The Bowels of Tender Mercy Sealed in the Everlasting Covenant, Religious treatise · Part 1 · Chapter 5 · Section 9

The Bowels of Tender Mercy Sealed in the Everlasting Covenant · Religious treatise · Part 1 · Chapter 5 · Section 9

p. 148SECT. IX.

9. THe ninth property of this Covenant is, It is an everlaſting Covenant; ſo It is an everlaſting Covenant.the Text, I will make an everlaſting Covenant with you, Iſa. 55. 3. Incline your ear and come unto me, hear and your ſoul ſhall live, And I will make an everlaſting Covenant with you, even the ſure mercies of David. Gen. 17. 7. I will ſtabliſh my Covenant between me and thee, and thy ſeed after p. 149thee, for an everlaſting Covenant, to be God unto thee, and to thy ſeed after thee. 2 Sam. 23. 5. He hath m…de with me an …verlaſting Covenant, &c. Pſal. 105. 9. Which Cov…nant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Iſaac. Ver. 10. And confirm…d the ſame unto Jacob for a Law, and to Iſrael for an everlaſting Cov…nant. Iſa. 61. 8. I w…ll dir…ct their work in truth, and I w…ll make an everlaſting Covenant with …hem. Jer. 32. 40. I will make an everlaſting Covenant with them that I w…ll not t…rn away from them to do them good. Heb. 13. 20. Through the blood of the everlaſting Covenant. Hoſea 2. 19. I will betroth thee unto me for ever. Pſal. 48. 14. This God is our God for ever and ever, he will be our guide ev…n unto death.

All the things of the Covenant are ſtiled everlaſting, viz.All the things of the Covenant are ſtiled everlaſting.

1. God is an everlaſting God, Rom. 16. 26.

2. Jeſus Chriſt is the everlaſting Father, Iſa. 9. 6. And a Prieſt for ever, Heb. 6. 20.

3. The Holy Ghoſt is the eternal Spirit, Heb. 9. 14. and he abides with us for ever, John 14. 16.

4. The mercy of God is everlaſting, Pſal. 100. 5. his mercy is everlaſting; and Pſal. 103. 17. it is from everlaſting to everlaſting upon them that fear him; and Pſal. 136. from verſe 1. to 26. ſix and twenty times it is there ſaid, his mercy endures for ever.

5. The goodneſſe of God is everlaſting, it endureth continually, Pſal. 52. 1.

6. The love of God is an everlaſting love; Jer. 31. 33. I have loved thee with an everlaſting love.

7. The kindneſſe of God is everlaſting, Iſaiah 54. 8. with everlaſting kindneſſe will I have mercy on thee, ſaith the Lord thy Redeemer.

8. The righteouſneſſe of the Covenant is an everlaſting righteouſneſſe, Dan. 9. 24.

9. The forgiveneſſe in the Covenant is everlaſting, Jerem. 31. 34. I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their ſinnes no more. Micah 7. 9. Thou wilt caſt all their ſinnes into the depth of the Sea.

10. The grace or holineſſe of the Covenant is everlaſting; it is called abiding ſeed, 1 John 3. 9. and the immortal ſeed, 1 Pet. 1. bei…g born ag…in, not of corruptible ſeed, but of incorruptible; it is living water, John 4. 10. ſpringing up to everlaſting life, ver. 14.

11. The joy of it is everlaſting, Iſa. 51. 11. and none ſhall take it from us, John 16. 22.

12. So is the Conſolation of the Covenant, 2 Theſſ. 2. 16. Who hath given us everlaſting Conſolation and good hope throu…h grace.

13. The life of the Covenant is everlaſting J…hn 3. 16. he that believes ſhall not periſh, but have everlaſting life; 1 John 2. 25. This is the promiſe which he hath promiſed us, even eternal life.

For the opening of this excellent and comfortable adjunct of the Covenant, remember,

1. That the word everlaſting hath two acceptions; it doth denote;Th… word everlaſting a…e… for A…ong duration. A perpetual duration. This Covenant is everlaſting.

1. Sometimes a long duration; in which reſpect the old Covenant cloathed with figures and ceremonies, is called everlaſting, becauſe it was to endure, and did endure a long time.

2. Sometimes a perpetual duration, and a duration which ſhall laſt for ever; in this reſpect the new Covenant is everlaſting; it ſhall never ceaſe, never be broken, never be altered.

2. And it is an everlaſting Covenant in a twofold reſpect.

p. 1501. Ex parte faederantis, in reſpect of God, who will never break Covenant In reſpect of God.with his people, but is their God, and will be their God for ever and ever.

2. Ex parte confaederatorum, in reſpect of the people of God, who are brought In reſpect of his people.into Covenant, and ſhall continue in Covenant for ever and ever; you have both theſe expreſſed in Jer. 32. 40. I will make an everlaſting Covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them to do them good, but I will put my fear in their hearts that they ſhall not depart from me. Mark the place, it ſhews that the Covenant is everlaſting on Gods part, and alſo on our part; on Gods part, I will never turn away from them to do them good; and on our part, They ſhall never depart from me; how ſo? I will put my fear in their hearts that they ſhall not depart from me, (even that fear ſpoken of in ver. 39. that they may fear me for ever)

There are three things which I would deliver concerning the everlaſtingneſſe of the Covenant.

1. Some clear demonſtrations of it from the Scripture.

2. The reaſons why the Covenant of grace is and muſt be everlaſting.

3. Some uſeful applications of this unto our ſelves.

1. The demonſtrations of the everlaſtingneſſe of the Covenant, in reſpect of the The everlaſtingneſſe of the Covenant demonſtrated. From the conſideration of God himſelf in relation to his people. The election of God.people in Covenant; I ſhall preſent unto you four arguments to demonſtrate that it is ſo.

1. The firſt argument I will take from the conſideration of God himſelf in relation unto his people, as (1. his election of them) 2. His love to them. 3. His power for them. 4. (His preſence with them) 5. His promiſes to them.

1. The election of God, all the people in the Covenant are the elect of God; thine they were, and thou gaveſt them me, ſaith Chriſt, John 17. 6. As many as were ordained to eternal life believed, Acts 13. 48.

Now there are three things in election.

1. It is a gracious decree not depending on any forinſecal cauſes.

2. It is an unalterable decree, not raiſed on any mutable cauſes.

3. It is an effectual decree, letting forth and communicating all the things which will infallibly bring unto ſalvation; Rom. 8. 30. Whom he did predeſtinate; which if it be ſo, then certainly the Covenant is everlaſting, foraſmuch as everlaſting life, and all that conduceth thereunto is unalterably decreed in Gods election, and from that effectually communicated unto all in Covenant.

2. The love of God; that God doth love his people, is moſt clear in the Scriptures; The love of God. After what manner God loves his people. As he loves Jeſus Chriſt.but after what manner doth he love them? we read five things of Gods love to his.

1. That God doth love his people after the ſame manner that he loves Jeſus Chriſt himſelf, and with the ſame love. John 17. 23. That the world may know that thou haſt ſent me, and haſt loved them as thou haſt loved me. Ver. 26. I have declared unto them thy Name, that the love wherewith thou hast loved me, may be in them, and I in them.

2. That God doth love his people with an inſuperable, and with and inſeparable With an inſuperable and inſeparable love.love. Rom. 8. 35. Who ſhall ſeparate us from the love of Chriſt? ſhall tribulation or diſtreſſe, or perſecution, or famine, or nakedneſs, or perills, or ſword? Ver. 37. Nay, in all theſe things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Ver. 38. I am perſwaded that neither death nor life, n…r Angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things preſent, nor things to come: Ver. 39. Nor heighth, nor depth, nor any other creature ſhall be able to ſeparate us from the love of God which is in Chriſt Jeſus our Lord.

