The Ark of the Covenant Opened, Chapter 6

The Ark of the Covenant Opened · Chapter 6

p. 128CHAP. VI. Of the Grounds of aſſurance and comfort, and ſupports of Faith, reſulting from the Covenant of Suretiſhip, unto all thoſe who are in the Covenant of Reconciliation and Grace.

I Shall ſhut up the Doctrine of the Covenant of Redemption and Suretiſhip, with a collection of ſome grounds of comfort, and ſupports of Faith which ariſe from it.

1. That the original and foundation of God's Covenant-dealings with us, is an eternal compact betwixt Jehovah and Chriſt, and had not its beginning and riſe from our firſt thoughts of that buſineſs, when we begun to entertain the news of a Saviour, and of Redemption by him; it bred not in our breaſts, but was under deliberation betwixt God and Chriſt long before ever it entred into our hearts; yea, it was there tranſacted, the heirs of Salvation were fore-ordained unto their lot and inheritance with them who are ſanctified, when the Captain of Salvation was deſtinate unto this work, 2 Theſ. 2.13, God hath from the beginning choſen you to ſalvation through ſanctification of the ſpirit, and belief of the truth. And it is only the manifeſtation of this to us, and our conſent to it that is of yeſterday, and but lately tranſacted, Joh. 17.8, For I have given unto them the words which thou gaveſt me, and they have received them, and have known ſurely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didſt p. 129ſend me. Heb. 6.17, 18, Wherein God, willing more abundantly to ſhew unto the heirs of promiſe the immutability of his will, comfirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impoſſible for God to lye, we might have ſtrong conſolation, who have fled for refuge, to lay hold upon the hope ſet before us. O how comfortable and ſtrengthening is this to the weak believer, that eternal Covenant-love, Covenant-dealings, and Covenant-relations and engagements, begin at the head Chriſt, fall firſt upon him, and deſcend to his redeemed ſeed, Eph. 1.3, 4, Bleſſed be the God and father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who hath bleſſed us with all ſpiritual bleſſings in heavenly places in Chriſt; according as he hath choſen us in him, before the foundation of the world, &c.

2. That the ſame love of the Father and of Chriſt, which now hath appeared and broken forth, in drawing thee into this new Covenant-ſtate, Jer. 31.3, The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, ſaying, I have loved thee with an everlaſting love, therefore with loving-kindneſs have I drawn thee; hath been in action for thee and about thee in eternity, when thou waſt not, Prov. 8.23, 31, I was ſet up from everlaſting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.—Rejoycing in the habitable part of his earth, and my delights were with the ſons of men. How ſhould that ſupport faith, and comfort and aſſure our hearts, that the love of God and of Chriſt did provide a rich inheritance for us when we were not yet created, and did provide a phyſician before we fell ſick: who had a Redeemer in readineſs, before the fall of Man, which he foreſaw: who provided a Surety before he was needed, to be in readineſs to ſtrike hands for our Debt; that Chriſt ſpoke kindly for us, when we were not preſent: that he took our caſe in hand undeſired: that he undertook for us when we had neither being, nor action, nor vote, nor knowledg of his undertaking.

3. That our Redemption and Salvation hath ſo very little of our will in it, and ſo much of Gods Will, and that of Grace, ſo much of his gracious Will, or of the good pleaſure of his Will, Eph. 1.5. Being now by the Covenant of Suretiſhip, the will of the Father and of Chriſt, without our knowledg or conſent, or any act of our will, Joh. 6.3, 9, And this is the fathers will that hath ſent me, that p. 130of all which he hath given me I ſhould loſe nothing, but ſhould raiſe it up at the laſt day. With 17.24, Father, I will that they alſo whom thou haſt given me, be with me where I am. And there is now no more of our will in all the buſineſs, but ſo much as is captivated, bowed and carried after Gods will, Phil. 2.13, For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleaſure. Pſal. 110.3, Thy people ſhall be willing in the day of thy power. And how ſweet and comfortable is it, that Salvation is by the Covenant of Suretiſhip, taken off the mutable will of man, the ſlippery yea and nay of mans free-will, and laid upon the immutability of his counſel, Heb. 6.17, and will, with whom there is no variableneſs! Rom. 9.15, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compaſſion on whom I will have compaſſion. Jam. 1.18, Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth.

