The Sure Mercies of David, Treatise · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV.
3. THE third Head to be opened is more particularly to ſhew what is the way of making ſure theſe Covenant-mercies, how God doth it; Now there are ſeveral ſteps of making a thing ſure amongſt men, and God hath uſed the ſame means (and ſome degrees more) to make theſe mercies ſure to the Children of men.
1. Men are wont to paſs their word; When they promiſe any thing upon the word of an honeſt man, they expect credit; and among men this is current, and the God of Heaven is worthy to be believed upon his bare word (if I may ſo ſpeak) for he is a God that cannot lye nor deny himſelf, yea let God be true and every man a lyar; even a Balaam is convinced of it, and muſt profeſs it, Numb. 23.19. God is not a man that he ſhould ly —hath he ſaid, and ſhall he not do it? or hath he ſpoken and ſhall he not make it good? the unchangeable God hath ingaged his Word in the New Covenant: the Patriarchs of old gave credit to all that God ſpake by dreams, viſions and revelations, as Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob.
2. Hence Ne…. 9 38. We make a ſure Covenant, and write it.Men uſe to give greater evidence by ſubſcribing their hand, and putting their mind and promiſe into Writing; hence the expreſſion and practice of giving Letters of credence, and we uſe to ſay men are mortal, give it me under your hand, that will abide, (for litera ſcripta manet:) well, our gracious God hath condeſcended to ſubſcribe his promiſes under his own hand, the hand of his bleſſed Spirit; the word of God is upon record, therefore whatſoever was written, it is for our learning (I may add ſatisfaction) that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope, Rom. 15.4. he hath given aſſurance to us of theſe things in the word of truth, for this cauſe was the Goſpel written, that we may know the certainty of theſe things, Luk. 1.4. and that we might believe, Joh. 20.31. who dare now diſpute or doubt of the truth and ſureneſs of Goſpel-promiſes? ſince Heaven and Earth may paſs away, but one jot or one tittle ſhall in no wiſe paſs from the Law till all be fulfilled, Mat. 5.18.
3. Men uſe to call in Witneſſes for further confirmation; ſome important buſineſſes require ſeveral witneſſes, Deut. 19.15.its a ſtanding rule, at the mouth of two or three witneſſes ſhall the matter be eſtabliſhed; well, the God of Heaven hath confirmed his Goſpel to us by three and three witneſſes, there's three in Heaven, the glorious perſons of the Bleſſed Trinity, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghoſt, and theſe three are one, one in eſſence, though three perſons, 1 Job. 5.7. theſe bear Record of Chriſts God-head; and there are three that bear witneſs in earth, ver. 8. theſe teſtifie of Chriſts manhood, the Spirit, i. e. ſay ſome, his breathing out his ſoul and ſpirit in his giving up the Ghoſt, and water, and blood, that came out of his ſide when it was pierced with a ſpear, that ſhew he was real man, and that he did really dye; Hanc ſequor ſententiam hoc loco, nec puto aliam poſſe adduci veriorem. Aretius in loc. See Mar'orate in loc.Aretius interprets theſe three latter of the ſpirit in the Miniſtry of the Word, the Water of Baptiſm, and the Blood of the Lords Supper repreſenting Chriſts meritorious Blood-ſhed, and ſtill this interpretation further confirms the Goſpel-Covenant, and conſequently the mercies of it.
4. Men uſe to give aſſurance to others by ſetting to their ſeal; hence the practice amongſt us of ſetting a ſeal to bills, bonds, leaſes, purchaſes, letters patents, and this ſeal hath uſually perſons cognizance or Coat of Armes, or ſome impreſſion upon it, and leaves the impreſſion upon the Wax; the God of Heaven adds his ſeal, there is the broad ſeal of the new Covenant, Baptiſm and the Lords Supper, given and appointed purpoſely for the confirmation of our faith, and aſ…uring of our hearts of the truth of the pro…miſes: as Circumciſion is called a ſeal of the Righteouſneſs of faith, Rom. 4.11. for by …eſe ſeals both the Grace of God is confirmed to us, and holy impreſſions wrought in th… hearts of the elect: there are alſo privy ſeals the ſeal of this bleſſed ſpirit in our hearts Epheſ. Eph. 4.30.2 Cor. 1 22.1.13.—ſealed with that holy ſpir… of promiſe; hereby Gods Children are diſti… guiſhed from wicked men, and confirmed i… the truth of the Goſpel; yea it beareth witneſs with their ſpirit that they are the Chi… dren of God Rom. 8.16 this is an elegant ſim… litude, for all civil Charters and Teſtamen… become authentick by the addition of a ſea… and the ſeal in …ormer times was the note i… Letters by which the Author was known, an… a ſeal is the mark whereby genuine things a… diſcerned from counterfeit; all theſe are th… uſes of the ſpirits ſealing, to confirm o… hearts in the truth of God in his promiſe… againſt all the temptations of Satan; th… bleſſed ſealing is more prevalent for our co… firmation than all philoſophical reaſons o… demonſtrations.
