed of Abraham. 1 Cor. 1.26, 27, For ye ſee your calling, brethren, how that not many wiſe men after the fleſh, not many mighty, not many noble are called; but God hath choſen the fooliſh things of the world, to confound the wiſe: and God hath choſen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty: Which hath been matter of wonder unto many. 2 Sam. 7.18. Then went King David in, and ſate before the Lord, and he ſaid, Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my houſe, that thou haſt brought me hitherto! All theſe, and many things more, concerning the Covenant, had never been known, if the Witneſs of the Covenant had not revealed, them and teſtified of them, Joh. 17.6, I have manifeſted thy name unto the men which thou gaveſt me out of the world.

4. Chriſt is the Witneſs of the Covenant, who eſtabliſheth and confirmeth the truth of all that is contained in it: Chriſt the true and faithful witneſs, hath ſworn it, and teſtified all the Articles of the Covenant upon Oath, Rev. 3.14. Theſe things ſaith the Amen, the faithful and true witneſs. 2 Cor. 1.20, p. 308For in him all the promiſes of God are Yea, and in him they are Amen. I ſay, he is the Witneſs who hath eſtabliſhed the Covenant by his teſtimony, and that in two reſpects: 1. He hath ſet his Seal to the Covenant, and atteſted all that is in it, Rev. 21.5, And he ſaid unto me, write: for theſe words aro true and faithful. Rev. 22.6, And he ſaid unto me, theſe ſayings are faithful and true. 2. He ſaith and ſweareth that all things contained in the Covenant are true; the true and faithful Witneſs of the Covenant teſtifieth theſe things, and ſaith Amen to them all. All that is contained in the Covenant may be ſummed up in Commands, Promiſes, Conditions, Threatnings, Predictions and Exceptions; the truth of all which the witneſs of the Covenant hath teſtified and ſworn: 1. Commands: this is the great command of the new Covenant, That ye believe on the ſon of God, 1 Joh. 3.23. Chriſt the Witneſs of the Covenant teſtifieth, that that is the revealed will of God; he hath ſaid it, and ſworn that it is true; nothing would pleaſe his father better, Joh. 6.40. And this is the will of him that ſent me, that every one which ſeeth the ſon, and believeth on him, may have everlaſting life: and I will raiſe him up at the laſt day. The new Covenant commandeth that we be holy, and that we love God, and live to him who hath loved us; and love one another, &c. 1 Pet. 1.16, Be ye holy, for I am holy. 2 Cor. 5.15, And that he died for all, that they which live, ſhould not henceforth live unto themſelves, but unto him which died for them, and roſe again. Pſal. 31.23, O love the Lord all ye his Saints: for the Lord preſerveth the faithful. Gal. 5.14, For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, Thou ſhalt love thy neighbour as thy ſelf. And the Witneſs of the Covenant, Chriſt, teſtifieth that it is true indeed; theſe things are the Will of God, Mark. 12.30, And thou ſhalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy ſoul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy ſtrength: this is the firſt commandment. Joh. 13.34, A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another as I have loved you; that ye alſo love one another. Mat. 5.48, Be ye therefore perfect, even as your father which is in Heaven, is perfect. 2. Promiſes and Propoſals of mercy and good things. The Covenant propoſeth and promiſeth life to ſinners through the death of Chriſt, Rom. 4.15, Who p. 309was delivered for our offences, and was raiſed again for our juſtification. Rom. 3.25, Whom God hath ſet forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteouſneſs for the remiſſion of ſins that are paſt, through the forbearance of God. Rom. 5.8, 9, In that while we were yet ſinners, Chriſt died for us; much more then being now juſtified by his blood, we ſhall be ſaved from wrath through him. And Chriſt the Witneſs of the Covenant teſtifieth theſe things, and ſaith that they are the true and faithful ſayings of God, Rev. 1.18, I am he that liveth, and was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of Hell and of Death. 1 Tim. 1.15, This is a faithful ſaying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jeſus Chriſt came into the world to ſave ſinners, of whom I am chief. Luk. 19.10, For the ſon of man is come to ſeek and to ſave that which was loſt. The Covenant propopoſeth and promiſeth peace with God upon eaſie terms, freegifted righteouſneſs, perfect Holineſs, compleat Victory over all the adverſaries of our happineſs, 2 Cor. 5.19, 21. Rom. 3.21, to the 27. and 5.15, to 20. Ezek. 36.25, &c. Chriſt the Witneſs of the Covenant teſtifieth theſe things, he eſtabliſheth them all, 2 Cor. 1.20, For all the promiſes of God in him are Yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. He ſaith Amen to them all, and ſweareth that they are true, Rev. 21.5, And he ſaid unto me, write; for theſe words are true and faithful. Rev. 22.6. And he ſaid unto me, theſe ſayings are faithful and true. Where the Witneſs of the Covenant ſetteth his Seal of Confirmation unto all that is promiſed in the Goſpel-Covenant. 