4. That by the Covenant of Suretiſhip the fountain and well-ſpring of Life, and Salvation, and of all the influences that muſt needs act us toward it, lay out of our ſelves, and are placed in Chriſt, Pſal. 8.7, All my ſprings are in thee. Col. 3.3, Your life is hid with Chriſt in God. The Well-head of Life to Adam was in himſelf; and that which was placed in himſelf went dry, he had no other Fountain whence he had aſſurance to draw and fetch any more: but by Chriſts Suretiſhip, the ſpring of Life and Salvation to us is placed in him, which makes it indefectible to us; and O how ſweet is that to the believer, that his Salvation is fountained in Chriſt! thus when his water fails within, he needs do no more but turn the water cock of Faith that is in his own heart, and take in freſh ſupplies from Jeſus, the reſurrection and the life, Joh. 11.25. Iſa. 27.3, Leſt any hurt it, I will keep it night and day: I will water it every moment. Joh. 4.14, The water that I ſhall give him, ſhall be in him a well of water ſpringing up into everlaſting life. Joh. 14.19, Becauſe I live, ye ſhall live alſo.

5. By the Covenant of Suretiſhip, our Rights and Charters, I mean the promiſes not of Heaven and Salvation only, but of all our concernments, are in a ſurer hand than our own, and under better keeping: for now by that Covenant they are in Chriſts keeping, to whom the promiſes are made, p. 131Gal. 3.16, Now to Abraham and his ſeed were the promiſes made; he ſaith not, and to ſeeds as of many, but as of one, and to thy ſeed, which is Chriſt. He is the firſt heir of all things, Heb. 1.2. to whom the firſt title and right to the promiſes, which are our Charters, doth belong: they were firſt his, before they were ours: yea, and he was the firſt poſſeſſor too; upon Chriſt did all the acts of Gods Covenant-love to us fall firſt, Act. 13.34, I give you the ſure mercies of David. Moſt of the promiſes were made formally to Chriſt, even thoſe which directly relate to our Calling, Juſtification, Salvation, Iſa. 53.10, 11, And the pleaſure of the Lord ſhall proſper in his hand. He ſhall ſee of the travel of his ſoul, and ſhall be ſatisfied. By his knowledg ſhall my righteous ſervant juſtifie many, for he ſhall bear their iniquities. And theſe that were not made formally to him, ſuch as the promiſe of a new heart, a new ſpirit, remiſſion of ſins; yet theſe were made to him eminenter, they were laid down in him, and conſigned in his hand: for Chriſt is not only the fountain and original cauſe of all the promiſes, who merited by his Blood, Remiſſion, Righteouſneſs and Life, which the Lord makes ours by free promiſe; but he is alſo the firſt ſubject of the promiſes: Chriſt receiveth all the Covenant-promiſes which are our Rights and Charters, and he keepeth them, and manageth them for our uſe, as may moſt tend to our good: Chriſt is made by his Suretiſhip, that excellent Ark which keepeth the tables of the Covenant, and the book of the Law and Covenant, Deut. 31.26. 1 Kings 8.9, How ſweet and ſatisfying is it, that our Rights of Heaven is in ſuch a Charter-cheſt, and in the hands of ſuch a keeper, even under Chriſts cuſtody, who ſhall give a good account to his Father of all that is committed to him? Joh. 17.12, Thoſe whom thou gaveſt me I have kept, and none of them is loſt: and whoſe keeping is in high account with all thoſe who know him, 2 Tim. 1.12, For I know whom I have believed; and I am perſwaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him againſt that day.

6. By the Covenant of Suretiſhip Chriſt and the believer are in a manner in one Writ; for notwithſtanding that there be differences between the Covenant made with him, and that which is made with us, (as is before ſhewed): p. 132yet it may be ſaid, that Chriſt and the believer are ſome way in one Writ.

1. Becauſe theſe two Covenants are all of a piece; they are to be diſtinguiſhed, but not divided: it is the ſame deſign of Grace, the ſame buſineſs of redeeming and ſaving loſt Man, that is carried on in both.

2. Although Chriſt and the believer be not formally, and as parties, in this Writ of Chriſts Sureti-covenant to God; yet they are virtually, and as to their intereſts and concernments. It is Chriſts buſineſs and concernment, and the believers too; even all his eternal concernments that are in that Covenant, and ours, theſe meet together, and are tranſacted in one Writ: and thus even among men, a perſon may be ſaid to be in a Writ, where his concernments are handled.

3. Becauſe of the contexture and interweaving, not only of Chriſt and the believers intereſts, but alſo of their Names in the ſame Writ. For in the Covenant where his Name is put alone as undertaker, and which is his ſingle bond, to wit, the Covenant of Suretiſhip; even there is the believers Name put, as being the perſon for which he payed a price, and for whom he undertook, and who were promiſed to him for a ſeed, as a ſatisfying-ſight for the travel of his Soul. And again, in the Writ given to us, we ſtand not alone in Covenant-dealings with God; but in the ſame Writs of the promiſes made to the believer, Chriſts name ſtands as principal party Covenanting for us, and receiving the promiſes, as is manifeſt from what is already ſaid.

