The Bowels of Tender Mercy Sealed in the Everlasting Covenant, Religious treatise · Part 1 · Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
Iſaiah 55. 3.
And I will make an everlaſting Covenant with you, even the ſure mercies of David.
….
In the words, you …
1. The matter of the … with you.
2. The Amplification of that Covenant, or if you pleaſe, the qualification of that Covenant [An everlaſting Covenant, The ſure mercies of David.
You ſee the words give me occaſion to ſpeak of the great myſtery of godlineſſe, wrapt up in the Everlaſting Covenant, the nature whereof I ſhall eſpecially apply my ſelf to open to you.
This Propoſition or Doctrine lies clear and full in the Text.
Doct. That theris a Covenant which God makes between himſelf and all who believe in Chriſt. I will make a Covenant with you.
For the explication of this, I ſhall ſpeakThere is a Covenant betwixt God and believers. Of a Covenant in general.
1. Of a Covenant in general. 2. In ſpecial.
1. Of a Covenant in general, where I will ſhew you Firſt, What it is.
Secondly, That there is a Covenant betwixt God and Believers.
Thirdly, Why God makes ſuch a Covenant with them.
SECT. I.
Queſt. 1. WHat A Covenant is.What it is.
Anſw. 1. A Covenant in General, is a compact or mutual Deſcribed.agreement betwixt parties, in which they binde each other to the performance of what they do (by agreement) promiſe to each other. Conference, and conference, propoſals and propoſals, offers and offers, arguings and arguings (ſimply) do not conſtitute a Covenant: Things may be propounded, and yet rejected. Nor doth the liking of what is propounded do it; Approbation and conſent of one party, no nor yet his obligation, can (formally) make up a Covenant, but there muſt be actus mutuus, a mutual conſent, a mutual promiſe, a mutual agreement, a mutual engagement or obligation, and this makes up a Covenant, as to the ſubſtance of it. As to the Covenant of Marriage, it is not ſpeaking, nor liking, not promiſe by one party, but the liking, and conſent, and promiſe muſt be mutual, elſe it makes not up the Covenant of Marriage; ſo it is in this.
2. Covenants, are either,Covenants are Sinful.
1. Sinful. They have made a Covenant with death and hell, Iſa. 28. 18. How do they make a Covenant together? They engage themſelves in the ſervice of ſin, and expect to be as ſecure from death and hell as if they had made a formal Covenant and Agreement with them.
2. Civil. Which are the binding arguments betwixt man and man, in matters Civil.of a worldly conſideration for goods, wares, lands, peace, or the like; as the Covenant betwixt Abraham and Abimilech, and betwixt Ahab and Benhadad, &c.
3. Sacred. As the Covenant betwixt God and man.Sacred. Betwixt God and man.
It is obſervable that there was no ſtate in which man was at any time, but God made a Covenant with him; as ſoone as he was created, and as ſoone as he fell, God made a Covenant with him.
And Gods Covenant with man (I ſpeak only in the general) doth conſiſt in a In what it conſiſts.free promiſe on Gods part, with a stipulation of duty on mans part. There is a Suſception on Gods part, and an engagement on mans part; God promiſeth ſome good, and man promiſeth obedience; Their concurrence in theſe, or their obliging Agreement in theſe make up the Covenant. God promiſeth life and all good to man, and man promiſeth all obedience to God; God promiſeth what he pleaſeth, and requireth what he pleaſeth, and man promiſeth unto God what God requireth.
And here by the way note, that in every Covenant betwixt God and man, the whole draught of it depends upon the Soveraigne will and pleaſure of God, who propoſeth what rewards he pleaſeth, and impoſeth what termes he pleaſeth, and draws up the Covenant in what termes he pleaſeth. And the reaſon hereof lies in the abſolute power and authority of God over man, who is infinitely inferiour to God, and wholly ſubordinate to him; and therefore man may not indent with him, by propoſing Articles of Agreement, but he muſt accept what the Lord is pleaſed to propoſe, either by way of duty on mans part, or by way of promiſe on Gods part. And well he may do ſo, inreſpect of that Infinite Goodneſſe and Wiſdome in God, who knows much better how to lay the frame of a Covenant betwixt himſelf and man, than man can know how to draw a Covenant betwixt himſelf and God.