3. Theſe things which the new Covenant promiſeth, it promiſeth upon Condition of Faith, it promiſeth them only to the believer; Rom. 10.9, That if thou ſhalt confeſs with thy mouth the Lord Jeſus, and ſhalt believe in thine heart, that God hath raiſed him from the dead, thou ſhalt be ſaved. Rom. 3.22. Even the righteouſneſs of God, which is by faith of Jeſus Chriſt unto all, and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference. Joh. 1.12, But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the ſons of God, even to them that believe on his name. Chriſt the Witneſs of the Covenant teſtifieth, that that is true; if ye believe not, ye ſhall never be the better of any thing propoſed by the new Covenant; and if ye believe, ye ſhall, Joh. 3.18.36, p. 310He that believeth on him, is not condemned: but he that believeth not, is condemned already, becauſe he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten ſon of God. He that believeth on the ſon, hath everlaſting life, and he that believeth not the ſon, ſhall not ſee life: but the wrath of God abideth on him. Joh. 11.40, Jeſus ſaith unto her, ſaid I not unto thee, that if thou wouldſt believe, thou ſhouldſt ſee the glory of God? 4. There are alſo Threatnings annexed unto the Covenant, denouncing wrath and the vengeance of the Goſpel, upon all unbelievers and wilful rejecters of the new Covenant, 2 Theſ. 1.8, In flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. 1 Cor. 16.22, If any man love not the Lord Jeſus Chirſt, let him be Anathema Maranatha. And denouncing woes and evil to the Hypocrite in heart, to the backſlider, to the careleſs ſeeker of God, to the barren fruitleſs profeſſor, Mat. 23.13, But wo unto you Scribes and Phariſees, Hypocrites. Rev. 2.5, Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent and do thy firſt works; or elſe I will come unto the quickly, and will remove thy candleſtick out of his place, except thou repent. Rev. 3.16, So then, becauſe thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will ſpew thee out of my mouth. Heb. 6.8, But that which beareth thorns and briars is rejected, and is nigh unto curſing, whoſe end is to be burned. Chriſt the Witneſs of the Covenant teſtifieth theſe things, and affirmeth they are the true ſayings of God, as well as his promiſes, Rev. 3.14. Write, theſe things ſaith the Amen, the faithful and true witneſs. Joh. 3.18, But he that believeth not, is condemned already. Joh. 8.24. I ſaid therefore unto you, that ye ſhall die in your ſins; for if ye believe not that I am he, ye ſhall die in your ſins. 5. There are Predictions and Propheſies in the Goſpel-Covenant, I mean eſpecially theſe which concern Eternity, the laſt Judgment, Hell and Heaven; which are the things that are leaſt believed of all that ever men heard tell of. Chriſt the Witneſs of the Covenant teſtifieth alſo, that theſe things are true; the Covenant telleth us that this world ſhall have an end, and time ſhall be no more, Eternity is coming, Pſal. 102.26, They ſhall periſh, but thou ſhalt endure; yea, all of them ſhall was old like a garment, as a veſture ſhalt thou change them, and they ſhall be changed. 2 Pet. p. 3113.10, But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in the which the Heavens ſhall paſs away with a great noiſe, and the elements ſhall melt with fervent heat; the earth alſo, and the works that are therein, ſhall be burnt up. Chriſt the Witneſs of the Covenant, teſtifieth and ſweareth that is true, Rev. 10.5, 6, And the Angel which I ſaw ſtand upon the ſea, and upon the earth, lift up his hand to Heaven, and ſware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created Heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth and the things that therein are, and the ſea, and the things which are therein, that there ſhould be time no longer. The Covenant ſaith, that God hath appointed a day wherein Chriſt ſhal judg the world, and all ſhall bow to him, Act. 17.31, Becauſe he hath appointed a day in the which he will judg the world in righteouſneſs, by that man whom he hath ordained. And this witneſs of the Covenanant teſtifieth and confirmeth that with an Oath, Rom 14.10, 11, 12, We ſhall all ſtand before the judgment ſeat of Chriſt; for it is written, As I live, ſaith the Lord, every knee ſhall how to me, and every tongue ſhall confeſs to God; ſo then every one of us ſhall give account of himſelf to God. The Covenant ſaith, there is a Hell and a Heaven, there is a reſting-place prepared for the people of God, and a place of torment for all the wicked, 1 Cor. 2.9, 10, But as it is written, eye hath not ſeen, nor ear heard, neither hath entred into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his ſpirit: for the ſpirit ſearcheth all things; yea, the deep things of God. Luk. 16.23, And in Hell he lift up his eyes, being in torment, and ſeeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his boſome. Rev. 14.10, 11, The ſame ſhall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation, and he ſhall be tormented with fire and brimſtone in preſence of the holy Angels, and in the preſence of the lamb: and the ſmoak of their torment aſcendeth up for ever and ever. The Witneſs of the Covenant teſtifieth that theſe things are true, for he was both in Hell and Heaven, i. e. he ſaw both, and taſted of the things that are in them, Pſal. 16.10, For thou wilt not leave my ſoul in Hell. Luk. 23.43, Jeſus ſaid unto him, Verily I ſay unto thee, to day thou ſhalt be with me in paradiſe. Joh. 17.5, And now O father glorifie thou me, with thine own ſelf, with the glory which I had with thee p. 312before the world was. 6. There are Exceptions and Reſervations of the croſſes and afflictions in ſeveral caſes, by the Covenat, Pſal. 89.30, 32. If his Children forſake my law, then will I viſit their tranſgreſſions with the rod. The Witneſs of the Covenant teſtifieth it is true, and confirmeth it by making it an expreſs Reſervation and Exception in all his dealings with his people, Luk. 9.23, And he ſaid unto them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himſelf, and take up his croſs daily and follow me. Luk. 14.27. And whoſoever doth not bear his croſs, and come after me, cannot be my Diſciple, Mat. 16.24. Then ſaid Jeſus unto his Diſciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himſelf, and take up his croſs and follow me.

