Christ and the Covenant, Sermons · Sermon 3
The New Covenant of Grace opened. SERMON III.
Heb. 12. 24.
And to Jeſus the Mediator of the New Covena… and to the blood of ſprinkling, that ſpeaketh bett… things then that of Abel.
IN this Scripture you have the difference b… tween the Law and the Goſpel: The exce… lency of the ſtate of the Church under t… New Teſtament, above the ſtate of the Chu… under the Old Teſtament; for ſaith the Apoſtle … the 18. verſ. Ye are not come unto the Mount th… might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor un… blackneſs and darkneſs, and tempeſt, and the ſound of trumpet, and the voice of words: But ye are come u… to Mount Sion, verſ. 22. and unto the City of the li… ing God, the heavenly Jeruſalem, and to an innum… rable company of Angels, &c.
So that firſt, look how much Mount Sion dot… excell Mount Sinai, — The City of the living Go… doth excell the Wilderneſs, — and the heavenl… Jeruſalem doth excell the Mountain that might b… touched, from whence the Law was given; … much doth our ſtate now exceed and excell that of the Jews.
And ſaith he, Ye are alſo come unto an innumerable company of Angels. The Law was given at Mount Sinai by the miniſtration of Angels: Look therefore how much our communion now with an innumerable company of Angels, doth exceed that miniſtration, which was by the miniſtration of Angels then, ſo much doth our Goſpel ſtate now exceed theirs.
And ye are alſo come to the general aſſembly, and Church of the firſt born. Look how much the Catholick Church, drawn out of all Nations, doth exceed the Jewiſh Synagogue, ſo much doth our Goſpel Church ſtate now exceed theirs.
And ye are come unto God the Judge of all. Look therefore how much the manifeſtation of God, as the Judge of all the world, doth exceed the manifeſtation of God as a Law-giver upon Mount Sinai unto the Nation of the Jews onelyonly, ſo much doth our Goſpel ſtate and Church exceed theirs.
And ye are come to the ſpirits of juſt men made perfect: — It is true in regard of the Saints in heaven, for we are fellow Citizens with the Saints there. — Or if you underſtand it of the ſpirits of juſt men made perfect with Goſpel perfection, by the imputation of the righteouſneſs of Chriſt, it is true: So that look as the ſtate of Heaven doth exceed the ſtate of Earth, and as Goſpel perfection doth exceed the imperfect ſtate of the Law, ſo doth the ſtate of the Church and Goſpel now exceed that of the Jews.
And ye are come to Jeſus the Mediator of the New Covenant, and to the blood of ſprinkling, that ſpeaketh better things then that of Abel. Look therefo… as Jeſus Chriſt the Mediator of the New Covena… exceeds Moſes the Mediator of the Old; — A… as the blood of Chriſt, the blood of ſprinkling, do… excell and exceed the blood of all ſacrifices in t… time of the Old Teſtament, ſo doth our Goſp… Church ſtate now exceed that of theirs.
I ſhall not run through all theſe differences, priviledges, only fall in with this 24 verſe.
And to Jeſus, that is, ye are come to Jeſus t… Mediator of the New Covenant, and to the blo… of ſprinkling, that is, ye are come to the blood ſprinkling, that ſpeaketh better things then that Abel. From which two Priviledges with the connection, I take up theſe Obſervations.
Obſerv. 1. That there is a New Covenant ſtrick… with the children of men.
2. That Jeſus is the Mediator of this New C… venant.
3. That now in theſe Goſpel times, we are … come to Moſes the Mediator of the Old, but un… Jeſus the Mediator of the New Covenant: And
4. That thus coming unto Jeſus the Mediat… of the New Covenant, we are alſo come unto t… blood of ſprinkling, that ſpeaketh better thing then that of Abel.