5. Another way to beget aſſurance amo… men is a ſolemn Oath, and we know an Oa… for confirmation is to them an end of all ſtriſ… Heb. 6.16. and thus God willing more abu… dantly to ſhew unto the heirs of promiſe, th… immutability of his Council confirmed it b… an Oath, foreign. Inv…tat praemio ſalutem jurans, etiam vivo dicens, c…pit credi ſibi: O beatos nos que… cauſa deus jurat! O miſ…rrimos ſinec juranti domino credimus. Tert… de poen.or interpoſed himſelf by an Oath… it is very obſervable to conſider the form … the Oath, God ſwears by himſelf, who … the living and true God, he could ſwear by …o greater, and it is obſerved, that two things make a thing more credible; 1. the quali…y of the perſon ſpeaking. 2. The manner of the ſpeech. Now the form of the Oath …n Gen. 22.16. is exceeding emphatical to Abraham; partly becauſe of the aſſeveration ſurely, Gen. 22.16, 17. foreign Eſt particula ca…ſalis & coaditionalis.partly becauſe of the duplication in bleſſing I will bleſs thee, if I ſpeak …t, it ſhall be done; moreover the form of the expreſſion in Geneſis is ſtrange, for it is thus, Quid tibi prodeſt ſi Deus ſe juram…nto o…ſt…ing…t, ſi tu haec quaſi commun…m audi…ns fabulam tranſeas?—Jurare di…it…r deus, ut tu audiens paveas & intre…iſcas & metu conſternatus inquiras quid illud tantum eſt, pro …o deus jurare dicitur: Or…g. Homil. 9. ſuper Gen. 22.if I bleſs thee, thou ſhalt be bleſſed, or becauſe I bleſs thee, or if I do not bleſs thee (which is the form of an Oath, Heb. …4.3.) as if he ſhould ſay, then let me not be true, juſt, yea let me not be God; God pawns his faithfulneſs upon it, and may he not then be believed? but for what end is this? it is to confirm his promiſes, and aſſure the hearts of all the heirs of promiſe that he intends to do, and will accompliſh what he hath ſpoken, that they might have ſtrong conſolation, and that he might take away all doubts and haeſitation; and all this he doth for the heirs of promiſe, he would not have done thus for others, but he doth this and much more to ſatisfie his doubting Children.
6. Yet further, men uſe to give a pawn, a pledge to aſſure others of their real purpoſe to make good the bargain, and this is part of the payment; this alſo doth our gracious God, 2 Cor. 1.22. Cap 5.5.Epheſ. 1.14. his ſpirit is the earneſt of our inheritance, untill the redemption of the purchaſed poſſeſſion: an earneſt is uſed in purchaſing Land, in hiring of Servants, and in contracting Marriage, and when ever the Lord puts his Holy Spirit into the heart, its as a pledge of all the mercies of the Covenant and of our eternal inheritance: and though ſome men may be unfaithful, ſo far as rather to loſe their earneſt, than make good their bargain, yet we may be aſſured God will not do ſo, for it is as impoſſible that any ſaving grace of the Spirit ſhould be caſt into hell, as it is for any ſin to enter into Heaven: God will not loſe his pledge, but fetch the ſoul to Heaven when he hath fetcht the heart to himſelf; Grace is the Prologue and Praeludium to Glory, the firſt Reſurrection leads the van to the ſecond; a gracious change prepares for a glorious change, Rom. 8.11. if the ſpirit of him that raiſed up Jeſus from the dead dwell in you, he that raiſed up Chriſt from the dead ſhall alſo quicken your mortal bodies by his ſpirit that dwelleth in you: the ſpirit confirms the promiſes, and we need not fear any danger of retractation, not but that the promiſes are firm enough, but he would eſtabliſh our hearts, in the faith thereof and acquieſcence therein, leſt any queſtion it.