2. The Covenant may be ſaid to be eſtabliſhed and confirmed by Chriſt the Witneſs, in regard that it is his witneſs that putteth an end to controverſies about all things pertaining to the Covenant; for in him they have a double eſtabliſhment; they are ſure in themſelves, and they are ſure unto us. 1. All which is contained in the Covenant is firm and ſure in Chriſt, 2 Cor. 1.20, For all the promiſes of God in him are yea, and in him, Amen, unto the glory of God by us. Act. 13.34, And as concerning that he raiſed him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he ſaid on this wiſe, I will give you the ſure mercies of David. His Witneſs makes it certain that there are ſuch things, and that theſe things are irrevocable and unalterable, not to be done away nor broken, becauſe the Oath of God and witneſs of his Chriſt is in this Covenant, which was not in the firſt Covenant, Pſal. 89.34, 35, My Covenant will I not break: nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Once have I ſworn by my holineſs, that I will not lye unto David. 2. His witneſs maketh them ſure to us, as well as ſure in themſelves; for it is that which puts the buſineſs of our ſalvation beyond doubting, at leaſt ſhould put it beyond doubting becauſe we have Chriſts teſtimony for it, he hath made it a ſworn article of the Covenant, Heb. 6.17, 18, Wherein God willing more abundantly to ſhew unto the heirs of promiſe, the immutability of his counſel, confirmed it by an Oath (to wit, the Promiſe and Covenant made and confirmed with Abraham by the Angel of the Covenant), that by two immutable things, in which it was impoſſible for God to lye, we might have a ſtrong conſolation, who have fled for p. 313refuge to lay hold upon the ho… ſet before us. 1 Joh. 5.9, If we receive the witneſs of men, the witneſs of God is greater.

For application of this: Let us firſt reflect upon our ſelves, and the way of our hearts with the Lord, that we may be convinced how much we have ſlighted this Covenant-relation of Chriſts, how little uſe we have made of him as the witneſs of the Covenant; and how ſmall weight we have laid upon his teſtimony. That this may appear; Conſider, 1. He hath not been employed by us, to witneſs in all things wherein we have wanted certainty, in the matters pertaining to the Covenant; ſuch as the revealing the ſecret of his Covenant, the certifying us of his Covenant love; and our Covenant-ſtate and intereſt in him, &c. How often have we fled unto, and truſted in means and marks for the attaining of theſe things, and have not employed him who was given for a witneſs to declare and aſſure of theſe things? Joh. 1.18, No man hath ſeen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the boſom of the futher, he hath declared him. Pſal. 25.14, The ſecret of the Lord is with them that fear him: and he will ſhew them his Covenant. Rom. 8.16, The ſpirit it ſelf beareth witneſs with: our ſpirit, that we are the children of God. …. He hath come and ſpoken, and hath teſtified of things which concern our Covenant-ſtate, by his ſpirit and by his work in us; and we have not heard nor taken notice that it was the Witneſs of the Covenant, teſtifying the things that concern himſelf and his Kingdom, Heb. 1.2, God hath in theſe laſt days ſpoken unto us by his Son; whom he hath appointed heir of all things. Heb. 3.1, Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling; conſider the Apoſtle and High-prieſt of our profeſſion, Chriſt Jeſus. Heb. 12.25, See that ye refuſe not him that ſpeaketh: for if they oſcaped not, who refuſed him that ſpake on earth; much more ſhall not we eſcape, if we turn away from him that ſpeaketh from Heaven. Joh. 16.5. 1 Joh. 5.6, 8, &c. 3. His Witneſs and teſtimony hath been heard, and obſervably diſcerned and yet not received; ſometimes we have known that it was Chriſt ſpeaking, and that it could be no other; and yet we have not received his reſtimony, Joh. 21.12, And none of the Diſciples durſt ask him who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. p. 314Joh. 1.3…. He came unto his own, and his own receive him not. He doth ſometimes ſpeak, and we will not believe that it is he: Luk. 24.37, 41, But they were terrified and affrighted, and ſuppoſed th… they had ſeen a ſpirit. And while they yet believed not, for joy, and wondred, be ſaid unto them, have ye not here any meat? 4. At other times we receive and believe his teſtimony and witneſſing, and by and by upon the ſmalleſt temptation to unbelief, we fall a quarrelling, and diſputing with the teſtimony which we received, and ſtraight-way we reject it as a deluſion, Luk. 24.21, But we truſted that it had been be which ſhould have redeemed Iſrael: and beſides all this, to day is the third day ſince theſe things were done.