Doct. I ſhall begin with the firſt; There is new Covenant ſtricken with the children of me…
It was alwayes Gods way to deal with man i… the way of a Covenant; that is the moſt ſuitabl… to man, the moſt honourable for man, and the mo… amicable and friendly: from the beginning therefore ſo it was; no ſooner was man made, but Go… entred into Covenant with him, In the day th… thou eateſt thereof, thou ſhalt dye the death; — And then a Covenant he made with the World by Noah; — And then a Covenant he made with Abraham; — And then a Covenant he made with the Jews at Mount Sinai. It hath alwayes been Gods way to deal with man in the way of a Covenant, but now in theſe latter dayes he hath ſtricken a New Covenant with the children of men: A New Covenant will I make with the houſe of Iſrael ſaith the Lord, by way of promiſe, Jer. 31. — A New Covenant hath the Lord made with the houſe of Iſrael, by way of fullfilment and accompliſhment, Heb. 8. So that there is a New Covenant ſtricken with the children of men.
For the opening of which Argument:
1. We muſt enquire what this Covenant is.
2. Why, and upon what account it is called a New Covenant: And
3. What are the wayes and properties of this New Covenant.
4. Who are the Subjects of this Covenant, and perſons that God doth ſtrike this Covenant with.
5. We will a little inquire into the benefits thereof.
6. Labour to ſhew you, what a man ſhould do to get into Covenant with God; — and in caſe he be in Covenant with God, how he ſhould walk as becometh one that is in Covenant with the great God. Here is matter enough to diſcourſe on many exerciſes; but, though with difficulty, I ſhall diſpatch all in this one.
1. And firſt of all, if you aske me what this Covenant is, take this deſcription of the Covenant that now we are in.
It is that mutual agreement between God and Man, whereby God the Father doth ingage himſelf to ſhew mercy, love and kindneſs, to Chriſt an… to his Seed; Chriſt ingaging both for himſelf an… for his Seed, to be obedient unto God the Father.
Firſt, I ſay, it is a mutual agreement, and herein a Covenant differs from a Law. A Law properly is a commandment with penalty. No ſooner wa… man made, but he was under a Law, to be obedient unto God his Maker; and in caſe he broke it, God by the Law of Nature might puniſh him But then when God ſaid unto him, In the day tha… thou eateſt thereof, thou ſhalt dye the death, then God entered into Covenant, man accepting thereof. Th… Child is obliged by the Law of Nature to obey hi… Parents; yet this is no Covenant, but a law of Nature, for here is no agreement. But the Wife is obliged to obey her Husband, and this is a Covenant why? — becauſe it is by mutual agreement; So that I ſay, this Covenant, Firſt, is a mutual agreement between God and Man: But
2. It is that agreement whereby God the Father doth ingage himſelf to ſhew kindneſs, grace and mercy, to Chriſt and to his Seed.
Unto Chriſt himſelf he doth ingage, Iſa. 42. … the Lord have called thee in Righteouſneſs, and will bold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a Covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles. If thou wilt undertake the work of the Mediator, I do ingage and promiſe to thee (I the Lord have called thee in Righteouſneſs, and) I will hold thine hand, and I will keep thee.
And the Father doth ingage unto Chriſt, and his Seed too; for ſaith he unto Chriſt, If thy children forſake my Law, and walk not in my Judgements; If they break my Statutes, and keep not my Commandments, then will I viſit their tranſgreſſion with the Rod, and their iniquity with ſtripes; nevertheleſs, my loving kindneſs will I not utterly take away: which is plainly ſpoken unto Chriſt, as you read in the 89 Pſalm, from the 26. v. unto the 30. So that I ſay, it is that agreement whereby God the Father doth ingage himſelf to ſhew kindneſs, grace and mercy, unto Chriſt and his Seed.
On the other ſide, Chriſt ingages both for himſelf and for his Seed, to be obedient unto God the Father.
