The Ark of the Covenant Opened, Title page – To the reader
The Ark of the Covenant Opened: Or, A TREATISE Of the COVENANT Of Redemption
BETWEEN God and Chriſt, as the Foundation of the Covenant of Grace.
The Second Part.
Wherein is proved,
That there is ſuch a Covenant.
The Neceſſity of it.
The Nature, Properties, Parties thereof.
The Tenor, Articles, Subject-matter of Redemption.
The Commands, Conditions, and Promiſes annexed.
The Harmony of the Covenant of Suretiſhip made with Chriſt, and the Covenant of Reconciliation made with Sinners: wherein they agree, wherein they differ.
Grounds of comfort from the Covenant of Suretiſhip.
Written by a Miniſter of the New-Teſtament.
LONDON, Printed for Tho. Parkhurſt at the Bible and three Crowns in Cheapſide, near Mercers Chappel, 1677.
TO THE READER.
THE two only things that ſhould induce any one to give his Teſtimony and Recommendation unto Diſcourſes that are publiſhed for publick uſe, are the importance of the Argument treated on, and the uſeful judicious handling of it, in thoſe Diſcourſes. Whatever elſe may be, or uſually is ſpoken unto, on ſuch occaſions, is a diverſion from what ought to be intended, and what is expected by all them who give ſuch Prefaces the peruſal. But both theſe in the enſuing Diſcourſes ſeem to be ſuch, and ſo ſtated, as to render any Recommendation of mine in this way needleſs and ſuperfluous. For the Argument treated of, being the Covenants of God with Chriſt the Mediator, and with the Church in him, there are none who have any acquaintance with Chriſtian Religion, or care of their own Souls, but muſt, and will acknowledg it to be of the greateſt weight in it ſelf, and higheſt concernment unto them. For the Doctrine hereof, or the truth herein, is the very Center wherein all the lines concerning the Grace of God and our own duty, do meet; wherein the whole of Religion doth conſiſt. Hence unto the underſtanding, Notions, and Conceptions, that men have of theſe Covenants of God, and according as the Doctrine of them is ſtated in their minds, their Conceptions of all other ſacred Truths, or Doctrines, are conformed. And therefore as they who have right apprehenſions, and a true underſtanding of theſe things, cannot in the uſe of diligence, and the means appointed thereunto, lightly mistake the Truth in any other point of weight in the whole compaſs of Religion; ſo thoſe who unhappily fall under miſapprehenſion about them, do generally either fluctuate in their own minds about all other Evangelical Truths, or do corrupt and pervert the whole Doctrine concerning them. And hereon alſo depends the regulation of all our intire Chriſtian practiſe or Obedience, as all will acknowledg who have any knowledg of theſe things. It ſeems therefore altogether needleſs, that there ſhould be any new Recommendation of the ſubject-matter of the enſuing Diſcourſes, unto thoſe who ſeriouſly mind their own Spiritual and Eternal concerns; and as unto others, it is to no purpoſe to declare the worth and nature of ſuch Pearls unto them. As for the manner of the Declaration or handling of theſe ſacred Truths in the enſuing Diſcourſes, the known Abilities, Piety, Learning, and Judgment of this Author, with that leaſure he had to add his laſt thoughts and conſiderations unto them, are ſufficient to give the Sober Reader an expectation of as much ſatisfaction as he is like to meet withal in endeavours of this nature. I cannot therefore but judg that there is little need of this Atteſtation which I am deſired to give unto this excellent and uſeful Treatiſe. Howbeit, that I may not ſeem wholly to condemn my ſelf in what I do, I muſt acknowledg that there were ſome reaſons which induced me to comply with the deſire of the worthy Publiſher of it. My long Chriſtian acquaintance, and friendſhip with the Author, made me not unwilling to teſtifie my Reſpects unto him and his Labours in the Church of God, now he is at Reſt, for whom I had ſo great an eſteem whilſt he was alive. And whereas the whole Deſign and end of my ſelf, as unto others, is to promote the knowledg of the truths of the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and the practiſe of them; I knew not but that with ſome at leaſt, this occaſional word might one way or other conduce unto that end. I ſhall therefore briefly and plainly give an account