3. That God doth love his people with a moſt gracious love, with a love With a moſt gracious love.kindled only from love. Deut. 7. 7, 8. The Lord did ſet his love upon you, becauſe p. 151the Lord loved you. Hoſea 14. 4. I will love them freely, that is, upon the ſole account and reaſon of my own love unto them; yea, his love was the only impulſive cauſe why he entred into Covenant with them, and by oath engaged himſelf unto them; Ezek. 16. 8. Now when I paſſed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold thy time was the time of love, and I ſware unto thee, and entred into Covenant with thee ſaith the Lord God, and thou becameſt mine.

4. That the Lord doth love his people with a moſt tender love; therefore he is With a moſt tender love.ſaid to betroth them unto himſelf in loving kindneſſe, and in mercies, Hoſea 2. 19. Loving kindneſſe is a moſt affectionate love, and mercies are tender bowels of love; his love is more tender than the tendereſt love of the mother to her ſucking childe, Iſa. 49. 15. yea, his love is ſuch to his people, that he delights in them, Iſa. 62. 4. and rejoyceth over them, ver. 5. and doth reſt in his love, Zeph. 3. 17.

5. That the Lord doth love his people with a love from everlaſting, With a love from everlaſting to everlaſting.and to everlaſting. Jer. 31. 3. Yea, I have loved them with an everlaſting love. Hoſea 2. 19. I will marry thee unto my ſelf for ever in loving kindneſſe.

Certainly the Covenant 'twixt God and his people muſt hold and continue for ever, it muſt laſt for ever, where there is ſuch a love of God to his people, viz. ſuch a love to them as to Chriſt himſelf; ſuch a love from which nothing ſhall be able to ſeparate; ſuch a love as depends only upon his own love, and which is ſo tender, and ſo affectionate, and is everlaſting. If a Covenant made only by love, and if a people brought into that Covenant only by love, and loved at ſuch a rate and height, even to the giving of the Sonne of God to ſave them; I ſay, if yet ſuch a Covenant may be broken, and if ſuch a people may be caſt off, then is the trueſt and faithfulleſt love, and bond never to be truſted more, neither can be ſure, if this love be not ſure.

3. The power of God in relation to his people in Covenant, which is a ſecuring The power of God, which is A ſecuring power.and preſerving power.

1. A ſecuring power; it ſecures their union with, and relation unto Chriſt, and that for ever; peruſe that excellent place in John 10. 27. My ſheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. Ver. 28. And I give unto them eternal life, and they ſhall never periſh, neither ſhall any man pluck them out of my hand. Ver. 29. My Father which gave them me is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my Fathers hand: Here is a deſcription of ſuch as are believers, and are in Covenant, (they are called the Sheep of Chriſt) and ſuch as he knows and owns to be ſo, and they hear his voice and follow him; here is alſo a deſcription of their ſure and ſafe condition, they ſhall never periſh, they ſhall never be parted from Chriſt, ver. 28. and here is a deſcription of the cauſe or reaſon thereof, viz. the greatneſſe of the power of God, (He is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my hands) as if he had ſaid, If theſe ſhould miſſe of heaven, and if theſe ſhould periſh, it muſt be for want of power in me, that I am not able to keep them; ſome other power there muſt be which is ſtronger than the power of God, by whoſe hand they are held and kept; but my Father is greater than all, and none is able to pluck them out of his hands, therefore they ſhall never periſh, but they ſhall have eternal life; and if ſo, then the Covenant 'twixt God and his people is an everlaſting Covenant.

2. A preſerving power, that God preſerves his people, the Scripture doth abundantly A preſerving power.teſtifie unto us, and if I can make it evident that he by his power preſerves them unto everlaſting glory, I think then that the everlaſtingneſſe of the Covenant will appear unto you; and for that ſee 1 Pet. 1. 5. who are kept by the power of God through faith unto ſalvation: Mark, he ſpeaks of the people, (whom ver. 2. he calls the elect of God the Father, and ſanctified by the Spirit; p. 152and ver. 3. begotten again) and of thoſe he ſaith that they are kept; by what power? by the power of God; by what means? through faith; unto what? unto ſalvation, untill they come to receive that incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that fades not away, which is reſerved in heaven for them, ver. 3. 2 Tim. 4. 18. The Lord ſhall deliver me from every evil work, and will preſerve me to his heavenly Kingdome. 2 Theſſ. 5. 23. I pray God your whole spirit and ſoul, and body be preſerved blameleſſe unto the coming of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Ver. 24. Faithful is he that call…th you, who alſo will do it: why, what can more clearly demonſtrate the everlaſtingneſſe of the Covenant with the people of God than this? that they are kept by the power of God unto ſalvation; that they are preſerved unto his heavenly Kingdome; that God will preſerve their whole ſpirit, and their whole ſoul, and their whole body blameleſſe unto the coming of Chriſt.

4. The preſence of God with his people; he is ſo preſent with his people, The preſence of God with his people.that he is ſaid to be nigh unto them, and to be with them; and to go along with them, and to hold them in his hand, and to hold their hand, and to bear them up, nay, ſo as to dwell in them, and walk in them; and this preſence it is a watchful preſence: Iſa. 27. 3. I the Lord do keep it, I will water it every moment leſt any hurt it; I will keep it night and day; and it is ſuch a powerful preſence, you need no other, and no more but Gods preſence; if he be with you, who can be againſt you? I will tell you, Gods preſence is enough to comfort you, and it is enough to ſtrengthen you, and it is enough to uphold you, and it is enough to raiſe you, and it is enough to protect you, and it is enough to ſave you: If God be preſent with your hearts, this is enough to make your graces to act: If God be preſent with your graces, this is enough to ſtrengthen them, and enough to preſerve them. Now God is preſent with every one of his people, as to their bodies, as to their ſouls, as to their graces, and in a ſpecial manner, and for ever; I will never leave thee, nor forſake thee; the Lord is round about his people for evermore, &c.

5. The promiſes of God; theſe alſo do cleare the everlaſtingneſſe The promiſes of God. God promiſeth to work in his people, what m…kes them ſt…dfaſt as A real work of grace.of the Covenant, which I ſhall ſhew unto you in ſix particulars.

1. God doth promiſe to work in his people whatſoever conduceth (on their part) to the perpetuity or everlaſtingneſſe of the Covenant. There are five things which will make us ſtedfaſt and firme in Covenant.

1. One is a real work of grace on the heart; (when the heart is indeed changed or renewed) though counterfeit grace will faile, yet real grace is permanent: And God hath promiſed this unto his people, Ezek. 36. 26. A new heart will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put within you.

2. Another is a ſincere heart; though hypocriſie be vaniſhing, yet ſincerity A ſincere heart.will continue; there is faithfulneſſe and ſtedfaſtneſſe in ſincerity, and God hath promiſed to give this heart unto his people, Ezek. 11. 19. I will give them one heart, and one way, Zach. 8. 3. Jeruſalem ſhall be called a City of truth; and ver. 8. They ſhall be my people, and I will be their God in truth and righteouſneſſe. Iſa. 1. 22. Then ſhalt thou be called the City of righteouſneſſe, the faithful City.

3. A third is entire and exceeding love; this will hold out unto the death; yea Intire love.it is ſtronger than death; and this hath God alſo promiſed to give his people. Deuteronomy 30. 6. The Lord thy God will circumciſe thine heart, and the heart of thy ſeed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy ſoul.

4. A fourth is the fear of himſelf (which is the beginning of wiſdome, and The fear of God.the deliverance from ſinne) this alſo God promiſeth to give unto his people in p. 153that Covenant. Jer. 32. 40. I will put my feare in their hearts, that they ſhall not depart from me.

5. A fifth is ſound faith. 1. Of union. 2. Dependance; both theſe he Sound faith.promiſeth. They that truſt in the Lord, ſhall be as Mount Zion which cannot be removed, but abideth faſt for ever. John 6. 45. They ſhall be all taught of God; every man therefore that hath heard and learned of the father cometh to me. Zeph. 3. 12. And they ſhall truſt in the Name of the Lord. Hab. 2. 4. The juſt ſhall live by his faith.