7. Another way whereby men teſtifie their cordial reſolution to make good promiſes is, by doing a great part of the work, which gives real evidence they will do the reſt; he that promiſeth to give another a thouſand pounds, Should a King promiſe to erect ſome Colledge, and give liberal maintenance to Students in it, we are certain by an humane faith, that he will do ſuch a thing th…ugh it be not begun; but if the foundations be in laying, we ſee its execution in part, and are aſſured it will be finiſhed. Ba…us on E…h. c. 1. v. 17. p. 144.and hath already given him nine hundred, may he not rationally truſt him for the reſt? or ſuppoſe there were but one pound, or a penny behind, there is great reaſon to conſide in him for what is wanting: why truly the Lord hath performed the greateſt part of the promiſes of the Covenant; the great promiſe of the Covenant was, that the ſeed of the Woman ſhould break the Serpents head; that the Son of God ſhould be incarnate, be in mans ſtead in life and death to ſatisfie juſtice, fulfil the Law, and by his death bring in everlaſting rightcouſneſs, and he hath already done it: now ſaith the Apoſtle, Rom. 8.32. He that ſpared not his own Son, See Rom. 4.8, 9, 10. Qui miſit unigen…tum immiſit ſpiritum, p…omiſit vultum; quid tandem tibi negaturus oſt? Bern.but delivered him up for us all, how ſhall be not with him alſo freely give us all things? God is before-hand with us; yea, if we be indeed heirs of promiſe, he hath made good good another grand branch of the New Covenant in giving the conditions of the Covenant, faith, repentance, and new obedience; ſo that the main buſineſs is already done, the writings are made, ſealed, ſigned and delivered, there wants nothing but actual poſſeſſion; nay there is a Seiſin and delivery of part of the inheritance, and dare we not truſt God for the remainder? certainly we have good reaſon ſo to do: the contrary is unreaſonable.
8. God hath gone another ſtep, which is, to work many Miracles for the confirmation of theſe ſure mercies, this is a degree further than man can reach to make any thing ſure; hence ſaith our ſweet Saviour; Joh. 5.36. I have greater witneſs than that of John, for the works which the Father hath given me to finiſh, the ſame works that I do, bear witneſs of me, that the father hath ſent me: this Text ſhews the true and proper end and efficacy of Chriſts miracles; Ig…tur non ſ… muta ſ…d vo…ahſſira, ideo; non ſimpliciter intuenda, ſed & intellig…nter audienda. Marl. in loc.they are not dumb ſhews, but have a voice, and cry aloud for faith in the intelligent obſerver; yea and they were wont to beget faith in the ſpectatours, as Nathaniel believed upon Chriſts telling him of his conference at a diſtance, Joh. 1.48, 49. the beginning of his miracles manifeſted his glory, and his Diſciples believed in him, Joh. 2.11. and others comparing the doctrine of John with Chriſts Miracles believed on him, Joh. 10.41. and indeed the Argument of Miracles is a cogent convincing Argument, for no man can do theſe real Miracles except God be with him, Joh. 3.2. Certainly, the ſtrange things wrought by Chriſt ought to aſſure our hearts of the truth of the Goſpel, and conſequently of the ſureneſs of theſe Covenant-mercies. But upon this ſubject you have evident and abundant demonſtrations from the pen of Reverend Mr. Baxter, in his Saints Reſt, Part 2. in the Preface, and in pag. 215. to 234. to which I referr you: the truth is, God hath graciouſly condeſcended to confirm the Goſpel by many infallible miracles which none can queſtion, and all this to make ſure to the elect theſe Covenant-mercies, therefore they are inexcuſable that ſlight this way of the Goſpels confirmation; See Heb. 2.3, 4.