SECT. II.
2. THat there is a Covenant which God makes betwixt himſelf and believers: There is ſuch a Covenant.So you have it often expreſſed in Scripture, Gen. 17. 2. I will make my Covenant betwixt me and thee, verſe 7. I will eſtabliſh my Covenant betwixt me and thee, and thy ſeed after thee in their generations after thee, to be good unto thee, and to thy ſeed after thee. Deut. 4. 23. Take heed unto your ſelves lest you forget the Covenant of the Lord your God, which he made with you. 2 Sam. 23. 5. He hath made with me an everlaſting Covenant, ordered in all things and ſure. Pſal. 50. 5. Gather my Saints together unto me, thoſe that have made a Covenant with me by Sacrifice. Jer. 31. 31. Behold, the dayes come (ſaith the Lord) I will make a new Covenant with the houſe of Iſrael, and with the houſe of Judah, which is repeated by the Apoſtle, Heb. 8. 8. all which places do manifeſtly prove that there is a Covenant betwixt God and Believers.
Againſt this a great objection will lie; There are ſome who argue, that there Sect. 2. Obj. The Covenant is only betwixt God and Chriſt.is no Covenant made betwixt God and us; there is only a Covenant betwixt God and Christ, by vertue of which all Good is derived unto us: The ground of this opinion is drawn from Gal. 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. Whence they inferre, there is no Covenant at all made to us, but only with Chriſt, or to Chriſt.
Sol. I deſire not to make rents, but where I find them I would willingly make them up againe; but of neceſſity I muſt conſider this preſent opinion; for if This opinion conſidered, and cleared in three particulars.this were true, how can this Text I am now upon be true? which ſaith, I will make an everlaſting Covenant, not only for you, but with you. For the better ſtating and clearing of this doubt and difficulty, I will deliver my ſelf in theſe Propoſitions.
1. That there is a Covenant made betwixt God the Father and his Sonne Jeſus Chriſt.
2. That there is a Covenant made betwixt God and every believing perſon.
3. That the place alledged doth not infringe this truth.
1. That there is a Covenant made betwixt God the Father, and his Son Jeſus There is a Covenant betwixt God the Father and his Son Jeſus Chriſt.Chriſt, touching the whole buſineſſe of mans ſalvation. Hence it is, that Chriſt is called the Covenant; I will give thee for a Covenant of the people, ſaith the Lord, ſpeaking of Chriſt, Iſa. 49. 8. In hope of eternal life, which God who cannot lye, promiſed before the world began, Tit. 1. 2. This promiſe, which was ante tempora ſeculorum, was made to Chriſt. I have manifeſted thy name unto the men which thou gaveſt me out of the world; thine they were, and thou gaveſt them me, Joh. 17. 6.
All that makes up a Covenant, paſſed betwixt the Father and the Son.On the Father part. He d…ſigned Chriſt to the office of Mediatour.
1. On the Fathers part.
1. He deſigned his Sonne unto the office of Mediatour; him hath God the Father ſealed, John 6. 27. Set apart, marked out for that work; and the Apoſtle Peter ſpeaking of our Redemption by the precious blood of Chriſt, ſaith, that Chriſt was fore-ordained (thereunto) before the foundation of the world, 1 Pet. 1. 20.
And hereunto did Chriſt conſent and agree, Heb. 10. 7. Then ſaid I, lo I come (in the volum of thy book it is written of me) to do thy will O God; and againe, ver. 9. lo I come to do thy will O God.
2. He promiſed to give him the Spirit in abundant meaſure. The Spirit of the He promiſed to give him the Spirit in abundant meaſure.Lord ſhall reſt upon him, Iſa. 11. 2. I have put my Spirit upon him, he ſhall bring forth judgement to the Genetiles, Iſa. 42. 1. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Iſa. 61. 1. God giveth not the Spirit by meaſure unto him, Joh. 3. 34.
3. He promiſed to aſſiſt him in that great work: I the Lord have called thee And to aſſiſt him in that great work.in Righteouſneſſe, and will hold thy hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a Covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles, Iſa. 42. 6. What is that holding of Chriſt by the hand, but his effectual ſupporting and ſtrengthening of him to finiſh the work which he agreed to undertake?