2. God doth expreſly promiſe to keep his people from falling away from him, God promiſeth to keep his people from falling.and that he will never leave nor forſake them. 1 Sam. 12. 22. The Lord will not forſake his people for his great Name-ſake, becauſe it hath pleaſed the Lord to make you his people. Pſal. 37. 24. Though he fall, he ſhall not be utterly caſt down, for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. Ver. 28. The Lord forſaketh not his Saints, they are preſerved for ever. Pſalme 94. 18. When I ſaid my foot ſlippeth, thy mercy, O Lord, held me up. Hoſea 14. 4. I will heal their back-ſlidings. 2 Theſſ. 3. 3. The Lord is faithful who ſhall ſtabliſh you.

3. God doth expreſly promiſe to ſtrengthen and increaſe their grace; The righteous God promiſeth to ſtrengthen and increaſe their grace.ſhall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands ſhall be ſtronger and ſtronger, Job 17. 9. The path of the juſt ſhall be as the ſhining light that ſhineth more and more unto the perfect day. Prov. 4. 18. He will make all grace to abound; he will work in us to will and to do of his own good pleaſure; Thoſe that are planted in the houſe of the Lord, ſhall flouriſh in the Courts of our God; they ſhall ſtill bring forth fruit in old age.

4. God doth promiſe to confirm his people unto the end, and to finiſh the work God promiſeth to confirm his people to the end.which he hath begun in them. 1 Cor. 1. 8. He ſhall confirm you to the end, that ye may be blameleſſe in the day of our Lord Jeſus. Phil. 1. 6. Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begunne a good work in you, will perform it (will perfect it) he will carry it on untill the day of Jeſus Chriſt.

5. God doth promiſe to break down all which might elſe cauſe his people to God promiſeth to over-power whatſoever may make, his people t… break Covenant.break off the Covenant; There are but five cauſes ſuppoſable for the breaking off that Covenant on our part, and God removes every one of them from his people.

1. One is the power of ſin; but God hath promiſed to ſubdue our iniquities, Mic. 7. 19. And ſin ſhall not have dominion over us, Rom. 6. 14.

2. A ſecond is the power of Satan; but God hath promiſed, that he will not ſuffer us to be tempted above what we are able, but will with the temptation alſo make a way to eſcape. 1 Cor. 10. 13. He hath promiſed that the gates of hell ſhall not prevail against his people. Matth. 16. 18. He hath promiſed, that the ſeed of the woman ſhall bruiſe the Serpents head, Gen. 3. 15. and that he will bruiſe Satan under our feet, Rom. 16. 20. and reſiſt the devil, and he ſhall flye from you, James 4. 7.

3. A third is the power of the world; but ſaid Chriſt to his Diſciples, John 16. 33. Be of good chear, I have overcome the world; and 1 John 5. 4. Whatſoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even over faith.

4. A fourth is the ſuppoſed liberty and inconſtancy of mans will; that a man (if he will) he may caſt off his God, and give over to be one of his people; but this God promiſeth to remove, by giving of his own Spirit, which ſhall cauſe us to walk in his Statutes, and to keep his Laws and to do them, Ezekiel 36. 27. and Jeremiah 32. 39. I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever.

5. A ſuppoſition that God will ſubſtract or with-draw his grace from his people; Neither ſhall this be; for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance; ſo Rom. 11. 29. And Mary hath choſen the good part which ſhall not be tak…n from her, Luke 10. 42.

p. 1542. A ſecond Argument to demonſtrate the everlaſtingneſſe of the Covenant 'twixt God and his people, ſhall be taken from ſeveral conſiderations of Chriſt From ſeveral conſiderations of Chriſt and believers.and believers who are the people in Cov…nant.

1. Chriſts ſuretiſhip. 2. Chriſts Mediatorſhip. 3. Chriſts union with them. 4. Chriſts love. 5. Chriſts interceſſion. 6. Chriſts promiſes and preparations for them.

1. The ſuretiſhip of Chriſt; in Heb. 7. 22. Chriſt is ſaid to be made a ſurety The ſuretiſhip of Chriſt.of a better Covenant; (ſo I conceive the word ſhould be rendred, viz. Covenant, and not Teſtament; for a ſurety is not of a Teſtament, but of a Covenant) A ſurety is one who is engaged and ſtands bound for another, and is reſponſable for him; as Judah for Benjamine, Gen. 43. 9. I will be ſurety for him, of my hands ſhall they require him. And in matters of contract 'twixt perſon and perſons, a ſurety is taken in for this very end, That the contract may be made ſure and good, may not faile, but be truly and perfectly performed; and the ſurety is a diſtinct perſon undertaking and engaging in the behalf of him who is of himſelf the more weak and inſufficient contractor. As to this conſideration, Chriſt is ſtiled the ſurety of the Covenant, becauſe he is a third perſon engaged not ſo much for God, as unto God on our behalf, that all that we are obliged for in Covenant unto God, ſhall be truly and faithfuly made good and performed; He (as our ſurety) ſtands bound to fill us with thoſe graces, to give us thoſe affections, and to ſupply us with ſuch a ſufficiency of ſtrength, as for ever to cleave unto the Lord in dependance and love, and to walk before him in truth, and to ſerve him in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe all out dayes.

2. The Mediatorſhip of Chriſt; you know that he is ſtiled the Mediator of The Mediatorſhip of Chriſt.the Covenant, Heb. 12. 24. You know that this is one difference 'twixt the Covenant of works and the Covenant of grace; that had no Mediator, but this hath; there God dealt with Adam as a righteous perſon, and Adam had no other bottome and foundation for his ſtanding, but his own created righteouſneſſe; as long as he kept that, the Covenant remained; and when he loſt that, the Covenant was broken, for there was no Mediator to make up the breach. But now for the Covenant of grace, there is a Mediator, upon whoſe ſhoulder the weight of the Covenant reſts; and as long as that Mediator laſts (which is for ever) ſo long that Covenant of grace ſhall laſt; This Mediator is Jeſus Chriſt, who (as Mediator) doth confirm the Covenant by ſatisfying for ſinne, and making peace and reconciliation, not ſuffering any enmity and difference to remain between God and his people; but he doth (if I may ſo expreſſe it) keep up the League 'twixt them both, by his merit with the Father, and by his Spirit with believers; by his Prieſtly Office he eſtabliſheth peace with God; and by his Kingly Office he eſtabliſheth the hearts of the children of God; his very Office (as Mediator) is to unite God and us together, and to preſerve that union for ever; if at any time we ſinne, we have an Advocate with the Father, even Jeſus Chriſt the righteous, who is the propitiation for our ſinnes; and when we are weak, he then puts out his ſtrength to conquer temptations for us.

All theſe things conſidered, it is clear, that becauſe of Chriſts Mediatorſhip, the Covenant of grace muſt be everlaſting.

3. The union 'twixt Chriſt and the people of the Covenant. That there is an The union betwixt Chriſt and his people.union 'twixt Chriſt and believers, is moſt evident in Scripture; I am my Beloveds, and my Beloved is mine, ſo the Church ſpeaks of Chriſt, Cant. 6. 3. in reſpect of which union, Chriſt and believers are ſtiled the head and the body, Eph. 1. 22. A foundation, and a building, Eph. 2. 20, 21. 1 Pet. 2. 4, 5. A Vine and the branches, John 15. 5. A husband and wife, 2 Cor. 11. 2. Eph. 5. 32. And Chriſt dwells in us, and we in him, John 6. 54. He lives in us, Galatians 2. 20. (Chriſt liveth in me) and we live in him, Col. 3. 3.

p. 155This union 'twixt Chriſt and us, it hath two properties.

It is,

1. Unio arcta, a very near union; ſo near is that union, that (in a proportion) it doth anſwer the union 'twixt Chriſt and God his Father (John 17. 22. That they may be one, even as we are one) and that we are entitled with the very Name of Chriſt himſelf, 1 Cor. 12. 12. and that we are ſaid to die with Chriſt, and to live and riſe with Chriſt; and our ſufferings are ſtiled his ſufferings, Col. 1. 24. and the perſecution of Chriſtians, the perſecution of Chriſt; Acts 9. 4, 5. Why perſecuteſt thou me?