Chriſt ingages for himſelf, and therefore ſaith he in the 40. Pſalm, verſe 6. Sacrifice and Offering thou didſt not deſire, &c. Then ſaid I, Lo I come, in the Volume of the Book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God, yea, thy Law is within my heart. They are the words of Chriſt; Then ſaid I, that is, then promiſed I. Paulus Fagius obſerves, that the Hebrew hath no one proper word for Promiſe; but where God is ſaid to Promiſe, the word in the Hebrew is onelyonly ſo, God ſaid, God ſpake; And indeed if any man will take the pains to conſult the Hebrew, and our Engliſh Tranſlation together, he ſhall find it true. I'le give you ſome inſtances, and ſo paſs over, Deut. 1.11. The Lord God of your Fathers make you a thouſand times ſo many more as ye are, and bleſs you, as he hath promiſed you, Heb. as he hath ſaid. — So in the 1 Kings 8.56. Bleſſed be the Lord that hath given reſt unto his people Iſrael, according to all that he promiſed, Heb. according to all that he hath ſaid. — So in the 2 Chron. 6.10. The Lord therefore hath performed his word, that he hath ſpoken, for I am riſen up in the room of David my Father, an… am ſet on the Throne of Iſrael, as the Lord hat… promiſed, Heb. as the Lord hath ſaid. — So a… the 16. verſe, Now therefore O Lord God of Iſrael, keep with thy Servant David my Father, tha… which thou haſt promiſed him, Hebr. that whic… thou haſt ſaid to him. So here in the 40. Pſalm Then ſaid I, that is, then promiſed I, then ingage… I unto God the Father, ſaying, Lo I come, in th… the Volume of the Book it is written of me; her… Chriſt ingages for himſelf.
And he ingaged alſo for his Seed; therefore Pſ… 16. O my Soul, thou haſt ſaid unto the Lord, ſai… by way of promiſe, O my Lord, my goodneſs is no… for thee, but for the Saints that are in the earth, an… the excellent in whom is all my delight. And ſo ou… Saviour Chriſt promiſes to the Father in the 17. o… John; Therefore do I ſanctifie my ſelf, That the… alſo may be ſanctified. And if you look into the Hebrews, you ſhall find that Chriſt is called the Surety of the Covenant; Why? — becauſe he doth ingage for God the Father to perform to us, and he doth ingage for us, that we ſhall perform to God. So that do you aske what the Covenant is, plainly then it is, That mutual agreement between God an… man, whereby God the Father doth ingage himſelf to ſhew kindneſs, love and mercy, to Chriſt and his Seed, Chriſt ingaging both for himſelf, and for his Seed to be obedient unto God the Father.
2. But then ſecondly, why is this Covenant called a New Covenant?
Not only becauſe it is an excellent Covenant, as in Scripture phraſe, excellent things are called New; a New Song, &c.
Nor onelyonly becauſe it brings a new heart, which is promiſed in the Covenant.
Nor onelyonly becauſe it is alwayes freſh and green, and new, upon which account Auſtin thinks, that the commandment of Love is called a New Commandment.
Nor is it called New onelyonly becauſe there is no other Covenant to ſucceed and follow, which is the reaſon in the 8th. of Heb.
But it is called a New Covenant, in oppoſition to the Covenant that was made with Adam, and with us in the ſtate of innocency; — and in oppoſition to the Covenant which was made with the Jews in the time of the Old Teſtament.
Firſt, New in oppoſition to the Covenant that was made with Adam in the ſtate of innocency; for then, though God out of free love and grace, was pleaſed to condeſcend to enter into Covenant with man, yet then God did deal with us in a way of Supremacy and of Righteouſneſs; and therefore there is mention made onelyonly of the Threatning, In the day that thou eateſt thereof, thou ſhalt dye the death: But now God deals with us in this Covenant in a way of grace, and of great compaſsion; and therefore in this Covenant there is mention made onelyonly of the Promiſe.
Again, 2. Though God did enter into Covenant with Adam, and ſo with us, and promiſed eternal life in Heaven; not eternal life in this World onelyonly, as ſome would: For Hell was threatned in theſe words, In the day thou eateſt thereof thou ſhalt dye the death, and therefore Heaven and Salvation was promiſed on the contrary; yet I ſay (although God, when he entered into Covenant with us then, did promiſe Heaven and Salvation) it was upon condition of our perſonal and perfect obedience, and therefore called a Covenant of works; But now our Covenant runs upon no ſuch terms.