Ʋſe 2. Conſider what manner of Witneſs he is, and what manner of witneſſing his teſtimony is, that you may lay weight upon whatſoever the witneſs of the Covenant ſaith. Chriſt the witneſs of the Covenant may be commended, in order to the weight and credit of his teſtimony, from theſe properties of the Witneſs, and the manner of his witneſſing. 1. He is an Eye-witneſs of the Covenant, who was preſent, and heard, and ſ…w all the Covenant tranſacted; yea, he was an actor in it throughout, as hath been ſaid before; this teſtimony he taketh to himſelf, Prov. 8.22, to 32, And the ſame is given him alſo by ſuch as were ſent to witneſs of him, Joh. 1.7, 18, The ſame came for a witneſs, to bear witneſs of the light, that all men through him might believe; no man hath ſeen God at any time: The only begotten Son which is in the beſome of the father, he hath declared him. 2. He is the true and-faithful witneſs, Rev. 1.5, & 3.7, 14, which cannot lye, and is not capable of being byaſſed from the truth for any reſpect; for he is the truth it ſelf, Joh. 14.10. 3. He is a Witneſs above all exception, there can be no exception laid againſt him; yea, all the great witneſſes which God hath made uſe of in declaring this Goſpel from the beginning, do bear witneſs of him, Act. 3.24, Yea, and all the Prophets from Samuel, and theſe that follow after, at many as have ſpoken, have likewiſe foretold of theſe days. Act. 10.43, To him give all the prophets witneſs. 4. His Witneſs is greater than the teſtimony of men, 1 Joh. 5.…, If we receive the witneſs of men, the witneſs of God is greater: Not only in reſpect of the p. 315Authority of him who witneſſeth, foreign, but in reſpect of the weight and impreſſion of his teſtimony: For, 1. His Witne… ſpeaks to the heart. 2. It ends the controverſie; there needs no further witneſſing after he ſpeaks, Hoſ. 2.14, Therefore behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderneſs, and ſpeak comfortably into her. Hebr. ſpeak to her heart. Mat. ….8, The centurion anſwered and ſaid, Lord, I am not worthy that thou ſhouldſt come under my roof: but ſpeak the word only, and my ſervant ſhall be healed. 5. Of all theſe various things which, he hath witneſſed from the beginning of the world until now, there hath not failed one word, neither of one kind nor another, Joſ. 21.45. & 23.14, 15. with Iſa. 63.9. Act. 7.30. 1 Cor. 10.9. 1 Kings 8.15, 24, 56, Iſa. 38.15. Luk. 24.44. Rom. 22.6, And he ſaid unto me, Theſe ſayings are faithful and true. And the Lord God of the holy prophets ſent his …ing…t, to ſhew unto his ſe…uants the things which muſt ſhortly be done. Zech. 1.5, 6. Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever? but my words and my ſtatutes, which I commanded my ſervants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? And they returned, and ſaid, Like as the Lord of hoſts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, ſo hath he dealt with us.

Ʋſe 3. Be exhorted to receive him under this Covenant-relation, as he is given of God for a Witneſs to the people. Under this I comprehend theſe particulars. 1. If you would, make uſe of Chriſt as the Witneſs of the Covenant, then in all matters doubtful, appeal to his teſtimony for deciſion: if you have any doubt about any matter of ſaith or ſalvation, about any duty, about any thing pertaining to God, or unto your own Covenant ſtate and intereſt in him, make his teſtimony and witneſs your Judg in that matter; go familiarly and boldly to him, that he may determine the queſtion, and reſolve your doubt, Iſa. 8.20, To the law, and to the teſtimony. 2 Pet. 1.9. We have alſo a more ſure word of propheſie, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that ſhineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-ſtar ariſe in your hearts. As his Diſciples did upon all occaſions, Joh. 13.21, 22, 25, & 14.5, 8, 22. 2. Hear and give ear to whatſoever he witneſſeth; and take it off his p. 316hand, Luk. 9.35 This is my beloved Son, bear him, And look carefully: that you neither neglect to hear what he will ſay and witneſs of you, and to you, of your way … ſtate, or preſent fit and temper, for you or againſt you; nor interrupt his witneſſing; but let him ſpeak out: nor that you ſtop the ear againſt it: Theſe are marked in Scripture, as manifeſt ſins againſt, and rejecting of his witneſſing, Act. 24.25, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient ſeaſon, I will call for thee. Zech. 7.7, 11, Should ye not hear the words which the Lord hath cryed by the former Prophets? But they refuſed to hearken, and pulled away the ſhoulder, and ſtopped their ears that they ſhould not hear. Heb. 12.25, See that ye refuſe not him that ſpeaketh: for if they eſcaped not, who refuſed him that ſpake on cauth; much more ſhall not we eſcape, if we turn away from him that ſpeaketh from Heaven. Neh. 9.10, And teſtified againſt them by thy ſpirit, in the Prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gaveſt thou them into the hand of the people of the Lands. 3. If you receive him in this Covenant-relation, you muſt take his teſtimony for ſufficient proof of whatſoever he ſpeaks unto you; lay ſuch weight upon his witneſſing, that it may be to you an end of all ſtrife and controverſie, 1 Joh. 5.9, 10, If we receive the witneſs of men, the witneſs of God, is gr…er: He that believeth on the Son of God, hath the witneſs in himſelf: He that believeth not God, hath made him a lyar, becauſe he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. You muſt believe his Witneſs, elſe you wrong him exceedingly, Joh. 14.11, Believe me that I am in the father, and the father in me: or elſe believe me for the very works ſake. Pſal. 35.3, Say unto my ſoul, I am thy ſalvation. 