2. Firma, a very firm and laſting union; therefore our marriage with him, is called an everlaſting marriage, Hoſea 2. 19. And Chriſt ſaith of every believer (who hath union with him) that he dwells in him, John 6. 56. that he will not loſe him, ver. 39. that he hath everlaſting life, ver. 47. that he ſhall not die, but live for ever, ver. 50, 51.

And indeed by vertue of this union with Chriſt, all believers do enjoy an everlaſting influence, and an everlaſting communion with God in Chriſt, &c.

4. The love of Chriſt unto believers who are the people of God in Covenant, The love of Chriſt unto believers.the Scriptures are very high in the expreſſion of it; John 15. 9. As the Father hath loved me, ſo have I loved you; continue ye in my love. Epheſ. 5. 2. Walk in love, as Chriſt alſo hath loved us, and hath given himſelf for us, an offering and a ſacrifice to God, for a ſweet ſmelling ſavour. Rev. 1. 5. Ʋnto him that loved us, and waſhed us from our ſins in his own blood. John 13. 1. Having loved his own, he loved them to the end. Epheſ. 3. 19. The love of Christ, which paſſeth knowledge.

His love is a fruitful love, a watchful love, an intire love, a faithful love, an helpful love, and a preſerving and upholding love; is it imaginable that Jeſus Chriſt having ſo much love to die for his people that they might not periſh, will after that leave them unto themſelves, that they may break the Covenant, and ſo periſh?

5. The prayers and interceſſion of Chriſt; the interceſſion of Chriſt is everlaſting; The prayers and Interceſſion of Chriſt.He ever lives to make interceſſion; he is our Advocate who appeares for us, and our Interceſſor who ſpeaks for us; and his prayers and interceſſion do prevail with the Father; Thou hearest me alwayes, Joh. 11. 42. Now you may read of four Petitions which Chriſt did put up for his, for their conſtancy and perſeverance in the Covenant. Luke 22. 32. I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not. Joh. 14. 16. I will pray the Father, and he ſhall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. Joh. 17. 11. Holy Father, keep through thine own Name thoſe that thou haſt given me. Ver. 20. Neither pray I for theſe alone, but for them alſo which ſhall believe on me through their word. Joh. 17. 24. Father, I will that they alſo whom thou haſt given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou haſt given me, before the foundation of the world.

6. Chriſts promiſes and preparations, and what are theſe? Rom. 8. 1. Th…re is Chriſts promiſes and preparations.no condemnation to them that are in Chriſt Jeſus. Mark 16. 16. He that believeth ſhall be ſaved. John 3. 16. Whoſoever believeth in him ſhall n…t periſh, but have eternal life. John 14. 2. In my Fathers houſe are many Manſions, I go to prepare a place for you.

7. I might adde to all theſe the work of Chriſt on the hearts of believers, in deſtroying The work of Chriſt on the hearts of believers.the works of the devil, in crucifying of their luſts, in healing of their natures, in quickening of their graces, in conquering of temptations, in drawing out their affections, &c.

8. The titles of Chriſt. 1. Our Rock. 2. Our life. 3. Our peace. 4. Our hope. The Titles of Chriſt.5. Our Shepherd. 6. Our Father. 7. Our friend. 8. Our Brother. 9. Our Head. 10. Our Husband. 11. Our King. 12. Our Saviour.

p. 156Verily the Covenant muſt needs be everlaſting 'twixt us and our God, who have ſuch a Chriſt ſo engaged for us, ſo mediating for us, ſo ſtrictly united to us, ſo exceedingly loving of us, ſo continually watchful, and careful, and helpful, ever loving, ever praying, ever helping, and reſolved to ſave us.

3. A third Argument to demonſtrate the everlaſtingneſſe of the Covenant, ſhall From the Spirit of God, which every one hath who is in Covenant with God.be taken from the Spirit of God, which every one hath who is in Covenant with God; Ezek. 36. 27. I will put my Spirit within you.

Now there are ten works which the Spirit of God doth for all the people of God.

1. He doth change their hearts; 2 Cor. 3. 18. We all beholding as in a glaſſe the glory of the Lord, are changed into the ſame Image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2. He doth mortifie their ſinful luſts; Rom. 8. 13. If ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body.

3. He makes known the things of God unto them, and teacheth them all things; 1 Cor. 2. 10. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit. 1 Joh. 2. 27. Teacheth you of all things.

4. He doth powerfully enable them for all the works of obedience. Ezekiel 36. 27. I will put my Spirit within you, and cauſe you to walk in my Statutes, and you ſhall keep my judgements, and do them.

5. He doth dwell in them. Rom. 8. 11. and he dwells in them for ever. Joh. 14. 17. and dwelling in them, he makes them a fit habitation for God, Epheſ. 2. 22.

6. He doth guid and lead them. Joh. 16. 13. The Spirit of truth, he will guid you into all truth. Rom. 8. 14. As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God.

7. He doth ſustain or uphold them. Pſal. 51. 12. Ʋphold me with thy free Spirit.

8. He helps them in their infirmities, Romans 8. 26. and ſupplies them, Phil. 1. 19.

9. He beares witneſſe that they are the children of God; and if children, then heires; Heires of God, and joynt Heires with Chriſt, Rom. 8. 16, 17.

10. He Seals them unto the day of Redemption. Eph. 4. 30. and moreover abides in their hearts; he is the earneſt of their inheritance, untill the Redemption of the purchaſed poſſeſſion.

4. A fourth Argument to demonſtrate the everlaſtingneſſe of the Covenant From ſome conſiderations in the people of God. They are born again of incorruptible ſeed. Partakers of the divine nature. They are the houſe built upon the Rock. They are delivered from the power of darkneſſe. Their hearts are ſet on God, and only on him.'twixt God and his people, ſhall have reſpect to ſome conſiderations in the people of God.

1. They are born again; not of corruptible ſeed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever, 1 Pet. 1. 23.

2. They are partakers of the divine nature, 2 Pet. 1. 4. and of the life of Chriſt, 2 Cor. 4. 11.

3. They are the houſe built upon the Rock, which fell not, becauſe it was builded upon a Rock, Mat. 7. 25. and that Rock is Chriſt, who is a ſure foundation, Iſa. 38. 16.

4. They are delivered from the power of darkneſſe, and tranſlated into the Kingdome of Chriſt, Coloſſians 1. 13. And his Kingdome is an everlaſting Kingdome; unto the Sonne he ſaith, Thy Throne is for ever and ever, Heb. 1. 8.

5. Their hearts are ſuperlatively ſet on God, and only on him; Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none that I deſire upon earth beſides thee; God is my portion for ever, Pſal. 73. 25, 26.

p. 1576. They are ſtrenghthened with might by his Spirit, and rooted, and grounded in They are ſtrengthened with might. They are the Pillars in the Temple of God. They are the inheritance of God.love, Epheſ. 3. 16, 17.

7. They are the Pillars in the Temple of God, and ſhall go no more out, Revelations 3. 12.

8. They are the inheritance of God, his portion, his peculiar treaſure, and purchaſed with the blood of Chriſt, 1 Pet. 1. 19. He would never pay ſo dear a price for them, and then put them off; Iſa. 49. 25. And Iſrael mine Inheritance. Zach. 2. 12. The Lord ſhall inherit Judah his portion. Deut. 32. 9. The Lords portion is his people, Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. Pſamle 135. 4. The Lord hath choſen Jacob unto himſelf, and Iſrael for his peculiar treaſure.

9. The commands and wayes, and communions with God, are no burdans to them; The commands of God are not burdenſome, but delightful to thē.not grievous, becauſe they are born of God and love him; 1 John 5. 3. But pleaſing and delightful. The Law of God is written in their hearts, Jer. 31. 33. Pſal. 119. 16. I will delight my ſelf in thy Statutes. Ver. 24. Thy Teſtimonies are my delight. Cant. 2. 3. I ſate down under his ſhadow with great delight, and his fruit was ſweet unto my taſte.