3. Then in that Covenant, acceptation began in the Work, and ſo to the Perſon, and therefore ſaith the Lord to Cain, If thou doeſt well, ſhalt thou not be accepted? ſpeaking to him as belonging to the Covenant of works: — But in the Covenant now made, the acceptation begins in the Perſon, and ſo to the Work, and therefore ſaith the Lord concerning Abel, the Lord accepted Abel (his Perſon) and then his Sacrifice.
4. Then alſo the Lord gave Adam, and us, an… ability to ſtand, but he did not give a promiſe of perſeverance in ſtanding: But now the Lord doth, I will put my fear into your hearts, that you ſhall not depart from me, ſaith the Lord.
5. Then in that Covenant, there was no room for repentance, no room for remiſsion: But as in a Court of meer Juſtice, the Queſtion is not, whether a man doth repent of his Fact or no, but whether, I or No, hath ſuch a Fact been done? So by the Covenant of works, the firſt Covenant, there is no Queſtion whether a man doth repent or no, But whether the work were done, whether the ſin were done: But now in this Covenant, there is room both for repentance, and for remiſſion, (as by and by you ſhall hear.) And then
6. Though when God made that Covenant with Adam and with us, the tree of Life might be ſome ſhaddow of Chriſt, yet then there was no Mediator, for there was no need, God and Man was not at variance, and ſo no need of a Mediator: But in this Covenant that is now ſtricken, there is a Mediator, a Mediator of the New Covenant. So that thus you ſee this Covenant is New, in oppoſition to the Covenant that was made with Adam and us in the ſtate of innocency.
And Secondly, As it is New in oppoſition to the Covenant that was made with Adam, the Covenant of works; ſo it is new alſo in oppoſition to the Covenant that was made with the Jews in the time of the Old Teſtament. For the clearing of this,
Firſt of all we muſt inquire whether there be any difference between the Covenant made with the Jews in the day of the Old Teſtament, and the Covenant made with us now: — and in caſe there be, what is the difference, and wherein it lyes.
And firſt, If you ask whether there be any difference.
If I ſhould anſwer with Divines ordinarily (wherein they ſpeak the truth) I muſt ſay, that the Covenant which God made with the Jews, was for ſubſtance the ſame, though different in adminiſtration; but give me leave to expreſs my own ſenſe in my own terms, thus,
1. It is plain and clear, that the Jews that were ſaved in the time of the Old Teſtament, were ſaved by the ſame Covenant, that we now are ſaved by; for they were ſaved by the Covenant that God made with Abraham, ſo are we, Luke 11. Rom. 4. Gal. 3. Circumciſion then was the Seal of the Covenant; and what was Circumciſion, but a ſeal of the Righteouſneſs of Faith? The Ceremonies, Types and Sacrifices, did not belong to the Covenant of works, they were Types of Chriſt, and therefore it muſt needs be the ſame Covenant, for it was a Covenant of works that was made with the Jews, God ſhould have brought them from better to worſe for the Covenant of Grace was made with Abraham; but though the Law was added after the Promiſe, it could not diſanul the Promiſe, ſaith the Apoſtle in the 3. of Gal. So that its plain and clea… the Jews that were then ſaved, were ſaved by th… ſame Covenant that we now are: But
2. Though thoſe Jews that were ſaved, wer… ſaved by the ſame Covenant that we now are ſaved by, yet notwithſtanding the Covenant o… works was declared, and promulged among th… Jews; Wherefore then was the Law added, ſaith th… Apoſtle? Added then it was. As Sarah and Hagar made types of the two Teſtaments by the Apoſtle Were at once in Abrahams houſe; So the Old Covenant of Works, and the New Covenant of Grace, wer… at once in the Jewiſh Church: But
3. Though both theſe Covenants were at onc… in the Jewiſh Church, the one declared, and the other made with them; though Hagar was in the ſame houſe, yet it was in ſubſerviency unto Sarah; and though the Covenant of works was declared, and was there at the ſame time, yet it was in ſubſerviency unto the Covenant of Grace; it was added, wherefore? ſaith the Apoſtle, becauſe of tranſgreſſion, to be a School Maſter to bring to Chriſt. It was there in ſubſerviency, and upon a Goſpel deſign: But then
4. Though both theſe Covenants were thus joyned together, the Covenant of Works, and the Covenant of Grace both joyned together in one ſtate, yet both together did not make a third and diſtinct Covenant; I am no wayes of Camero's …ind, that there were three Covenants, but of the Apoſtles mind clearly, in the 4. of the Galathians, where he ſpeaks expreſly, that there are two Te…aments, and no more; ſo that though both were …pon the ground together (one declared then to …ake them ſenſible of their ſins, and to bring them …o the other Covenant) yet both did not make up a …hird and diſtinct Covenant: But
5. Becauſe the Commandment lay uppermoſt, the …hole diſpenſation was called Law, although the Pro…iſe and the Goſpel lay at the bottom; As now, be…uſe the Promiſe lyes uppermoſt, the whole of the …ovenant is called the Promiſe, though the Com…andment lyes at the bottom.