4. There is not only a contexture, but a commutation with Chriſt and the believers Name in the Covenant-writs: for his Name is put in our Bond, for he wrote himſelf the ſinner (legally,) and in the ſinners place under the Law accurſed: and our Name is put in the Writ of Juſtification given to him, and the new Law of Faith writes the believer righteous and bleſſed, 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. Gal. 3.13, 14, Chriſt hath redeemed us from the curſe of the law, being made a curſe for us: for it is written, Curſed is every one that hangeth on a p. 133tree. That the bleſſing of Abraham might come on the Gentles through faith. 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.

5. There is not only a commutation, but a community of Writs betwixt Chriſt and the Believer: for one Writ and Promiſe-wreats, God, the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and the God and Father of the Believer: this Covenant-relation to him and us, is by the great promiſes of the Covenant, Heb. 1.5, I will be to him a Father, and he ſhall be to me a Son. Pſal. 89.26, 29, He ſhall cry unto me, Thou art my Father, my God, and the rock of my ſalvation.—His ſeed alſo will I make to endure for ever. One Writ makes Chriſt the firſt Heir, and Son of the promiſe; and the Believer a younger Brother coming in under Chriſt the firſt Heir, Pſal. 89.27, Alſo I will make him my firſt-born. Gal. 3.26, For ye are all the children of God, by faith in Chriſt Jeſus. Rom. 8.17, And if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Chriſt. One Writ and letter of acquittance diſchargeth both Chriſt and the Believer from the curſe and condemnation of the Law, Rom. 8.3, 4, God ſending his own Son in the likeneſs of ſinful fleſh, and for ſin condemned ſin the fleſh. That the righteouſneſs of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the fleſh, but after the ſpirit. O how comfortable and ſtrengthening is this, that Chriſt and we are in one Writ, that our Covenant intereſts and relations to God, and all his and our concernments are thus bound up in one Writ! if his title to God, to Heaven, to promiſes, be good and valid, ours is ſo too; if he acquit and defend his own Charters, he doth the ſame for ours: bleſſed are they who are united to him in this New Covenant-relation.

6. By the Covenant of Suretiſhip, Chriſt is conſtituted the grand Inſtrument and Actor of all things that appertain to his peoples Redemption and Salvation, and that not only of eternal Salvation and Redemption, which he alone brought unto his people, Heb. 5.9, And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal ſalvation unto all them that obey him. Heb. 9.15, And for this cauſe he is the mediator of the new Teſtament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the tranſgreſſions that were under the firſt teſtament, they p. 134who are called, might receive the promiſe of eternal inheritance. Luk. 1.68, Bleſſed be the Lord God of Iſrael, for he hath viſited and redeemed his people: And of ſuch part of that Redemption as is wrought within time, Heb. 7.25, Wherefore he is able alſo to ſave them to the uttermoſt that come unto God by him: But of whatſoever Salvation and other adminiſtrations are good for them in this life: And therefore we find that Chriſt was the grand Inſtrument, and had an active hand in the deliverance of his people from all afflictions and oppreſſions in all ages, Iſa. 63.5, 9, And I looked, and there was none to help, and I wondred that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought ſalvation unto me, and my fury it upheld me.—In all their afflictions he was afflicted, and the Angel of his preſence ſaved them; and in his love and in his pity he redeemed them, and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. It was Chriſt the Angel of the Covenant, Mal. 3.1, who delivered Jacob from all evil, Gen. 48.16, It was he who brought the people out of Egypt, and ſaid to Moſes, And now come, I mill ſend thee unto Egypt. He it was who appeared unto Moſes in the Buſh, and made him a ruler and a deliverer, Act. 7.32, 34, 35. It was he that brought the people out of Babylon, and built the temple, Zech. 6.12, 13, Behold the man whoſe Name is the Branch, and he ſhall grow up out of his place, and he ſhall build the temple of the Lord. Even he ſhall build the temple of the Lord, and he ſhall bear the glory, &c. If the temporal Salvation of the Church and people of God lay upon men, how cold a comfort were that? Iſa. 59.16, And he ſaw that there was no man, and wondred that there was no interceſſor. Pſal. 142.4, I looked on my right hand, and beheld, and there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me, and there was no man cared for my ſoul. And if the working of that part of our Salvation which the Lord hath made the Believers Duty, and hath commanded him to do for his own Soul, if that lay upon us alone, how heavy would it prove? Phil. 2.12, Work out your own ſalvation with fear and trembling. But O how warm, how comfortable is it, what a ſupport to faith, that Chriſt is by his Suretiſhip engaged to work all manner of Salvation for his people, and to become the grand inſtrument, and chief actor thereof! Iſa. 63.13, p. 135I that ſpeak in righteouſneſs, mighty to ſave: I have trodden the wine-preſs alone, and of the people there was none with me. Phil. 2.13, For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleaſure. Heb. 12.2, Looking unto Jeſus the author and finiſher of our faith.