10. They hate evil, Pſal. 97. 10. and loath their abominations, Ezekiel They hate evil.36. and have crucified the fleſh, with the luſts and affections thereof, Galations 5.

11. They are a people who live by faith, and are much in prayer, that God They live by faith, and are much in prayer.would work all his works in them and for them, that he would not leave them, nor forſake them; that he would preſerve and uphold, and confirm, and ſtabliſh them unto the end. They work out their own ſalvation with feare and trembling.

2. The reaſon why the Covenant which God makes with his people, is an everlaſting Reaſons of it. In reſpect of God.Covenant, and ſhall be ſo.

1. There are reaſons for this in reſpect of God.

1. His Wiſdome hath contrived this Covenant in a way of everlaſtingneſſe, His wiſdome.which appeares in three particulars. 1. He layes the foundation of it not upon our ſelves, but Chriſt; not on our will and power, but on the power and ſufficiency of Jeſus Chriſt. 2. He engages himſelf for himſelf, and for his people, to keep them unto himſelf, and from falling, and to continue them to be his people for ever; not only to give them grace, but to preſerve that grace; not only to beginne a good work, but alſo to finiſh it. 3. He promiſeth mercy to pardon the ſins of his people, and grace to heal their back-ſlidings.

None of theſe were in the Covenant of works, and therefore that laſted not; but all theſe are in the Covenant of grace, and therefore it is everlaſting.

2. His purpoſe; his purpoſe in making of this Covenant was to exalt, and glorifie, His purpoſe.and magnifie the greatneſſe of his love, and the riches of his grace and mercy unto his people. Now there are foure things which magnifie God in theſe. Firſt, his graciouſneſſe, freely to make us to be his people. A ſecond is his goodneſſe, in the plentiful bleſſing of his people. And thirdly his faithfulneſſe, that he will ſurely bleſſe his people. And fourthly his everlaſtingneſse, that he will never forſake his people, and never will turn away from doing of them good.

Why, this exalts his mercy indeed that it endures for ever; and his love indeed that it continues for ever; and his grace indeed, that as it is free, ſo it is everlaſting.In reſpect of his people. The everlaſtingneſſe of the Covenant, is a juſt reaſon of perfect thankfulneſſe

2. There are reaſons for this in respect of his people. I will mention a few of them.

1. The everlaſtingneſſe of the Covenant, is a juſt reaſon of full and perfect thankfulneſſe; Pſal. 100. 4. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his Courts with praiſe; Be thankful unto him, and bleſs his Name. Verſe 5. For the Lord p. 158is good, his mercy is everlasting. Pſal. 136. 1. O give thanks unto the Lord, for h… is good, for his mercy endureth for ever.

2. His people have cauſe now to truſt on him for ever. Iſa. 26. 4. Truſt ye in His people have now cauſe to truſt in him for ever.the Lord for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting ſtrength. Pſal. 62. 8. Truſt in him at all times, ye people, pour out your heart before him, God is a refuge for us, Selah.

Ʋſe 1 Is the Covenant (which God makes with his people) an everlaſting Covenant? then that opinion is very falſe, which delivers out unto us ſuch a Covenant of grace as is mutable, and alterable, and may be broken off, and ceaſe between God For confutation of that opinion, that the Covenant is mutable, and alterable.and his people.

That a man may be made a child of God, and yet may become the child of the Divel; that he may be graffed into Chriſt, and yet may be broken off from Chriſt; that he may have true faith and grace, and yet he may loſe true faith and grace; that he may finde love and mercy from God, and yet may ſo ſinne, as actually to forfeit (and that for ever) all the love and mercy of God. Certainly this is a very ſad aſſertion, that any perſon ſhould be tranſlated from death to life, that he ſhould be delivered from the power of Satan, and tranſlated into the Kingdome of Chriſt, that he ſhould be effectually called, and become a believer, and thereupon a Sonne of God, and heire of glory; that he ſhould for a while believe and rejoyce in his God, and be ſealed with the holy Spirit of promiſe, and yet upon a ſudden (notwithſtanding all the love and promiſes, and engagements of God unto him in Covenant) his Sun ſhould ſet at noon-day, he and his God ſhould part and be utter enemies again, that he ſhould caſt off God from being his God: and God ſhould forſake and caſt him off from being any of his people; and as it is a ſad opinion, ſo it is an opinion utterly inconſiſtent with this truth of the everlaſtingneſse of the Covenant of grace. A relation which ceaſeth to be, that relation is not everlaſting; and that agreement or Covenant which is broken and fruſtrated, that Covenant is not everlaſting; to be temporary, and to be everlaſting, are queſtionleſſe, inconſiſtent; neither will that evaſion of a temporarineſſe on our part, and everlaſtingneſſe of the Covenant on Gods part, any way patch up the buſineſſe, becauſe there is no ſuch Covenant of grace which God hath made with his people. 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. Ver. 32. Not according to the Covenant that I made with their fathers, in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the Land of Egypt, which my Covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, ſaith the Lord; Mark the place, God makes no ſuch Covenant as ſhall be broken on our part, but ſuch a Covenant as ſhall hold and be kept on our part, as well as on his part; verſe 33. But this ſhall be the Covenant that I will make with the houſe of Iſrael; after thoſe dayes, ſaith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and will be their God, and they ſhall be my people, &c. And cap. 32. 40. I will put my fear into their hearts, that they ſhall not depart from me.

The principal (if not the onelyonly) ground of this breaking and falling opinion, is a ſuppoſition of a power in the will of man, according to the pleaſure and uſe whereof, the Covenant of Gods grace muſt ſtand or fall, muſt continue or break off.

And to ſpeak plainly according to the Arminian doctrine, all the ſtability, and ſtate of a ſinners ſalvation, is made to depend upon the will of a ſinner; the election of God, the converſion of a ſinner, the beneficial Redemption by Chriſt, the perſeverance in Chriſt and grace; all of theſe do lie at the mercy of the will of a poor ſinner; and truly I muſt confeſſe, that if the Covenant of grace had no ſurer foundation then mans w…ll, it may quickly ceaſe to be an everlaſting Covenant. But we read of other and better foundations (for the perpetuity of this Covenant) th…n mans will; we read that it is grounded on the p. 159immutable counſel of God, and on his abſolute promiſes, and on his Oath, and on the blood of Chriſt confirming and eſtabliſhing of it, and on his power, and interceſſion, and preſence, and love, and Spirit, and faithfulneſſe.

But as to the opinion of theſe men (which indeed is none other, but that of the To ſtate the ſtability of the Covenant upon the will of man,Pelagians, and Papiſts, and Arminians) Give me favour to ſpeak a few words.

1. It is very improbable that God would make a new Covenant with us, and ſtate the ſtability and everlaſtingneſſe of it upon the will of us ſinners; for hereby,

1. There ſhould be no difference (as to the ground of ſafety and certainty) Is very improbable.'twixt this Covenant of grace and that of works; for if Adam had improved the power and liberty of his will, he had continued, and had enjoyed the life which God promiſed unto him. Now wherein doth the grace of this Covenant exceed the other of Works, if eternal life be left unto the pleaſure of our will, as formerly it was to Adams?

2. Nay it ſhould be harder, and more unſafe for us to be in the Covenant of grace, than it was for Adam to be in the Covenant of works; becauſe in that condition Adams will was created with a perfect righteouſneſſe, and conformity, and ſufficiency to have continued in that Covenant; but we are fallen with him, and have loſt that perfectly inherent righteouſneſſe; and the grace which comes in the room of it, is very weak and imperfect; ſo that as to the perpetuating of the Covenant, we ſhould be extreamly diſadvantaged in compariſon of our imperfect holineſſe, with his perfect righteouſneſſe; and thus we by grace ſhould have only a leſs power and ſtrength to continue in Covenant with God, than Adam had.

3. God undertakes more for our part in this Covenant, than he did for Adam in that Covenant; for there he did give a ſufficiency of righteouſneſſe, and ſo left man unto himſelf; but here he doth not only call us to be his people, and give us grace to make us to be ſo, but alſo promiſeth and engageth his own power, and his Chriſt, and the Spirit of grace to aſſiſt and uphold, and preſerve, and confirm, and ſtabliſh us unto the end.