Well then, if theſe things be ſo, wherein lyes …he difference between that of the Jews and Ours?
Thus, firſt, although the Jews that were ſaved, …ere ſaved by the ſame Covenant that we now are …ved by; Yet then the Covenant had a ſpecial eye un… the Commandment, and therefore it is called the …aw: Now the Covenant hath a ſpecial eye to the Pro…iſe, and therefore it is called the Promiſe.
2. Then though the Covenant of Grace was …ade with the Jews that were ſaved, yet it was …ven more darkly and obſcurely; there was a vail …on Moſes, that he could not ſee to the end of …ings: But now we all with open face behold as in glaſs the Glory of the Lord, ſaith the Apoſtle, as …eaking of the difference between the one and the …her, Cor. 2.3.
3. Then alſo the miniſtration of that Covenant as very burthenſome, now more eaſie; Take my …ke upon you, ſaith Chriſt: it is ſpoken in oppoſition to Moſes too, for my yoke is eaſie, and my burthe… is light, Mat. 11.
4. Then alſo the Covenant was made with th… Nation of the Jews onelyonly, but now it takes in a… the World, Jew and Gentile. That Scripture, Iſ… 56. is ſpoken in regard of Goſpel times, Let not t… Eunuch ſay, &c. nor the ſon of a ſtranger, that I … ſeparated from the Lord, onelyonly let him take hold of … Covenant. The ſtranger now may do it, it belon… to the Gentile as well as the Jew: And
5. Then the diſpenſation was more terrible, a… brought forth fear and bondage; but now we a… not come unto Mount Sinai, where was fear a… trembling, but we are come unto Mount Sion, whi… brings forth Love, and Faith, and Sweetneſs, a… Thankfulneſs.
6. Then alſo the Covenant was confirmed … Promiſe, and by the blood of Bulls and Goa… now it is confirmed by Oath, and by the blood of … ſus.
7. Then alſo the Mediator was Moſes, that ſto… between God and them; now Jeſus the Mediat…
8. Then the Law was a School-Maſter to bri… to Chriſt, the Covenant of Works was upon … ground, and the Law was a School Maſter; it is … ſo now.
9. Then Chriſt was in the hand of Moſes, … Moſes is in the hand of Chriſt: Now the bond-w… man is caſt out of doors; there was a time wh… the bond-woman and Sarah was in the houſe t… gether, but now the bond-woman is gone.
10. Then the Commandments were m… carnal, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, and the Promi… worſer, but now the Commandment is ſpiritual, a… the Covenant founded upon better Promiſes, ſaith the Apoſtle, Heb. 7.
11. And (to ſay no more) look what difference there is between the Letter and the Spirit, in regard of efficacy, (for that's the meaning of it) ſuch a difference there is between that and this. We are not Miniſters of the Letter, as in the dayes of Moſes, but we are Miniſters of the Spirit, 2 Cor. 3. So that thus you ſee why this Covenant is called a New Covenant. — N…w in oppoſition to the Covenant that was made with man in the ſtate of innocency, and new in oppoſition to the Covenant that was made with the Jews in the times of the Old Teſtament.