4. If you receive him as the Witneſs of the Covenant, having received him in this Covenant-relation, you may never come in the contrary of any thing that he ſaith; you muſt neither ſuſpect, nor quarrel, nor be jealous of any thing which he hath witneſſed, Prov. 14.5, A faithful witneſs will not lye. For Chriſt will no more lye unto you, wherein he hath ſworn and witneſſed, than God will lye unto him, which is impoſſible, Pſal. 80.35, Once have I ſworn by my holineſs, that I will not lye unto David. Heb. 6.17, Wherein God, willing more abundantly to ſhew unto the heirs of promiſe, the immutability of his counſel, p. 317confirmed it by an Oath. 5. If you receive him as the Witneſs of the Covenant, then muſt you not only receive whatſoever he ſaith, for a cerrain truth of the Covenant; but what he ſpeaketh not and teſtifieth not, concernining your Covenant-ſtate and relation, that you muſt take to be no truth, though it were otherwiſe ſuggeſted to you by temptation, Joh. 14.2, In my fathers houſe are many manſions; if it were not ſo, I would have told you: I go to prepa… a place for you. If he had other thoughts towards you, then thoſe which he hath told you, he would have revealed them, (I ſpeak to believers), Jer. 29.11, For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, ſaith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 6. Whatſoever way he doth witneſs and teſtifie, take his Witneſs, and preſcribe not a way unto him, but make all his ways of witneſſing welcome, whether he Witneſs by his word, or by his work, by his ſpirit, or by your ſpirit, 2 Pet. 1.19, We have alſo a more ſure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that ſhineth into a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-ſtar ariſe in your hearts. 1. Joh. 5.10, He that believeth on the Son of God, hath the witneſs in himſelf. Rom. 8.16, The ſpirit it ſelf beareth witneſs with our ſpirit, that we are the Children of God. Neh. 9.30, Yet many years didſt thou forbear them, and teſtifiedſt againſt them by thy ſpirit, in thy Prophets. Rom. 10.8, But what ſaith it? the word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart; that is, the word of faith which we preach.

Ʋſe 4. For deciſion of the great practical controverſies which are in the world (to ſay nothing here of Doctrinal controverſies relating to the Covenant, which are alſo decided by his Teſtimony); as well thoſe which are amongſt Athieſts, and in the unbelieving world, as thoſe which are among believers; Chriſt is given for a Witneſs to the people, and what he ſaith muſt put an end to every controverſie. 1. It's a controverſie to the world, whether time ſhall have an end, or whether the faſhion of this world ſhall paſs away, or whether all things ſhall continue as now they are; and whether too morrow ſhall be as this day, Pſal. 49.11, Their inward thought is, that their houſes ſhall continue for ever. Iſa. 56.12, Come y… ſay they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill our ſelves with ſtrong drink; p. 318and to morrow ſhall be as this day, and much more abundant. The Witneſs of the Covenant hath decided the controverſie by his Teſtimony and Oath, and hath ſaid, that time ſhall be …o more, Rev. 10.6.) 2. It's a controverſie to the world, whether Eternity be coming after time, or whether there be another life and world after this, 2 Pet. 3.4, And ſaying, where is the promiſe o… his coming? For ſince the fathers fell aſleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. The Witneſs of the Covenant hath decided this alſo, Rev. 22.20, He which teſtifieth theſe things, ſaith, ſurely I come quickly, Amen. Tit. 1.2, In hope of eternal life, which God that cannot lye, promiſed before the world began. Joh. 6.47, Verily, verily, I ſay unto you, he that believeth on me, hath everlaſting life. 30 It's a controverſie to the world, whether there be any reſurrection and judgment to come, or any immortality of the Soul, Iſa. 22.13, And behold, joy and gladneſs, ſlaying oxen, and killing ſheep, eating fleſh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink, for to morrow we ſhall dye. Luk. 12.19, And I will ſay to my ſoul, ſoul, thou haſt much golds laid up for many years, take thine eaſe, eat, drink, and be merry. The Witneſs of the Covenant hath decided that controverſie, and teſtifieth, that he himſelf had experience of it; he was dead and is alive, Rev. 1.18, I am he that liveth, and was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore, Amen. Joh. 6.40, And this is the will of him that ſent me, that every one that ſeeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlaſting life: and I will raiſe him up at the laſt day. Heb. 12.23, To the general aſſembly, and Church of the firſt born, which are written in Heaven; and to God the Judg of all, and to the ſpirits of juſt men made perfect. Mat. 22.23, to 31. 