4. He promiſed a bleſſed ſucceſſe to this undertaking; he ſhall ſee his ſeed, And a bleſſed ſucceſſe to his undertaking.and he ſhall ſee the travaile of his ſoul, Iſa. 53. 10. Nations that know thee not, ſhall run unto thee, Iſa. 55. 5.
5. He promiſed him Dominion and Soveraignty. His arme ſhall rule for him, And dominion and ſoveraigntyIſa. 40. 10. He ſhall ſit in judgement in the earth, and the Iles ſhall wait for his Law, Iſa. 42. 4. He ſhall judge amongſt many Nations, Mic. 4. 3.
6. He promiſed to glorifie him after all, Joh. 17. 5. Now Father, glorifie thou And to glorifie him after all.me.
2. Christ an his part conſents to the Father; undertakes the will and work of On Chriſts part. He conſents to him, undertakes his work. Depends on him, diſchargeth it, and expects the glory promiſed. There is a Covenant with Chriſt perſonally and myſtically conſidered.his Father; Depends on his Father, Truſts on him for help; The Lord will help me, Iſa. 50. 7, 9. My God ſhall be my ſtrength, Iſa. 49. 5. And he diſchargeth all the work agreed on for the Redemption and ſalvation of the elect. I have finiſhed the work thou gaveſt me to do; And expects the glory promiſed by the Father. I would be tedious to ſpeak all that might be ſaid concerning this high Covenant betwixt God the Father, and Chriſt, touching the elect, and all that concerns them.
I might adde, that as there is a Covenant betwixt God and Chriſt perſonally conſidered, ſo alſo betwixt God and Chriſt myſtically conſidered; Take him as the Head of the Church, his body, the Covenant principally looks at Chriſt, I will be your God; this principally looks at Chriſt, and I will be your Father; this principally looks at Chriſt, and ſo the maine promiſes, as thoſe of Life, of Grace, of Juſtification, ſo they principally look at Chriſt. As there was a reſpect to the people of God in the Covenant betwixt the Father and Jeſus Chriſt, ſo there was a reſpect to Chriſt in the Covenant betwixt God and his people.
2. Nevertheleſſe, though there be ſuch a Covenant betwixt God the Father, Yet there is a Covenant betwixt God and his people. Proved.and his Son Jeſus Chriſt; yet there is a Covenant made betwixt God and his people.
The places above mentioned, do expreſly prove it when God ſaith, I will be their God, and they ſhall be my people; I will marry you unto my ſelf, and I will bring you into the bond of my Covenant, …. 20. 37. and we are ſaid to enter into Covenant with the Lord, Deut. 29. 12. Theſe expreſſions plainly prove a Covenant betwixt God and us. And truly, unanſwerable Arguments evince this Truth.
1. Chriſt is ſaid to be the Mediatour of this Covenant, Heb. 9. 15. Now he could not be the Mediatour of this Covenant betwixt God and himſelf, but of the Covenant Becauſe Chriſt is the Mediatour of it.betwixt God and us.
2. To whom the ſeales of the Covenant are given, with them is the Covenant made; the ſeales of the Covenant and the Covenant (go to the ſame perſons) The ſeals of the Covenant are given unto his people.but the ſeales of the Covenant are for and to believers. Abraham received the ſigne of circumciſion, a ſeal of the righteouſneſſe of faith, Rom. 4. 11.
3. How can we plead the Covenant betwixt God and us, if there were no ſuch Gods people plead this Covenant.Covenant? Remember thy Covenant; Oh how can God be ſaid to remember his Covenant, and to do us good for and according to his Covenant with us, if there were not a Covenant betwixt God and us?
Laſtly, How is God ſaid to be faithful in Covenant with us? and how are we God is faithful in his Covenant with us, and we are faithful with God. Gal. 3. 16. opened and clearedſaid to be faithful in Covenant with God? and why are we exhorted to be ſo? and how can there be ſuch a ſinne as breach of Covenant, for which God will be avenged, if there were no Covenant betwixt God and us?