8. By the Covenant of Suretiſhip, all the hard conditions lay upon Chriſt; all that the Law requires of Man condition-ways: he was made under the law, Gal. 4.4, that we might not be under the law, but under grace, Rom. 6.14. O how ſweet and comfortable is it to the poor weak Believer, who finds himſelf ſo very inſignificant a creature at all Covenant-conditions, to know that by Chriſts Suretiſhip, 1. He did take upon him all conditions which the law requires of man, to abide in every thing that it requires: the Believer is yet under the commands of the Law; but I ſay not under the conditions thereof: for it is not to him a Covenant: Chriſt alſo did bear the curſe of the Law, but that which the Believer ſuffers even of the things that were ſometimes written in the book of the Law, are now written in the book of Covenant-mercies. 2. Chriſt did take upon him all the conditions that are works, and nothing reſts to the believer condition-wiſe, but that which is grace, Rom. 4.16, Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace. Its true, the Believer yet worketh, and is created unto good works, Phil. 2.10, But all working condition-ways, was upon Chriſt by his Suretiſhip. 3. The principal and moſt ſignificant condition of Redemption, Salvation, and all Covenant-bleſſings and priviledges promiſed to us, is Chriſts doing his part of the Covenant of Suretiſhip; his laying down his life, this was not only a condition of the reward that was to be given to Chriſt perſonal, but even of all the promiſes that were made to him, concerning his redeemed ſeed, Iſa. 53.10, 11, And the pleaſure of the Lord ſhall proſper in his hand. He ſhall ſee of the travel of his Soul, and ſhall be ſatisfied: by his knowledg ſhall my righteous ſervant juſtifie many, for he ſhall bear their iniquities. 4. By this Suretiſhip, beſide all that he hath fulfilled and done in his own perſon, he is under a Covenant to work in his people what God requireth condition-ways of them, Joh. 6.37, All that the father giveth me, ſhall come to me; and him p. 136that cometh to me, I will in no wiſe caſt out. O how comfortable is it, that Chriſt is under a Covenant to enjoy his Elect people, not for any thing they can do for themſelves, but for the work that he hath wrought, and the conditions that he hath fulfilled in his own perſon, and is obliged to fulfil and work in them. And indeed the promiſes are fulfilled to us, not becauſe we fulfil the condition, but for Chriſt, in whom they are made to us, and who by his Suretiſhip did perform all conditions that the law doth require.

9. That in the Covenant of Suretiſhip the Believer is undertaken for by both the parties: 1. Jehovah undertakes, foraſmuch as he promiſes a redeemed ſeed to Chriſt, and engages that he ſhall ſee them, Iſa. 53.10, He ſhall ſee his ſeed. Now he who undertakes for this, muſt needs undertake that they ſhall be born again; ſo that the Lord is undertaker for our believing, Juſtification, Perſeverance, and Salvation: then Jehovah is engaged by Covenant with Chriſt to make ſure our believing and Salvation, as he will be true to his Son, to whom he gave this promiſe, and to himſelf and his holy nature, for he cannot deny himſelf. 2. Chriſt hath undertaken for us alſo. He is made ſurety, Heb. 7.22. He hath given Bond for our believing, and Salvation; he hath by an eternal act of cautionry, acted himſelf for all them who ſhall believe on him, body for body, life for life, ſoul for ſoul, that his life ſhall go for theirs, that his ſoul ſhall be in their ſouls ſtead, Iſa. 53.10, When thou ſhall make his ſoul an offering for ſin. And by the Mediatory office that he took upon him, he hath laid Bonds upon himſelf, and made a neceſſary duty of his office, to ſave his people, to become a Captain of Salvation to them, to bring many ſons to glory, Heb. 2.10. And that he will be faithful in this office he hath taken Bonds upon him, that by vertue of his office, and place, he muſt do whatſoever is for his peoples welfare: See Heb. 3.1, 2, Conſider the Apoſtle and High-prieſt of our profeſſion, Chriſt Jeſus, who was faithful to him that appointed him. Chap. 2. v. 17, Wherefore in all thingsit behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful High-prieſt, in all things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the ſins of the people. How comfortable is this to the weak Believer? and p. 137how ſtrengthening to Faith, to conſider that Jehovah gave Bond from eternity to Chriſt, and ſtands engaged to him, for the bowing of our rebellious wills, and for ſuch a frame of heart to us, as our Redemption and Salvation neceſſarily requires! And that Chriſt ſtands engaged to be to all his own a merciful and faithful High-prieſt! and that by the Bonds he hath laid upon himſelf, it behoved him to be ſo! Heb. 2.17. O conſider! he can no more be unconcerned with our concernments, he can no more be untouched with, and want a feeling of our infirmities, than he can ceaſe to be a merciful and faithful High-prieſt; which qualifications he behoved to take upon him, by taking on that office, Heb. 5.2, 3. Chap. 2. v. 17. Chap. 4. v. 15. Chriſt can no more fail in any thing pertaining to our peace with God, and our Salvation, than he can break his faith of Suretiſhip, and fail in Covenant-faithfulneſs, and the Bonds that he hath given to Jehovah.