4. It's a controverſie to the world, whether there be any Heaven or Hell; they ſay in their hearts, who knoweth that there are ſuch things, and what they be, and where they are? Luk. 16.31, And he ſaid unto him, If they hear not Moſes and the Prophets, neither will they be perſwaded, though one roſe from the dead. Iſa. 28.15, Becauſe ye have ſaid, we have made a Covenant with death, and with Hell are we at agreement, when the overflowing ſcourage ſhall paſs through, it ſhall not come unto us. The Witneſs of the Covenant teſtifieth that there are ſuch things, and that he ſaw both, and experienced the p. 319truth of the things that are written of them, Pſal. …0.10, For then with not leave my Soul in Hell, neither wilt thou ſuffer thine holy one to ſee corruption. Luk. 23.43, Verily I ſay unto thee, to day ſhalt thou be with me in Paradiſe. Joh. 13.1, 3. & 14.2. Luk. 16.23, 24, 25. Heb. 12.23, 24. 2 Theſ. 1.9. Rev. 21. & 2…. 5. It's a controverſie to the world, whether there be a God, or a Providence that ruleth the world, Pſal. 14.1, The fool hath ſaid in his heart, there is no God. Iſa. 29.15, And they ſay, who ſeeth us? and who knoweth us? The Witneſs of the Covenant hath decided this controverſie, Joh. 20.17, I aſcend unto my father, and … father; and to my God, and your God. Joh. 6.57, As th… … father hath ſent me, and I live by the father: ſo he that …ateth me even he ſhall live by me. Dan. 5.21, 23, Till he knew that the moſt high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he hath appointed over it whomſoever he will. And the God in whoſe hand thy breath is, and whoſe are all thy ways, haſt thou not glorified. Rev. 15.3, 4, And they ſing the ſong of Moſes the ſervant of God, and the ſong of the lamb, ſaying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty, juſt and true are thy ways, thou king of ſaints. Who ſhall not fear thee O Lord, and glorifie thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations ſhall come and worſhip before thee, for thy judgments are made manifeſt. 6. It's a controverſie with the world, yea and ſometimes alſo with the ſaints, whether the people of God, or the wicked of the world have the better lot, Pſal. 73.3, 12, For I was envious at the fooliſh, when I ſaw the proſperity of the wicked. Behold, theſe are the ungodly who proſper in the world: they increaſe in riches. But this alſo is decided by the Witneſs of the Covenant, Pſal. 49.18, 19, Though whiles he lived, he bleſſed his Soul: and men will praiſe thee, when thou doeſt well to thy ſelf. He ſhall go to the generation of his fathers, they ſhall never ſee light. Joh. 3.18, 36, He that believeth on him, is not condemned: but he that believeth not, is condemned already, becauſe he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. He that believeth on the Son, hath everlaſting life; and he that believeth not the Son, ſhall not ſee life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. Iſa. 3.10, 11, Say ye to the righteous, it ſhall be well with hem: for they ſhall eat the fruit of their doings. Wo unto p. 320the wicked, it ſhall be ill with him, for the reward of his hands ſhall be given him. Rev. 21.4, And God ſhall wipe all tears from their eyes: and there ſhall be no mor death, neither ſorrow, nor crying, neither ſhall there be any more pain, for the…former things are paſſed away. Again, it is a controverſie to doubting believers, whether God hath choſen them and loved them with an everlaſting love, Pſal. 88.4, 14, I am counted with them that go down to the pit. Lord, why caſteſt thou off my Soul? This controverſie is decided by the Witneſs of the Covenant, who giveth that double certainty of all theſe things, whereby they are not only made ſure in themſelves, becauſe he … …ified them; but are alſo made ſure unto us, Jer. 31.3, … Lord hath appeared of old unto me, ſaying, yea, I have loved thee with an everlaſting love: therefore with loving-kindneſs have I drawn thee. Heb. 8.10, For this is the Covenant that I will make with the houſe of Iſrael after theſe days, ſaith the Lord: I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they ſhall be to me a people. Where the ſayings of Jeremy are applied to Chriſt who made the Covenant. Joh. 15.13, 16, 19, Greater love hath no man then this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye have not choſen me, but I have choſen you, and ordained you, that you ſhould go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit ſhould remain. But becauſe ye are not of the world, but I have choſen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Joh. 6.69, And we believe and are ſure than thou art that Chriſt, the Son of the living God. 2. It is a controverſie to doubting believers, whether they be the Children of God, and whether they be effectually called by the Grace of Chriſt, Pſal. 22.6, But I am a worm and no man; a reproach of men, and deſpiſed of the people. Chriſt decides the controverſie by interpoſing his Teſtimony, Joh. 13.35, By this ſhall all men know that ye are my Diſciples, if ye have love one to another. Rom. 8.16, The ſpirit it ſelf beareth witneſs with our ſpirits, that we are children of God. Iſa. 43.1, Fear not, for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine. 3. It is a controverſie to doubting-believers, whether they ſhall ever ſee Chriſt, and meet with him again, when he doth but a little withdraw out of their ſight, Iſa. 49.14, But Sion ſaid, p. 321the Lord hath forſaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Whether they ſhall at any time again be comforted with his preſence: but he decides the controverſie, and witneſſeth clearly, that he and they ſhall meet again, Joh. 16.22, And ye now therefore have ſorrow: but I will ſee you again, and your heart ſhall rejoyce, and your joy no man taketh from you. Joh. 14.18, I will not leave you comfortleſs, I will come to you. Iſa. 54.8, In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a momeni; but with everlaſting kindneſs will I have mercy on thee, ſaith the Lord thy redeemer. Iſa. 49.15, Can a woman forget her ſucking-child, that ſhe ſhould not have compaſſion on the ſon of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. 