Surely then it is not probable that he would leave the iſſue of ſo much mercy and happineſſe to the power and ſole pleaſure of our own will.

4. That God ſhould glory ſo much in making this Covenant with his people, and pleaſe to ſpeak ſo much of his great kindneſſe, and riches of grace and mercy, and of what he hath done, and will do for them; and yet when all comes to all, it is no more but this, if your will pleaſeth, you ſhall enjoy all this.

2. It is very incongruous to make the Covenant thus to depend (for the laſtingneſſe Is very incongruous.of it) on the power and pleaſure of mans will; it would rob Gods grace of all the glory for our abiding in the Covenant; for as the ſole blame would be ours, if we did break the Covenant; ſo the ſole praiſe and honour muſt be ours, if we (by our own wills) do continue and perpetuate the Covenant; God will give this, and will give that if we continue ſtedfaſt in his Covenant; and that ſtedfaſtneſſe depends only upon the power and pleaſure of his will (God, ſay they, no where promiſeth that gift abſolutely, but we muſt look for that in our ſelves) And I beſeech you now tell me, where the glory of our perſeverance unto glory muſt light; ſhall the grace of God have it? no, it is not the fruit or work of Gods grace determining; then the man muſt have it, who did ſo manage and ſtirre, and improve his will as to hold out to the end; and thus by placing the laſtingneſſe of the Covenant upon the power of mans will, the creature gets away the glory from the Creatour; and Gods grace which ſhould p. 160reign in this Covenant, muſt loſe the Crown unto the ſuppoſed power and pleaſure of mans will.

3. It is very uncomfortable to ground the laſtingneſſe of the Covenant upon It is very uncomfortable.the power and pleaſure of mans will; for hence it will neceſſarily follow, that you cannot (till the very laſt minute of your breathing) come to any certain concluſion of your ſtate in grace, nor of your portion in glory; Why ſo? becauſe it is in the power of your own will, whither you will ſtand or fall, hold faſt, or break off relation with God; it may be you will, it may be you will not; perhaps your own corruptions may be too ſtrong for you, or Satans temptations, or ſomething from the world, and then your hearts fall off from God, and you are loſt for ever; ſo that it is impoſſible (by this doctrine) ever to have any ſettled comfort, fixed peace, or ſtedfaſt hope; becauſe all the happineſſe of your eſtate is but conditional upon the good behaviour of your own wills, which is very changeable.

Obj. But therefore we will pray the more to God, that our wills may not be led aſide from him, but keep faſt to him and his wayes.

Sol. True, and this is indeed a direct courſe to ſtand faſt in the Covenant; but then conſider, that this courſe will break the neck of that opinion which makes the laſtingneſſe of the Covenant to depend upon the ſole power and pleaſure of mans will.

For when you pray to God for his grace, and his ſtrength, and his continued preſence, that you may (thereby) continue with him in Covenant, you do herein deny your own power and ſufficiency, and you do acknowledge that you are ſtrong in his ſtrength, and not in your own might; and conſequently that the laſtingneſſe of the Covenant doth not depend on the power of the will, but upon the preſence, and power, and aſſiſtance of his grace, and ſo fall in with us, that the Covenant is everlaſting; not in reſpect of mans will, but in reſpect of Gods grace.

4. I will adde one conſideration more; it is not poſſible (I ſpeak ex hypotheſi, It is impoſſiblein reference to the Will, and Power, and Truth of God revealed in the Covenant) that the people of God really brought into Covenant with him, ſhould break off the Covenant with him, and ſo make it mutable and voyd on their part; Suppoſe but this, that the Covenant ſhall not faile nor ceaſe on Gods part (that God will be but true to performe what he hath promiſed unto his people) I then affirme that it is not poſſible that the Covenant ſhould faile on our part; my reaſon is this, Becauſe the full performance of the Covenant on Gods part, doth eſſentially and naturally include the performance of it on our part, and prevents all breaking and voiding of the Covenant.

God in this Covenant doth promiſe unto his people,

1. That he will be their God for ever.

2. That he will never caſt them off.

3. That he will never forſake them.

4. That nothing ſhall ſeparate from his love.

5. That he will never turn away from them to do them good.

6. That if his people tranſgreſſe, he will viſit their tranſgreſſion with the rod, and their iniquities with ſtripes; nevertheleſſe his loving kindneſſe he will not take away from them, nor ſuffer his faithfulneſſe to fail.

7. That he will be merciful to their tranſgreſſion, and will heal their backſſiding.

8. That he will give them his Spirit which ſhall cauſe them to walk in his Statutes, and to do them.

9. That he will give them an heart to feare him for ever, and that he will put his feare into their hearts, that they ſhall not depart from him.

p. 16110. That he will confirm his people unto the end, and that he will performe or perfect the good work which he hath begun in them, untill the day of Jeſus Chriſt: and that he will preſerve their whole ſoul and body blameleſs unto the coming of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.

Now I ſay, grant me but this ſuppoſition, That God will be faithful to make good theſe promiſes unto his people (which the Scripture peremptorily ſaith he will, and that it is impoſſible for him to lie, Heb. 6. 18. and God who cannot lie hath promiſed, Titus 1. 2.) it will hence neceſſarily follow, That it is impoſſible the Covenant ſhould be broken, and made void by the people of God: For upon the performance of theſe promiſes on Gods part, the Covenant comes to be performed on his peoples part.

Object. I know not well what can be replyed to take off the edge of this Argument, unleſſe we think to ward the blow by the diſtinction of abſolute and conditional promiſes. But

Sol. 1. If I miſtake not, theſe men will not acknowledge any promiſes of God (unto us) for abſolute promiſes, but all of them muſt be conditional, and reſpective to the will of man.

2. Secondly, what availe any conditional promiſes as to this caſe? what room or place have they here, as if the Covenant ſhould be everlaſting, if it were everlaſting? or the people of God ſhould ſtill continue in Covenant, if they did continue in Covenant, or as if God would give them an heart to fear him for ever, if they did fear him for ever! or that they ſhould never depart from him, if they never did depart from him.

This Tautology is worſe then his, Sub montibus illis Inquit erant & erant ſub montibus illis.

And thus by what I have delivered, it doth manifeſtly appear that the Covenant of Grace is not an alterable, fading, ceaſing Covenant, but everlaſting, both in reſpect of God, and alſo in reſpect of the people of God.

Object. But yet ſome are afraid that ſuch a certain everlaſtingneſs of the Covenant would make the people of God too ſecure and preſumptuous in ventering to ſin againſt God! ſeeing that the Covenant ſhall ſtill hold twixt them and God.

Sol. I anſwer, Surely theſe men are more afraid then hurt, and plainly diſcover their ignorance concerning that heavenly frame of ſpirit in the people of God, and alſo of the nature and vertue of heavenly certainty and aſſurance.

The people of God have the laws of God written in their hearts, and their hearts are circumciſed to love the Lord their God, and they know their own ſelf weakneſs and inſufficiency, and are taught to fear the Lord and his goodneſs, and to live by faith, and to be watchful in Prayer, that ſo they may be preſerved from every evil way. Yea, and the more they are aſſured of the immutability of Gods love, and of their relation unto him, the more are their hearts knit in love unto him, the love of Chriſt conſtrains them, 2 Cor. 5. 14. and the more conſcienciouſly tender are they to walk in godly fear and reverence, and in all well-pleaſing before him, and to anſwer everlaſting love with everlaſting love.

Uſe 2 I now proceed to a ſecond Uſe from this adjunct or property of the Covenant. Is the Covenant which God makes with his people an everlaſting Covenant? Then Then happy are the people who are in this Covenant.happy are the people who are in this Covenant.