10. By the Covenant of Suretiſhip paſſed betwixt Jehovah and Chriſt, the believer is in a ſure confirmed ſtate; he is not in a tottering, ſlippery, mutable condition, as were the Angels that fell, and like to Adams firſt Covenant-ſtate; but the believer is in a ſure confirmed ſtate, as ſure as the Elect Angels who never fell. 1. By the Covenant of Suretiſhip the believers help is laid upon one that is mighty, Pſal. 89.19. A potent perſon is his helper, for their Redeemer is ſtrong, Deut. 33.27, The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlaſting arms. Iſa. 40.28, 29, Haſt thou not known, haſt thou not heard, that the everlaſting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary, there is no ſearching of his underſtanding? He giveth power to the faint: and to them that have no might, he encreaſeth ſtrength. 2. By this Covenant there is a great juncture of undertakings for the believers ſtanding, to wit, by both the parties of that Covenant. 3. By this Covenant the believers ſtanding and perſeverance is taken off the creatures mutable will, and is now upon the gracious immutable counſel of Gods will, Heb. 6.17, Wherein God, willing more abundantly to ſhew unto the heirs of promiſe, the immutability of his counſel, &c. Luk. 12.32, Fear not little flock, for it is your fathers good pleaſure to give you the kingdom. 4. By p. 138this Covenant-ſalvation, the weight of Salvation is taken off the creatures acting, and laid upon Chriſts, Iſa. 49.6, That thou mayeſt be my ſalvation unto the end of the earth. Joh. 17.2, As thou haſt given him power over all fleſh, that he ſhould give eternal life to as many as thou haſt given him. 5. The ſame confirming-grace that is given to the Elect Angels, is by Chriſts Covenant of Suretiſhip enſured, yea, given in Chriſt to the believer, in whom ye are compleat, Col. 2.10. 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. 6. The honour of Chriſt Mediator, by this Suretiſhip of his, lies at the ſtake for the weak believers ſtanding, Joh. 17.10, All mine are thine, and thine are mine. I am glorified in them.

How ſhould this comfort the believers heart, and ſupport his ſaith, that though he be not yet without the reach of dangers, yet by Chriſts Suretiſhip he is in a confirmed ſtate? that he can no more fall quite away from his ſtate of Grace and Faith, than Jehovah can break to Chriſt, or Chriſt break to his Father, which is impoſſible? Pſal. 89.35, 36, Once have I ſworn by my holineſs, that I will not lye unto David. His ſeed ſhall endure for ever. Rev. 1.5, And from Jeſus Chriſt who is the faithful witneſs. That the faith of the leaſt of them that believe on Chriſt, can no more fail, than Chriſt can want his reward, which is impoſſible, Iſa. 53.11, He ſhall ſee of the travel of his ſoul, and ſhall be ſatisfied. Chriſt cannot be left unſatisfied, which he ſhould be if the ſaith of any of his ſhould fail, in regard of Chriſts Suretiſhip; the weak believers legs can no more fail, in regard of Chriſts Suretiſhip, than his arms can fail, Pſal. 40.11, He ſhall gather the lambs with his arms.