4. It's a controverſie to the doubting-believer, whether there be any reality in his preſence, and in the fellowſhip of his company, both when they enjoy it, and when they want it, Luk. 24.21, 37, 41, But we truſted that it had been he which ſhould have redeemed Iſrael: and beſide all this, to day is the third day ſince theſe things were done. But they were terrified and affrighted, and ſuppoſed that they had ſeen a ſpirit. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondred. 2 Chron. 6.18. But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? But by his Witneſs he decides that controverſie, Luk. 24.38, 39, 40, 42, And he ſaid unto them, why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts ariſe in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I my ſelf: handle me and ſee, for a ſpirit hath not fleſh and bones as ye ſee me have. And when he had thus ſpoken, he ſhewed them his hands and his feet. And they gave him a piece of a broyled fiſh, and of an hony-comb. Joh. 6.20, But he ſaith unto them, it is I, be not afraid. 1 Cor. 1.9, God is faithful by whom ye were called unto the fellowſhip of his Son Jeſus Chriſt our Lord. 5. It is a controverſie to the doubting believer, whether his Salvation be ſure or not, whether he ſhall be ſaved and inherit Life-eternal, Pſal. 88.11, 12, Shall thy loving-kindneſs be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulneſs in deſtruction? ſhall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteouſneſs in the land of forgetfulneſs? But Chriſt hath interpoſed his Witneſs to decide that controverſie, Joh. 6.57, As the living father hath ſent me, and I live by the father: ſo he that eateth me, even he ſhall live by me. Joh. 3.15, 16, That whoſoever p. 322believeth in him, ſhould not periſh, but have Eternal life. For God ſo loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoſoever believeth in him, ſhould not periſh, but have everlaſting life. Pſal. 35.3, Say unto my ſoul, I am thy Salvation. 6. It is a controverſie to believers, whether they ſhall ever be Victorious over their Luſts, and prevail againſt their temptations, when they ſeel the ſtrength and working of corruption in themſelves, as Paul did, Rom. 7.14, 15, But I am carnal, ſold under ſin: For that which Ido, I allow not: for what I would, that I do not, but what I hate, that I do. Many a time they utter that language, Lam. 3.18, And I ſaid, my ſtrength and my hope is periſhed from the Lord. But the Witneſs of the Covenant teſtifieth in this alſo, and decides the controverſie in their favours, 1 Joh. 4.4, Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: becauſe greater is he that is in you, then he that is in the world. 1 Joh. 5.4, 5, For whatſoever is born of God, overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith: who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jeſus is the Son of God? Rom. 16.20, And the God of peace ſhall bruiſe Satan under your feet ſhortly. 7. It is a controverſie to doubting-believers, whether they ſhall perſevere to the end, or ſhall not rather fall away finally. Pſal. 51.11, Caſt me not away from thy preſence: and take not thy holy ſpirit from me. But Chriſt hath decided the controverſie, Joh. 17.12, Thoſe that thou gaveſt me, I have kept, and none of them is loſt, but the ſon of perdition. Joh. 10.28. And I give unto them eternal life, and they ſhall never periſh, neither ſhall any man pluck them out of my hand. Joh. 14.19, Becauſe I live, ye ſhall live alſo. 8. It is a controverſie to the doubting-believer, whether it be good for him to be ſo dealt with, to be afflicted, deſerted, tempted, &c. Pſal. 42.9, I will ſay unto my God, my rock, why haſt thou forgotten me? why go I mourning becauſe of the oppreſſion of the enemy? Pſal. 73.13, 14, Verily I have cleanſed my heart in vain, and waſhed my hands in Innocency. For all the day long I have been plagued, and chaſtened every morning. Chriſt hath decided this controverſie alſo, not by his verdict only of the matter, but by his Witneſs in his peoples hearts, Joh. 16.7, Nevertheleſs I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go p. 323away: for if I go not away, the comforter will not come unto you: but if I depart, I will ſend him unto you. Rom. 8.28, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpoſe. 1 Pet. 1.6, Wherein ye greatly rejoyce: though now for a ſeaſon (if need be) ye are in heavineſs through manifold temptations. Pſal. 119.71, It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy ſtatutes. It is a controverſie to the doubting-believer, while he reaps not the preſent fruit of his ſeeking God, whether it be in vain to ſerve God; and to follow duties, Pſal. 73.13, Verily have cleanſed my heart in vain, and waſhed my hands in innocency. But it is the Witneſs of the Covenant who only can decide this; and he hath done it, Iſa. 45.19, I ſaid not unto the ſeed of Jacob, ſeek ye me in vain: I the Lord ſpeak righteouſneſs, I declare things that are right. Pſal. 73.28, But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my truſt in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.