3. The place mentioned in Gal. 3. 16. doth not contradict this truth, where it is ſaid, The promiſes are made to Abraham, and to his ſeed, not ſeeds, as ſpeaking of many, but ſeed, as of one, and to thy ſeed which is Chriſt.
This place ſurely will not carry it out, that there is no Covenant with us but with Chriſt. For,
1. How do you read in this place of Promiſes made to Abraham, (the promiſes were made to Abraham;) if there were no promiſes but to Chriſt; or how can the promiſes be made only to Chriſt, and yet to Abraham?
2. The promiſes were made to Abraham, and then to his ſeed which is Chriſt; if Chriſt here ſhould be underſtood perſonally, the order here mentioned could not hold; for then Chriſt ſhould come to claim the promiſes in Abrahams right, and not Abraham in his.
3. By Chriſt in this place, is not meant Chriſt perſonally, but Chriſt myſtically conſidered, the Church of Chriſt, the company of believers, and thoſe are the ſeed of Abraham, who is ſtiled The father of the faithful. And truly, I know not why men do ſo wreſt this Text, which the Apoſtle only mentions to prove that all that are juſtified, are juſtified not by works, but by faith; forasmuch as the promiſe of Grace to this purpoſe was made to Abraham and his ſeed, to all Believers; as ver. 29. If ye be Christs, then are you Abrahams ſeed, and Heirs according to the Promiſe.
SECT. III.
4. BEfore I paſſe from the general conſideration of a Covenant, made betwixt Why God makes a Covenant betwixt himſelf and his people. To put an honour upon his people, Dut. 26 18, 19.God and us, it may be demanded why the Lord is pleaſed to make a Covenant betwixt himſelf and his people.
The cauſes thereof amongſt many others may be theſe.
1. To put an honour upon his people. Some do derive the word Berith, (which ſignifies the Covenant) from a root which ſignifies to purifie, and to ſeparate, and to ſelect; and verily, the Lord when he makes a Covenant with any, he doth ſeparate them from others, looks on them, takes them and ownes them for his peculiar people, and agrees with them as the choſen and choyceſt of all others. The firſt ſtaffe in Zach. 11. 10. is called beauty, and this was the Covenant: And indeed it is a high honour to be in Covenant with God, there is a fourfould honour to us in this.
1. One in that God in this becomes ours, and we are made nigh unto him.A fourfold honour in this.
2. A ſecond in that God is ours, and we his in a very peculiar way of relation.
3. In that God in Covenant, opens his love, and all his treaſures to us, tells us of his ſpecial grace and love, and great intentions of good to us.
4. In that he obligeth himſelf to us in his faithfulneſſe, to performe all his Covenant. In all this there is a great favour done unto, and a great honour put upon us. Hence when the Lord told Abraham, that he would make a Covenant with him, Abraham fell upon his face, Gen. 17. 2, 3. he was amazed at ſo great a love and honour; and why? It is a ſpecial favour for God to make a Covenant with us; hence that of David, Who am I, O Lord? &c. 2 Sam. 7. 18.
2. That we might know what to expect from God, and upon what termes; for the That we might know what to expect from God.Covenant, as it is a Declaration of all the good which God will beſtow upon us, ſo it is alſo a Rule or Direction what we are to be and to do; here you may ſee all that we need, and all that God requires.
3. That we might be encouraged in our whole courſe of obedience; there being ſufficiency promiſed, and ſecurity enough given by God in this Covenant for all To encourage us in obediencegood, unto all ſuch who are faithful in Covenant with him. Walk before me and be thou perfect, and I will be a God al-ſufficient unto thee, Gen. 17. 1. All the pathes of the Lord are mercy and truth to them that keep his Covenant, Pſal. 25. 10.
4. That we might be bound faſt unto himſelf; the Covenant binds faſt on both parts; God binds himſelf to us, and we alſo are bound by it to him, Jer. 13. 11. To bind us faſt to God.As the girdle cleaveth to the loynes of a man, ſo have I cauſed to cleave unto me the whole houſe of Iſrael, and the whole houſe of Judah, ſaith the Lord, that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praiſe, and for a glory.
Thus you have heard in the general what a Covenant is, and that there is ſuch a Covenant betwixt God and believers, and Reaſons alſo in the General, why God makes a Covenant with them.