9. Another ſtep that God hath gone is the various wayes that God hath taken to make us know theſe ſure mercies, and thereby to aſſure us thereof; As, Mat. 3.17. Cap. 17.5.1. An audible intelligible voice from Heaven, at Chriſts Baptiſm, and in his Transfiguration, this is my beloved Son in whom I am well-pleaſed, and this voice the Apoſtle Peter ſaith he heard in the Holy Mount, 2 Pet. 1.17, 18. ſo that theſe Goſpel mercies are not deviſed Fables, but divine Oracles of undoubted truth. 2. The conſtant preachings of honeſt and unbiaſſed men, that were eye-witneſſes of his glory; they give clear evidence of their hatred of evil, love of truth and goodneſs: and they could not be perverted by any ſelfiſh ends of profit, pleaſure, or honour; for theſe were not propoſed, promiſed or attained: Nay affliction and perſecution was their known portion, and therefore certainly could not, would not couzen the world with lyes to get that which was not attainable in that way. 3. God hath adorned men with admirable gifts to enable them to demonſtrate the certainty and excellency of theſe Covenant-mercies; extraordinary gifts in the Apoſtles dayes, as extemporary prophecying, 1 Cor. 12.8, 9, 10.ſinging, healing diſeaſes, working miracles, diſcerning ſpirits, divers kinds of tongues: ſo that all Nations might hear theſe [magnalia dei] in their own dialect; Act. 2.6. Eph. 4.8.and now they are tranſlated into all languages: and God hath continued to diſtribute miniſterial gifts for the Churches ſatiſfaction and edification. 4. Yea, he ſent his own Son to be the Preacher as well as Purchaſer of theſe ſure mercies; he ſpake at ſundry times, and in divers manners in times paſt by the Prophets, but in theſe laſt dayes he hath ſpoken to us by his Son, Heb. 1.12. the more to conciliate in us reverence and credence; for he ſaith, ſurely they will reverence my Son: certainly he will declare to us the whole counſel of God, for he was in the boſome of the Father, and came from thence for that very end to declare Gods mind, Joh. 1.18.5 Yea he hath raiſed Jeſus Chriſt from the dead; ſo that we have a Preacher ſent from the grave to aſſure us of the truth of theſe high myſteries and ſweet mercies; ſo the rich man could ſay in hell, if one went to them from the dead, they will repent, and believe, Rom. 16.30. now our dear Saviour himſelf was dead and is alive, and as he is declared to be the Son of God by his Reſurrection from the dead, Rom. 1.4.ſo after his Reſurrection he declared the great things of God, confirming his Diſciples in the truth of things formerly delivered, and giving further teſtimonies and inſtructions, Luk. 24.44-49.6. Still another way of manifeſtation is clear and chriſtal Ordinances, in which as in a fair glaſs we may behold both the face of God, and the choiceſt mercies of the Covenant; here you may not only hear the voice of God, but ſee Jeſus Chriſt evidently ſet forth, crucified before your eyes, Gal. 3.1. in the Sacrament of his bleſſed body and blood are obvious Gods Grace in giving Chriſt, Chriſts love in giving himſelf, his body broken for our food, his blood ſhed for the remiſſion of our ſins, and all the benefits of this new Covenant. 7. Another way more yet of the Lords manifeſting theſe mercies, and ſo making them ſure is the ſanctifying and ſatisfying illumination of ſouls by his holy ſpirit, by this holy unction they know all things, 1 Joh. 2.20. God hath revealed them unto us by his ſpirit, in 1 Cor. 2.10, 12. now the ſpirit comes with conviction and demonſtration, anſwers all the ſouls doubts and cavils, and leaves it without diſpute and haeſitancy: ſo that the believing ſoul cannot but ſay, they are ſure mercies; he dare not deny this for a world.