Ʋſe 5. This Covenant-relation of Chriſts, layeth grounds of comfort to believers.

1. That you want not a Witneſs to teſtifie unto you concerning all things which are dark and doubtful, Iſa. 55.4, Behold, I have given him for a witneſs to the people. 1 Joh. 5.8, 9, 10, And there are three that bear witneſs in earth, the ſpirit, and the water, and the blood, and theſe three agree in one. If we receive the witneſs of men, the witneſs of God is greater: for this is the witneſs of God, which he hath teſtified of his Son: He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witneſs in himſelf: he that believeth not God, hath made him a lyar, becauſe he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. So that if you be doubtful, and in the dark about any thing pertaining to God and to the matters of your Salvation, you know how to have that witneſſed and plainly made out unto you, by Chriſt the Witneſs of the Covenant; and if you continue under your doubting, blame your ſelves, Iſa. 42.6, And I give thee for a Covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles.

2. Another ground of comfort, reſulting from this Covenant-relation, is, that we not only have a Witneſs, but that we have ſuch a Witneſs, him for a Witneſs; that God p. 324who might have given us other witneſſes, and have denyed this Witneſs, hath given him for a Witneſs, Heb. 1.1, 2, God who at ſundry times, and in divers manners, ſpake in times paſt unto the fathers by the Prophets; hath in theſe laſt days ſpoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom he alſo made the worlds. Act. 14.17, Nevertheleſs, he left not himſelf without witneſs, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful ſeaſons, filling our hearts with food and gladneſs. So fit a Witneſs, 1 Joh. 1.2, 3, who heard and ſaw, and acted all the buſineſs of the Covenant, Prov. 8.22, to 32. So ſaithful a Witneſs, that will not lye, that cannot lye, Rev. 1.5. and 3.14. So great a Witneſs, a perſon of ſuch Authority, being God, 1 Joh. 5.9. Luk. 9.35. So compaſſionate a Witneſs, who can pity his doubting-people, Heb. 5.2. So condeſcending a Witneſs, who can ſtoop to teach and perſwade the weaklings of the people, Iſa. 40.11. Joh. 9.39, as all his carriage did prove, while he was upon the earth: So convincing a Witneſs, whoſe teſtimony can put an end to all ſtrife, if he will only ſpeak the word, Mat. 8.8. And all this is for the ſtronger conſolation of Believers, Heb. 6.17, 18, Wherein God, willing more abundantly to ſhew unto the heirs of promiſe, the immutability of his counſel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutabile things, in which it was impoſſible for God to lye, we might have a ſtrong conſolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope ſet before us.

3. Another ground of comfort which this relation affordeth to believers, is, That Chriſt is by office a Witneſs, and that he is a Witneſs by Covenant: i. e. not only doth the office which is upon him, bind this upon him; but by Covenant and voluntary condeſcenſion, he is engaged, and hath conſented to be a Witneſs to the people: therefore ſaith the Lord, Behold I have given him for a witneſs, Iſa. 55.4. And he ſaith, Lo I come to do thy will, Heb. 10.9. This is your comfort, Believers, that Chriſt is a Witneſs by office and Covenant, and can no more deny to teſtifie unto you the things pertaining to the Covenant, than ye can deny his office, or break his Covenant.

4. Another ground of comfort in this Covenant-relation, p. 325is, that he is given for a witneſs to the people: I mean, that whatſoever belongs to him by this office and relation of being a Witneſs, and whatſoever he is by vertue thereof, that he is; and that he performeth to all the people of God without exception or reſpect of perſons, what he hath been in his way of witneſſing, and what he hath teſtified and declared to others of the people of God; inſomuch that he hath ſetled, quieted and comforted them, by doing the part of a Witneſs, to reveal and to prove unto them, things about which they doubted, concerning their Covenant-ſtate, and his Covenant-love; that ſame he will do to thee and to any of his people, Rom. 3.22, Even the righteouſneſs of God, which is by faith of Jeſus Chriſt, unto all, and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference. Gal. 3.28, There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, for ye are all one in Chriſt Jeſus. Act. 10.34, Then Peter opened his mouth, and ſaid, of a truth I perceive that God is no reſpector of perſons. 1 Joh. 1.3, That which we have ſeen and heard, declare we unto you, that ye alſo may have fellowſhip with us; and truly our fellowſhip is with the father, and with his Son Jeſus Chriſt.