11. Whatſoever Chriſt acted by the Covenant of Suretiſhip, he did it for us, and we did that in him. For, 1. Whatſoever he acted by vertue of the Covenant of Suretiſhip, he acted as a Surety. Now a Surety is one that undertakes and does for another, and whoſe deed by the allowance of the Law, ſtands for the deed of that perſon for whom he was undertaker: a perſon who puts himſelf in the ſtead of another; ſuch a perſon was Judah for Benjamin, Gen. 43.9. Chap. 44.32. 2. Whatſoever he acted by p. 139vertue of this Covenant, he acted as a publick perſon, I do not ſay that in the tranſacting of the Covenant of Suretiſhip Chriſt acted as a publick perſon: for then fallen man ſhould be an undertaker to ſatisfie juſtice, and to pay a price of blood to God for his own ſin, becauſe a perſon who repreſented him, did undertake this: but I ſay, after Chriſt perſonally conſidered, had by the Covenant of Suretiſhip taken upon him-this publick capacity and place, whatſoever he acted by doing or ſuffering, he acted ſtill as a publick perſon: Now a publick perſon is one who perſonates, repreſents and acts the part of another, ſo that what he doth (as ſuch) that other perſon whom he repreſents, is reckoned by the Law to do: ſuch publick perſons were Adam and Chriſt; the firſt man and the ſecond, the heads of two families, who repreſented all that came of them, their ſeed and heirs, Rom. 5.12, &c. 1 Cor. 15.21, 22. Conſider, how comfortable this is to the believer, and what ſupport it affords to his faith; look over his ſtate, his condition, his actings, all that he was made, all that he did, all that was done to him; he was made, and did, and ſuffered all that for the believer; and his Elect people were made, and did, and ſuffered, and received all that in him: when he died, God reckoned us dying then, and would have us reckon ſo alſo, Rom. 6.10, 11, For in that he died, he died unto ſin; but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewiſe, reckon ye alſo your ſelves to be dead indeed unto ſin, but alive unto God through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord. When he ſuffered and ſatisfied the Law, God reckoned that we did ſo alſo, Gal. 3.13, Chriſt hath redeemed us from the curſe of the law, being made a curſe for us. When he was acquitted and diſcharged of the Debt, when he roſe again, and was releaſed from the Priſon and Bonds of the Law, we did ſo alſo, Rom. 4.25, Who was delivered for our offences, and was raiſed again for our juſtification. 1 Cor. 15.20, 21, But now is Chriſt riſen from the dead, and become the firſt fruits of them that ſlept. For ſince by man came death; by man alſo came the reſurrection of the dead. When he entered into Heaven, and had reception, and a welcome of Covenant-favour, there we did ſo alſo, and had the ſame welcome, Eph. 2.6, And hath raiſed us up together, and made us ſit together in heavenly places in Chriſt Jeſus. For he p. 140acted all theſe things in our ſtead; and all theſe things were done to him, as a perſon repreſenting us.

12. By the Covenant of Suretiſhip, beſide all other Attributes in God, Juſtice it ſelf, that is moſt terrible to the believer, and was ſometimes a dreadful Attribute, and ſpeaking nothing leſs than Damnation to fallen man, is now turned to be as much for the believers Salvation, as any other attribute in God: and upon that account is, and may be comfortably looked upon, 1 Joh. 1.9, If we confeſs our ſins, he is faithful and juſt to forgive us our ſins, and to cleanſe us from all unrighteouſneſs. If you ask, How can that be, that Juſtice ſhould be for the forgiveneſs of our ſins, if we do but confeſs them, though we can make no ſatisfaction to juſtice for them? Chriſt by his Suretiſhip hath brought about the buſineſs, and handled the matter of Salvation ſo, that Juſtice and Righteouſneſs is as forward, as much engaged to ſave the believer, as any other Attribute in God, 1 Joh. 2.2, And he is the propitiation for our ſins: and not for our ſins only, but alſo for the ſins of the whole world. For, 1. Chriſt hath ſatisfied Juſtice by a condign-price, the price of the blood of a perſon who is God; he hath payed the believers Debt to the leaſt farthing. 2. He pleads this ſatisfaction, and his own righteouſneſs for the people whoſe Debt he took upon him to pay; and thus he carried his matter by righteouſneſs and Juſtice. Now Juſtice, when 'tis ſatisfied and made for a perſon, is as comfortable, as 'tis terrible when it is unſatisfied, and againſt a perſon. How ſweet and comfortable is this to the believer, that by the Suretiſhip of Chriſt, not only favour and grace is for him, but Juſtice alſo? that ſatisfied Juſtice is the ſinful believers friend, ſtands on his ſide; and if God be righteous and juſt, he will, he muſt, he cannot but forgive the confeſſing-believer, and ſave him upon Chriſts account, who ſuffered and ſatisfied punitive Juſtice, and merited by a condign-price, holding proportion with the thing which he bought, that communitative and remunerative-Juſtice ſhould give this reward for his work.