Beloved, It is everlaſtingneſs which makes hell to be hell, and heaven to be heaven: As the miſery of miſery lies in the laſtingneſs, and everlaſtingneſs of it, (and it will be thus dreadful, and it will be thus for ever and ever) ſo the happineſs of happineſs lies in the everlaſtingneſs of it. This God is our God for ever and ever. This makes the enjoyment of God to be a moſt happy enjoyment: His mercy endures for ever, he loves us with an everlaſting love; O what happineſs is this to be the children of love, and to be the people of mercy for ever? Jeſus Chriſt yeſterday, and to day, and the ſame for ever; this is happineſs indeed, that Jeſus Chriſt p. 162is ours, and that we are his for everlaſting! everlaſtingneſs doth include in it three Everlaſtingneſs includes in it A privation of a contrary eſtate and relation for ever.things.

1. One is a privation of a contrary eſtate, and of a contrary Relation for ever: For if the eſtate or relation be changed, it cannot be everlaſting: and this ſhews the ſingular comfort and happineſs of the people of God, that their eſtate and relation ſhall never fall into a contrary eſtate and relation. They are in the eſtate of life, and they ſhall never fall into the eſtate of death; They are in the eſtate of ſalvation, and they ſhall never fall into the eſtate of condemnation. They are the children of God, and the members of Chriſt, and they ſhall never paſs into a relation contrary to this: Becauſe every everlaſting eſtate and relation is a perpetual abſence or privation of a contrary eſtate.

2. A ſecond is, a continuation of the ſame being and relation: for whatſoever is A continuation of the ſame being and relation.everlaſting that muſt continue, it muſt not be broken off? if it be broken off, it is not everlaſting.

O what a happineſs is this that your Sun never ſets; that your day ſtill continues, your God ſtill continues, and ſtill continues to be your God! your God ſtill loves you, and his love ſtill continues towards you; Jeſus Chriſt ſtill continues, and he continues ſtill to be your Redemption, your Righteouſneſs, your Peace, and your ſalvation.

3. A third is, an endleſſe perpetuity: you can never come to the end of everlaſtingneſs: An endleſs perpetuity.you may ſee an end of your worldly riches (they flie away) and you may ſee an end of your friends (they die away) and you may ſee an end of your lives (man dies and waſteth away, and man gives up the Ghoſt, and where is he? Job 14. 10.) But you ſhall never ſee an end of the everlaſting Covenant: Time is the meaſure of all the world, but everlaſtingneſs is the meaſure of the Covenant of Grace; as long as everlaſtingneſs laſts, & as far as everlaſtingneſs goes, ſo long doth the Covenant laſt, and ſo far doth the Covenant extend. Everlaſtingneſs hath no end, and the everlaſting Covenant hath no end: why! This heightens, and this ſweetens the Covenant of grace! God is our God, and we are his people to everlaſting, without end: Though afflictions fall in, though loſſes, though perſecutions, though death it ſelf, yet the Covenant goes on and laſts. God is your portion for ever, he hath married you to himſelf for ever in loving-kindneſs, and mercy, and judgment, and faithfulneſs.

O Chriſtian, what canſt thou have more then to have God to be thy God? O Chriſtian! what wouldeſt thou have more, then to have God to be thy God for ever? A ſure enjoyment, a perfect enjoyment, and an everlaſting enjoyment: Theſe are the utmoſt of thy deſires.

Uſe 3 Is the Covenant an everlaſting Covenant? This may then ſerve as a Cordial unto the people of God, eſpecially in two caſes. 1. One of fear of falling away from God. 2. Another of deſertions, when they queſtion whether God be not fallen This may ſerve as a cordial to Gods people. Againſt their fears of falling away from God. Object.away from them.

1. The everlaſtingneſſe of the Covenant is or ſhould be a cordial unto the people of God, againſt their fears of falling away from God.

How often do we hear theſe complaints; and doubts, and miſgivings? Indeed the Lord hath ſhewed me great mercy; He did not leave me to my ſinful heart and life, he did pity and call me, and brought me in to Chriſt, and made me one of his people, who aforetime was none of his people! But I ſtill finde ſuch a body of ſin, ſuch a law in my members warring againſt the Law of mind, ſo many ſinful corruptions within, and ſo many ſtrong and violent temptation without, and ſo much weakneſs and inſufficency in my ſelf, that fear I ſhall never hold out unto the end, I ſhall one day faile, and looſe all my intereſt in God, and in Chriſt, and grace.Conſider

To this ſad complaint I would briefly ſpeak three things.There is a twofold fear.

1. There is a twofold fear: There is a a fear of unbelief, and this is a vexing, p. 163and diſtreſſing, and diſabling fear, it looſens our confidence in God, and in his A fear of unbelief, this is to be reſiſte….promiſes: It is a naughty fear, and beware of it, and reſiſt it, and bewaile it: And there is a fear of tenderneſs and jealouſie, in regard of the Natural deceitfulneſſe of our own hearts, and of the ſupernatural weakneſſe of our own ſtrength, this is a A fear of tenderneſs and jealouſie, is good.good fear; and bleſſed is the man that thus feareth alwayes: The weak child feareth, and thereupon cries out to the Parent to take him, to hold him, to ſupport him, and by his fear of falling he is preſerved from falling. So the child of God fears, and thereupon he cries out unto his God! Lord help thy ſervant! forſake me not, make haſte to deliver me! keep me, who cannot keep my ſelf; eſtabliſh my goings, Thou haſt promiſed to keep and preſerve the feet of thy Saints; This fear is that fear which God hath promiſed to put into the hearts of his people that they ſhall not depart from him; And indeed this fear is their ſtrength; the more of this fear, the more ſafe they are. Let him that standeth take heed lest he fall; Thou ſtandeſt by faith, Be not high-minded but fear, work out your ſalvation with fear and trembling?

2. Your ſtanding or continuing in the Covenant, doth not depend upon your own Our ſtanding doth not depend upon our own ſtrength.ſtrength, nor doth God leave you unto that, but it doth depend on his ſtrength, and on his power, Epheſ. 3. 16. That he would grant you (according to the riches of his grace) to be ſtrengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man, Mic. 4. 5. We will walk in the Name of the Lord our God for ever and ever, Zach. 10. 12. I will ſtrengthen them in the Lord, and they ſhall walk up and down in his name, ſaith the Lord: Though your ſtrength be inſufficient, yet the ſtrength of your God and of your Chriſt is ſufficient for you. 1 Pet. 1. 5. We are kept by the power of God through faith unto ſalvation. 2 Cor. 12. 9. My grace is ſufficient for thee, for my ſtrength is made perfect in weakneſs.

3. The Lord is able to keep you from falling, and to preſerve you faultleſſe before The Lord is able to keep you from falling.the preſence of his glory with exceeding joy, Jude ver. 24. Nay and he will keep you from falling: Wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, Pſal. 56. 13. Thou haſt delivered my feet from falling, Pſal. 116. 8. He will keep the feet of his ſaints, 1 Sam. 2. 9. When I ſaid my foot ſlippeth, thy mercy, O Lord, held me up, Pſalm 94. 18.

2. The everlaſtingneſſe of the Covenant ſhould be a Cordial to the people of God in the time of deſertions, when they are apt to queſtion whether God be not Againſt deſertion.fallen off from them, and hath forſaken them? But conſult theſe Promiſes, and you may finde theſe fears removed, Iſa. 49. 14. Zion ſaid, The Lord hath forſaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. ver. 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 I will not forget thee. ver. 16. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands, Thy walls are continually bef…re me. Iſa. 54. 7. For a ſmall moment have I forſaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee. ver. 8. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlaſting kindneſs will I have mercy on thee, ſaith the Lord thy Redeemer. ver. 10. The mountains ſhall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindneſs ſhall not depart from thee, neither ſhall the Covenant of my peace be removed, ſaith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.

Uſe 4 Is the Covenant which God makes with his people an everlaſting Covenant? Then bleſſe God (and not your ſelves) for your ſtanding, and for your continuing inCovenant with him.Bleſſe God and not your ſelves for your ſtanding in Covenant with him.

There are three things for which we ſhould bleſſe God. 1. For his reſtraining grace. 2. For his converting grace. 3. For his confirming grace, that he will, and doth keep you ſtedfaſt to himſelf in Covenant.