10. Yet there is one other way whereby God doth make ſure theſe mercies of the Covenant, and that is, marriage-knot, a mutual and matrimonial ingagement in the perpetual and inviolable bond of the Covenant, whereby Chriſt and the ſoul are inſeparably linked together, and this relates to the particular application of theſe Covenant-mercies, and compleats all the former; for ſaith the poor ſoul, I do not queſtion but theſe mercies are ſure in themſelves, in their own nature, and ſure to ſome, but are they ſo to me? what ways may I be aſſured of my title thereunto and intereſt therein? now this the Lord doth make good by entring into that ſweet and familiar relation with his people of marriage, Iſa. 54.5. Jer. 3.14. Rom. 7.4.thy maker is thy husband, and I am marryed to you, ſaith the Lord, a believing ſoul is dead to the Law, that he may be marryed to Chriſt, and our heavenly husband hateth puting away, Mal. 2.16.once marryed to Chriſt and for ever marryed to him, death it ſelt breaks not this marriage-knot, nay it faſtens and heightens it; here Chriſt and the ſoul are but as it were contracted, there the marriage is ſolemnized with the acclamations of glorious Angels, and glorified Saints, for, ſaith the Apoſtle, 2 Cor. 11.2. I have eſpouſed you to one husband, that I may preſent you as a chaſt Virgin to Chriſt: now ſouls are fitting for that great ſolemnity, when the marriage of the Lamb ſhall come that the bride is made ready; Rev. 19.7.ſhe is making her ſelf ready in this world, ſhe is marryed at the illuſtrious day of Chriſts ſecond appearing: ſo then this marriage-knot cannot be broken ſince it is compleated in glory. But yet more particularly, conſider that remarkable Text in Hoſea 2.19, 20. wherein the mercies of the Covenant are made over in a way of matrimonial relation; And I will betroth thee unto me for ever, &c. in which Scripture there are four things that may aſſure the heart of the firmneſs of theſe Covenant-mercies, 1. The Author and Husband I, the great Jehovah, the infinite God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, who ſpeaks and it is done, who works, and who can let it? it is he that ſaith, I will betroth thee, and who can forbid the banes of Matrimony? who is able to hinder this conjunction? 2. Here is the doubling of the phraſe for greater certainty and ſecurity, I will betroth thee, yea I will betroth thee; fear not it ſhall be done: nay the third time it's repreated, v. 20. I will even betroth thee, what can any ſay more to aſſure a ſuſpicious bride of a firm contract and marriage, q. d. I will have thee, thou ſhalt have me, do not diſtruſt me, we will be marryed; all this God ſaith to meet with the incredulity of a guilty ſoul, that through fear deſponds, and dare ſcarce look upon it as poſſible, or credible: Yet, 3. Here is the term and date of the Marriage, it was not for a week, monethmonth, year, ſeven years, no nor an hundred years only; nay it is not only during life, as other Marriages are made, but it is for ever, unto all eternity, it never fails, it laſts as long as the ſoul laſts; that's a long day, other marriages are temporary, terminable, faileable, Rom. 7.2.and death looſeth a Woman from the Law of her Husband; but this is marriage confirmed, and compleated at death, and endures for evermore. And then 4. The terms, conditions, and the manner of Marriage ſpeak the ſureneſs of this Covenant, and the mercies thereof, obſerve it; Loving-kindneſs is the motive to it, and mercies are the ſouls joynture, righteouſneſs, judgement, faithfulneſs are the Writings (as it were) and evidences, to aſſure theſe fore-mentioned conditions: many perſons marry ſuch as they ought not to marry, as ſuch as are too near of kin, and contrary to conſent of friends, &c. and ſo are divorced, but my marrying thee ſhall be in righteouſneſs; many marry in a ſudden paſſion of affection, and repent when they have done, but I will marry thee in judgement; many marry fraudulenty cheating the perſons whom they marry, lead them into a ſnare and then leave them; but I will marry thee in faithfulneſs, integrity and fidelity, we will never part, and though thou be unworthy now and maiſt tranſgreſs, yet ile fetch thee home, pardon thee, and maintain this marriage-knot with invariable conſtancy and fidelity; What can more be ſaid to aſſure the believing ſoul of the ſureneſs of Covenant-mercies? Beſides conſider, loving-kindneſs is the beginning, middle, and end of the match, he fetcheth arguments out of his own boſome to enter into this parlee, and after he hath contracted this friendſhip, and intimate relation, the ſame loving-kindneſs will perſwade him to maintain it; nay now his truth and faithfulneſs is ingaged, and he will be faithful in performing all his promiſes: Conſider that notable Text, Mic. 7.20. thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham which thou haſt ſworn unto our fathers from the dayes of old: mark, it is mercy to Abraham becauſe made with him, but its truth to Jacob, and now is a kind of debt and muſt be paid, and made good. God is a free agent, yet he binds himſelf by promiſe, Reddis debita nulli debens.and ſo becomes a debtor to his Creature, or rather to himſelf on the behalf of his Creature: thus doth God aſſure to his Saints and ſpouſe the dowry and joynture of mercies that he promiſeth to them at this contracting of a marriage betwixt himſelf and ſouls: See Zech. 8.8.
Thus I have diſpatcht the wayes that God takes to make theſe mercies of the Covenant ſure to all the heirs of promiſe.