3. But then thirdly, What kind of Covenant is this? — And what are the properties of it?
Anſw. To name but three,
Firſt, It is a Covenant of Grace, in oppoſition to works, or to all our own worth, or worthineſs.
A Covenant of Grace, for it is made with ſinners. The Covenant that was made with Adam in the …tate of innocency, was made with a Saint, having …he Image of God upon him, therefore a Covenant of Friendſhip: The Covenant that God makes now, …he makes with Sinners, and it is a Covenant of Reconciliation, and therefore a Covenant of Grace. Then by that Covenant that God made with Adam, there was no room for repentance, or for remiſsion, now room for both.
For Repentance, I will take away the heart of ſtone, …nd I will give an heart of fleſh, ſaith God.
For Remiſsion, I will remember your ſins no more, …aith the Covenant; yea, the Covenant of Grace …oth ſo deeply ingage for Remiſsion of ſins; That whereas the Covenant of works would own no ſuch things, the Covenant of Grace doth ſo deeply ingage for remiſsion of ſins, that it is made the chief, and the reaſon of all the other, I will write my Law in your hearts, and ye ſhall all know me; Why? For I will remember your ſins no more, Heb. 8. By that Covenant, if we had ſinned, we ſhould have provoked God thereby to damn us, and to deſtroy us: By this Covenant, when a man that is in Covenant ſins, he doth thereby provoke God to pitty him and to have compaſſion on him. In the Covenant o… works the Lord gave a man ſtrength to ſtand, an… left him to himſelf; but now the Lord hath promiſed in this Covenant, to cauſe us to walk in h… wayes. When the Iſraelites had to do with th… Aegyptians, the Aegyptians injoyned them their ta… of brick, and gave them no ſtraw: Now we ha… to deal with ſo good a Lord in this Covenant, th… our tale of brick is leſſened; we have ſtraw, a… ſtrength, and not onelyonly ſtrength, but God himſelf Co-worker with us. Yea, what Grace is there th… you want, or do complain for the want of, b… it is promiſed in this Covenant?
Do you complain that you are not converted I will write my Law in your hearts, ſaith God no…
Do you complain that you are ignorant? Th… ſhall all know me, from the leaſt unto the greateſt … them, ſaith the Covenant.
Do you complain that your heart is hard? I w… (ſaith God) take away the heart of ſtone, and give y… an heart of fleſh. Grace, Grace, this Covenant th… is a Covenant of Grace, it is a gracious Cov… nant.
2. As it is a gracious Covenant, ſo it is a fr… and inconditionate Covenant: — Free in oppoſiti… to all conditions to be performed by us; Pray do not miſtake me, I do not ſay there is no condition in the New Covenant; but the Condition is performed by Chriſt our ſecond Adam.
Nor do I ſay, that Faith, Obedience and Repentance are not required, but I ſay, Faith, Obedience and Repentance are required in the New Covenant as Duties, but not as Conditions.
This I ſay then, it is a free Covenant, in oppoſition to all conditions to be performed by us; for when the Covenant of Grace is mentioned in Scripture, where do you find any condition annexed to any thing that is there promiſed? — ſaith the Lord, I will remember your ſins no more: — Upon what condition? — none mentioned; — I will write my Law in your hearts; — Upon what condition? — none mentioned; — You ſhall all know me from the greateſt to the leaſt, &c. — Upon what condition? none mentioned. Where do you ever find the Covenant mentioned with a condition?