O beloved! we could never keep our ſelves, nor eſtabliſh our ſelves; were it not for the goodneſs, and the power, and the love, and the faithfulneſs of our God, we ſhould break with God, and turn aſide from him, and leave all: truly p. 164it is almoſt a wonder that the people of God do hold out in keeping Covenant with God, conſidering

1. The daily and frequent diſcouragements which they meet with in the world, the continual ſcorns, and threats, and perſecutions, and affronts to their perſons and godlineſſe.

2. The manifold allurements, ſnares and temptations unto ſin, and ſinful wayes, by wicked example, and promiſes, and hopes, and connivencies: wickedneſſe in judgement, in practice, is a general infection; the common aire is infected with this plague; it is therefore the more hard to keep our health.

3. The malice of Satan and his power and ſubtilty is exceeding great: he deſires to ſift and winnow us as wheat, he threw down the third part of the Stars: he helped to break the firſt Covenant: There is not any one of the people of God but may ſay of him as David of his enemies, Pſal. 118. 13. Thou haſt thruſt ſore at me that I might fall, but the Lord helped me.

4. How ſtrongly ſome of the people of God have been hazarded in the laſting part of the Covenant? Solomon, Peter, Aſa, inſomuch as many from their falls have erected the Doctrine of the Apoſtacy of the Saints.

5. Thoſe many remaining Principles for inconſtancy and failing: as ſpiritual pride, unbelief, hypocryſie, and worldlineſs, much of every one of theſe ſtill in our hearts.

6. Adde to all theſe the exceeding weakneſſe in all our graces. How little faith, how weak love, and how apt to be ſhaken, and offended! Truely we muſt acknowledge that what we are, we are by the grace of God; and that if we be ſtrong, we are ſtrong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, and that it is the Lord who keeps us by the ſtrength of the Covenant to continue ſteadfaſt and faithfull to the end, &c.

Uſe 5 Let none abuſe this ſweet heavenly truth of the everlaſtingneſs of the Covenant twixt God and his people; as therefore to venture upon great tranſgreſſions, and ſay God will raiſe me again, and ſhew me mercy again, for his covenant laſts for Abuſe not this ſweet and heavenly truth.ever, Let me do what I liſt, &c.

To ſuch I would preſent a few words.

1. That of the Apoſtle in Rom. 2. 2. Where ſin abounded, grace did much more abound. Pſal. 130. 4. There is forgiveneſs with thee that thou mayeſt be feared. Rom. 6. 1. What ſhall we ſay then? ſhall we continue in ſin that grace may abound? ver. 2, God forbid. This were indeed to turn the grace of God into wantonneſſe, as the Spider turns the ſweet juice into poiſon.

2. That of the Apoſtle to the Church of the Epheſians, Epheſ. 4. 20. But you have not ſo learned Chriſt. verſe 21. if ſo be that you have heard him, and have been taught by him as the truth is in Jeſus.

3. Though the Covenant doth laſt twixt God and his people for ever, yet there are weighty Reaſons for them to take heed of ſinning againſt their God.

1. They do exceedingly diſhonour their God by their ſinning, and cauſe his Name to be blaſphemed, as Nathan charged it on David, 2 Sam. 12. 14.

2. They make an unkind return to their moſt kind God: Do you thus requite the Lord, O fooliſh people and unwiſe: doth this anſwer his love and goodneſſe to you, to chuſe you for his people before other people?

3. They do exceedingly grieve their God and Father. This, that the people of his grace ſhould deal thus with him, is a grief unto him, as he was grieved with that generation forty years.

4. Though the Lord will not caſt off his people when they do tranſgreſs, yet he will viſit their ſins with ſtripes, Pſal. 89. 32. And thoſe ſtripes may be very ſharp and heavy, as David found them; and though David did not break his neck by his fall, yet David brake his bones, and a wounded Spirit who can bear? Prov. 18. 14.

p. 1655. Though the union continue twixt God and his people, yet (upon their great tranſgreſſions) the comfortable communion will be interrupted and darkned, they ſhall loſe the joy of their ſalvation, Pſal. 51. 12.

6. Though God will raiſe his people again, yet it will cost them dear for the cure of their wounds and bruiſes, and to put their bones in joynt again. They ſhall know that it is an evil and bitter thing thus to ſin against a God in Covenant, &c. It may coſt them many tears, and fears, and prayers, and conflicts, and waitings, &c.

Uſe 6 Is the Covenant which God makes with his people an everlaſting Covenant? Then let all the people of God be ſo wiſe as to uſe all the means to continue the Uſe all means to continue in the Covenant.Covenant in an everlaſtingneſſe on their part: God worketh our laſtingneſs in the Covenant by means: You finde in Scripture that Spiritual means are ſubordinate to Spiritual ends, and that certainty of iſſues doth take in a neceſſity of means. The Covenant is everlaſting; and that it may be ſo, therefore doth God put his people upon ſeveral wayes and duties to perpetuate the Covenant, and to aſſure themſelves it ſhall be ſo.

There are ten things which if you carefully heed, you may be confident of the everlaſtingneſs of the Covenant.

1. Keep up an humble fear; I will put my fear into their hearts, Jer. 32. 40. Bleſſed is the man that feareth alwayes, Prov. 28. 14. Work out your ſalvation with fear and trembling, Phil. 2. 12. Fear your wants, crave ſupply, and grow in faith.

2. Be adding of grace to grace, and give all diligence to make your Calling and Election ſure; for if you do theſe things you ſhall never fall, 2 Peter 1. 5, 10.

3. Strive after and keep up an exceeding love of your God, a ſuperlative love; This will keep you faſt: Saw you him whom my ſoule loveth? I found him whom my ſoule loveth, I held him faſt, and would not let him go, Cant. 3. 3.

4. Keep your hearts with all diligence: Look to them, watch them ſtill, be mending of them, and minding of them; unite or joyn my heart unto thee ſaid David. Let them be much in meditating of the goodneſs of your God; love of your God, kindneſſe of your God. Take delight in God alone, and in his wayes, as the Wife in the Husband.

5. Be conſcientiouſly diligent in attending upon the publick Ordinances. 1 Theſ. 5. 19. Quench not the Spirit, verſe 20. Deſpiſe not Prophecying. Acts 20. 32. I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them that are ſanctified: The Ordinances are your ſtrength. They 1. Give you a ſight of Gods will and wayes. 2. Keep up tenderneſs in conſcience. 3. Open more fully the love of God unto you. 4. Quicken your hearts. 5. Increaſe your faith. 6. Heale your corruptions. 7. Convey help from Chriſt. 8. Direct and eſtabliſh your goings.

6. Be much in prayer, that you may be kept and held faſt by God unto the end, Pſal. 119. 8. I will keep thy Precepts, O forſake me not utterly. Verſe 33. Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy Statutes, and I ſhall keep them unto the end. verſe 116. Ʋphold me according to thy Word that I may live. verſe 117. Hold thou me up, and I ſhall be ſafe, and I will have reſpect unto thy ſtatutes continually.

7. Remember Jeſus Chriſt his love to you, his promiſe to you, and live by faith upon him: Take hold of his ſtrength, and then you ſhall walk up and down and not faint. Remember that he is the Authour and finiſher of your faith.

8. If you offend never ſo little, return ſpeedily to your God, and judge your ſelves, and ſue out for more grace, for more ſtrength, for more ſufficiency from Chriſt; let not any enmity live, humble your ſoules and make peace.

9. Beware of Seducing and Erroneous Dectrines, do not affect to hear them: Ceaſe my ſon, (Prov. 19. 27.) to hear the inſtruction that cauſeth to erre from the p. 166words of knowledge! Beware leſt you alſo being led away with the errour of the wicked, fall from your own ſtedfaſtneſſe, 2 Pet. 3. 17.

10. Get much experience of the exceeding love of God to you in Chriſt: Every day get a ſight of his gracious favour, and be often in the conſideration, 1. Of what he hath done for you. 2. What he is to you. 3. What he will beſtow on you.