of my thoughts concerning this Diſcourſe, which I have with ſome diligence and great ſatisfaction peruſed. Very many learned and godly perſons have laboured in the ſame ſubject unto the edification of the Church: I intend them only who agreeing in the truth as to the ſubstance of it, may yet differ in ſome conceptions about it, or the way of Explanation of it. For it is not unuſeful that the ſame truth, eſpecially that which is of ſo great importance as is what concerneth the Covenant, be variouſly handled by many, according unto the meaſure of the gift of Chriſt which they have received; ſo whereas we know all but in part, if we have, as we ought to have, a continual ſenſe of the imperfection of our knowledg, none ought to be offended if they meet with ſome difference in Conceptions and Expoſitions about things of leſſer moment, among thoſe who agree in the ſubſtance of what they do propoſe: Perfect Harmony, and Ʋniverſal Agreement in all things, is the priviledg only of the ſacred Writers who were Divinely inſpired. But from the firſt day that the management of Religion was in the Providence of God entruſted with them who had not an infallible Guidance, there is an apparent evidence of ſuch differences as thoſe we ſpeak of, amongſt them all; even the beſt and wiſeſt of them. We may therefore allow them all their juſt Commendation who have laboured diligently in the inveſtigation of the Truth, although ſome of them have not eſcaped various miſtakes about it. Nor is it ſpoken with any reflection on the endeavours of others who have written on this ſubject, when I do freely declare my judgment, That for Order, Method, Perſpicuity in treating, and ſolidity of Argument, the enſuing Diſcourſe exceedeth whatſoever ſingle Treatiſe I have ſeen written with the ſame deſign; as it alſo is entirely compliant with the Doctrine of the Goſpel, in what is aſſented in it. Three things may be expected in diſcourſes of this nature, or however the ſubject requires that they may be attended unto.
1. A diligent declaration of the Truth, in and from its proper principles, with a ſolid confirmation thereof.
2. A practical improvement of the Truth ſo declared and demonſtrated.
3. A vindication of it from direct oppoſition againſt it, or the corruption of it by a mixture of falſe notions and apprehenſions about it, eſpecially ſuch as wherein Chriſtian Practiſe is nearly concerned.
Each of theſe the Reverend and Learned Author of the enſuing Diſcourſe had an eſpecial regard unto; and how he hath diſcharged himſelf in them all, will quickly appear unto every judicious and attentive Reader. I am ſure I ſhall not offend in wiſhing that others may find the ſame ſatisfaction in their peruſal, as I have done. Wiſh, I heartily do alſo, that as many of thoſe as can with convenience, who deſire a good and ſafe Guide in theſe important truths, in the declaration whereof ſo many have run into extreams, even unto the hazard of the Souls of Men, and would have their hearts excited unto their practiſe, would furniſh themſelves with what is here tendered unto them. For I find that in what is Doctrinal in the whole Diſcourſe, wherein a great and excellent part of the Myſtery of the Goſpel is unfolded, the Reverend Author hath fully weighed, not only what can be ſaid in the confirmation of what he aſſerts, but alſo what can be ſaid againſt it, or be ſet up in competition with it, carrying on the Truth with ſucceſsful Evidence, and clear Demonſtration. And as unto what is Practical, as he had the experience of it in his own Soul, ſo there is nothing wanting that might give the ſeverals inſiſted on, a due impreſſion on the Minds and Affections of others. Soundneſs in Doctrine, Gravity in Speech, Conviction in Argument, Power in Exhortation, Clearneſs and Perſpicuity in Order, with a nervous intertexture of Scripture-Testimonies and Reaſon, throughout the whole, all evidencing their ſpring in this work to have been, Zeal for the Glory of God, Love of the Truth, and Compaſſion towards the Souls of Men, do in my judgment animate and fill up theſe diſcourſes from the Beginning unto the End. That they may be bleſſed unto the benefit and advantage of them who deſire to be edified in the truth that is after Godlineſs, is, The earneſt Prayer of,
READER, Thy Servant in the Work of the Goſpel, JOHN OWEN.