Learn hence, 1. From the Covenant of Suretiſhip, to frame an anſwer to all temptations from our own frailty, mutability, inconſtancy, mixture of unbelief with faith, of corruption p. 141with grace, &c. and the like: the weak believer thinks, Adam and the Angels fell, who had no ſin in them, who had habitual grace in perfection, and how can I ſtand The Covenant of Suretiſhip anſwers theſe and the like aſſaults of the weak believers faith: 1. Thou ſtandeſt by faith, which excludeth boaſting: and if thou be not high minded, but fear, Rom. 11.20, thou ſhalt ſtand by faith: but they ſtood by the Law of works, which doth not exclude boaſting, Rom. 3.27. And therefore they feared not, but were lifted up, and fell. 2. That ſame low deſpiſed thing, the little weak faith that is in thee, as it is of another kind than any faith which was in them, which was not faith in Chriſt Mediator, ſo it is given to thee for another end, even that thou mayeſt by going out of thy ſelf, ſtand by faith; and cometh f…om another ſpring, which makes it indefectible, Luk. 22.32, But I prayed for thee that thy faith fail not: this is his ſeed that remaineth in him that is born of God, 1 Joh. 3.9. 3. Although Adam and the Angels that fell, had habitual grace in perfection, without mixture of corruption; yet they had no promiſe nor aſſurance of the ſpirit and actual influences which the weakeſt believer hath ſetled upon him by promiſe, Ezek. 36.27, And I will put my ſpirit within you, and cauſe you to walk in my ſtatutes, and ye ſhall keep my judgments, and do them. 4. Neither had theſe grace in the ſtore-houſe, Chriſt given to them; though they had a fair ſtock, yet it was all in their own hand at adventure and the well head and fountain of life to them was placed in themſelves, or the ſtreams were cut off from the fountain; but to the weak believer, the fountain of life and grace is placed in Chriſt, Eph. 2.10, For we are his workmanſhip, created in Chriſt Jeſus unto good works. Joh. 1.26, And of his fulneſs have all we received, and grace for grace. 5. Nor was Chriſt an undertaker and Surety for the Angels that fell, nor for Adam in his firſt Covenant ſtate; he gave no Bond, nor came under any act of Suretiſhip for their ſtanding, Heb. 2.16, For verily he took not on him the nature of Angels, but he took on him the ſeed of Abraham. God never ſaid to them as he doth to the believer, Pſal. 89.19, I have laid help upon one that is mighty.

2. Learn hence to admire and ſtudy theſe eternal depths p. 142of love and wiſdome that ſhine forth in Gods Covenant-tranſactions with Chriſt, Eph. 3.18, 19, That you may be able to comprehend with all ſaints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Chriſt which paſſeth knowledg. This glorious myſtery the Angels deſire to ſearch into, though not ſo much concerned in it as we, and ſhall not believers much more ſtudy it? 1. The wiſdom and knowledg that found out this way, that was beyond the poſſible reach of men and Angels; that loſt man who was in as hopeleſs a condition as the Apoſtate Angels, ſhould be by a Surety, by ſuch a Surety undertaken for, when Angels were paſſed by, Heb. 2.16. 2. The everlaſting out-goings of that ſame eternal love, which came forth in Covenant-tranſactions betwixt the Father and the Son, when theſe objects of his love and eternal delight were not yet revealed, nor knew any thing of it, Prov. 8.23, to 31. What a wonder is this, that the heart of God, the delights of God ſhould be taken up about ſuch objects! 3. The Soveraign graciouſneſs and free preventing-grace of this Suretiſhip, that Chriſt became Surety and undertaker, and came to fulfil his Suretiſhip, not ſought for, not ſent for, not ſo much as deſired by us, to undertake and act any thing for us, Iſa. 65.1, I am ſought of them that asked not for me, I am found of them that ſought me not. I ſaid, Behold me, Behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my Name. 4. The ſeaſonableneſs of his ſending the notice of this unto us; the Lord provided a Phyſician before we were ſick, and ſent him to us in due time, 1 Tim. 2.6. Gal. 4.4. When fallen man was ſick unto death, when Juſtice with a fiery ſword kept him out from happineſs, when he was running away, and hiding himſelf at the voice of God Gen. 3.10: When the cure was deſperate, and the remedy impoſſible to our knowledg, then came the news of a Surety to undertake for us in our low condition. 5. The double tenure whereby the believer holds his pardon and life through Chriſts Suretiſhp, by free-grace, and by Juſtice, Jam. 3.24, Being juſtified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jeſus Chriſt. The Covenant of Redemption has provided both, that Free-grace ſhould acquit wretched ſinners, and Juſtice alſo ſhould diſcharge p. 143them for a full price laid down: Chriſt hath ſaid to Jehovah by his Covenant of Suretiſhip, as Paul ſaid to Philemon concerning Oneſimus, Philem. v. 18, 19, If he hath wronged thee, or owed thee ought, put that on mine account. I Paul have written it with my own hand, I will repay it. And this anſwers all that Law and Juſtice, and the accuſer can ſay; and therefore the believer may well ſay with Paul, Rom. 8.33, 34, Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect? It is God that juſtifieth, who is he that condemneth?

3. Learn how needful the knowledg and perſwaſion of Chriſts Suretiſhip and undertaking for us is. Nothing is more neceſſary than to believe this, 1. For the right underſtanding of our Debt to him, who did ſo freely, being under no neceſſity of nature, and not deſired by us, undertake for us, and put his ſoul in our ſouls ſtead: a worthy ſtudy indeed, and well becoming a believer to know what we owe to Jeſus the Surety of the Covenant, who ſpoke for us behind our backs, when we were abſent, and who laid down his Bond for ours, 1 Cor. 6.19, 20, Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price, therefore glorifie God in your body and in your ſpirit, which is Gods. 2. For the eſtabliſhing our hearts in the faith of our Salvation, and compleat Redemption: is there any thing can ſo eſtabliſh the heart of a believer, as to know that Chriſt is an undertaker for him? he that can believe that Chriſt became Surety for him, in the eternal Counſel of God, cannot reaſonably doubt, but he will fulfil all his undertaking, and that he ſhall be ſaved by his Surety-actings, Rom. 5.8, 9, 10, But God commendeth his love towards us, 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. For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son: much more being reconciled, we ſhall be ſaved by his life. 3. For ſilencing all the actings of unbelief in us, and the perverſe ſuſpicious of our heart concerning Gods Covenant Good-will towards us; all which do reſolve upon ſome apprehenſions of breach of the Covenant of Suretiſhip betwixt Jehovah and Chriſt: for if that ſtand faſt upon both ſides, what place is there for doubting and unbelief, 2 Tim. 2.13, If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful, he cannot deny p. 144himſelf. Rom. 3.3, 4, For what if ſome did not believe, ſhall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid.

4. Nothing more neceſſary for engaging our hearts in the ſtudy of faith and holineſs, and unto a walk becoming the redeemed of the Lord, than the faith of Chriſts Suretiſhip.

Three ways does this engage unto holineſs and becoming walking.

1. Morally, and by way of excitement and motive: the faith of Chriſts Suretiſhip and undertaking for us, is both an inviting, and encouraging motive to be holy, foraſmuch as we are choſen in Chriſt to be holy, and given to him to be made holy, Eph. 1.4, According as he hath choſen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we ſhould be holy, &c. Joh. 17.17, Sanctifie them through thy truth, thy word is truth. Heb. 2.11, For both he that ſanctifieth, and they who are ſanctified, are all one.

2. By way of obligement: Chriſts Suretiſhip doth oblige us, and lay on Bonds and Obligations to this duty, that we ſhould believe and be holy: and he who hath the faith of Chriſts Suretiſhip cannot but judg ſo, 2 Cor. 5.14, 15, For the love of Chriſt conſtraineth us, becauſe we thus judg, that if one died for all, then were all dead. And that he died for all, that they which live ſhould not henceforth live unto themſelves, &c. 1 Cor. 6.20, For ye are bought with a price, therefore glorifie God in your body, and in your ſpirit, which are Gods.

3. By way of real influence: the faith of Chriſts Suretiſhip hath real influence upon the believers heart, to make him ſtudy to walk like the redeemed people; if the threatnings of the Law and Goſpel have ſome influence upon the ſpirit of man, to make him obey the Law or Goſpel, 'tis without doubt they have a moral influence; and when accompanied with the ſpirit, they have real influence, Heb. 2.3, How ſhall we eſcape, if we neglect ſo great ſalvation? Chap. 12. v. 25, See that ye refuſe not him that ſpeaketh: for if they eſcaped not who refuſed him that ſpake on earth, much more ſhall not we eſcape, if we turn away from him that ſpeaketh from heaven. Sure the gracious Covenant of Suretiſhip betwixt p. 145Jehovah and Chriſt, the undertakings of Chriſt, for the believer muſt much more have influences upon the believers ſpirit, and really put him to it, to walk like a ranſomed ſoul, 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 Cor. 7.1, Having therefore theſe promiſes, dearly beloved, let us cleanſe our ſelves from all filthineſs of the fleſh and ſpirit, perfecting holineſs in the fear of the Lord.