And plainly thus; if there were a Condition, the Condition muſt be a diſtinct thing from the thing promiſed. If I promiſe to go a journey with a man upon Condition he ſhall bear my charges; his bearing my charges, and my going the journey are diſtinct things. — Now what Condition then can there be? What Faith, Repentance or Obedience? Why? theſe are all promiſed in the Covenant, therefore they cannot be the Condition; for the thing promiſed in the Covenant, and the Condition that we are to perform, muſt be diſtinct. I ſay, if there be a Condition, it muſt be diſtinct from the thing promiſed; but there is nothing that we can perform, but is promiſed in the Covenant; therefore there can be no Condition. The Prophet Iſaiah tells us, that this Covenant is after the nature of that Covenant that God made with Noah, That the World ſhould be drowned no more; and that i… abſolute, and upon no Condition. Junius thinks, that upon this account, this Covenant of Grace i… called a Teſtament, for ſaith he, a Teſtament is without Condition. A man makes his laſt Will and Teſtament; and though now and then a man may hang a Condition upon a Rebellious Child, yet ordinarily, a man then gives, and he gives freely, without all Conditions; and ſo this Covenant is called a Teſtament: Why? becauſe no Condition is to be performed by us. That is the ſecond thing, it is a free Covenant in oppoſition to all Conditions to be performed by our ſelves.
3. As it is a free Covenant, in oppoſition to al… Conditions to be performed by us, ſo it is an everlaſting Covenant, a Covenant of Salt that canno… be broken, which my Covenant they brake, ſaith God, ſpeaking of the former Covenant; and ſaith he, in that place of Zech. I took my ſtaff of Beauty, the Covenant, and brake it. God brake it, that is the former Covenant. But now this Covenant of Grace is an everlaſting Covenant, ordered in all things and ſure, an everlaſting Covenant that cannot be broken. And thus you ſee what kind of Covenant it is; It is a Covenant of Grace, in oppoſition to all works and worth in us; — a Free Covenant in oppoſition to all Conditions to be performed by us: — and an everlaſting Covenant: Lo, this is the Covenant that is ſtricken with the Children of Men.
4. But then fourthly, Who are the Subjects of this Covenant, and who are the perſons that God doth ſtrike or make this Covenant with?
Firſt, This Covenant of Grace is not made or ſtricken with all the particular men in the world; A New Covenant will I make with the houſe of Iſrael, not with all the particular men in the world. If this New Covenant of Grace were made with all the particular men in the world, then all the particular men in the world ſhould have the Law of God written in their hearts, and ſhould all know God, and all have their ſins pardoned, for ſo ſaith the Covenant, by an abſolute promiſe which muſt be fulfilled.
And upon this account it follows, that Chriſt did not dye for every particular man in the world, for Chriſt is the Mediator of the New Covenant; therefore if the New Covenant be not made with every particular man, Chriſt did not dye for every particular man; but the New Covenant is not made with all the particular men in the world, as you have heard.
2. As this New Covenant is not made with all the particular men in the world, ſo neither is it made with all that live under the Goſpel. Though Iſhmael lived in Abrahams houſe, and ſo the skirt of the Covenant might be thrown over him, yet in Iſaac ſhall thy Seed be called, ſaith God. A man may be in a Church, yet not of the Church; as a man may be in a houſe, and yet not of the houſe. This Covenant is not made with all particular men that live under the Goſpel.
But who is it ſtricken with?
Plainly thus; If the Law of the Goſpel be written in your hearts, ſo that it is natural for you to do the work of the Goſpel; as it is natural to an heathen to do the work of nature, becauſe the Law of nature is written in his heart; then is this Covenant made with you: for thus runs the Covenant, I will write my Law in your hearts.
2. If that you are taught of God, having an holy inſtinct unto what is good. As the Bee being taught of God, finds the way home to the Hive by an inſtinct; and the Lamb being taught of God, find out his Dam amongſt a thouſand Sheep. So I ſay, If you be taught of God, having an holy inſtinct unto what is good, then are you in Covenant wit… God; for thus runs the Covenant, You ſhall a… know me, and every one ſhall be taught of God.
3. If an heart of ſtone be taken away, and a yielding heart be given unto you, whereby you yield t… Gods Impreſſions, to Gods Inſtructions, and to God Corrections, then are you in Covenant with God for thus runs the Covenant, I will take away th… heart of ſtone, and give an heart of fleſh; a heart o… fleſh, is a yielding heart.
4. If you are begotten again to God by the promiſe, eſpecially the abſolute promiſe, then a… you in Covenant with God. There were two Son of Abraham, the Child of the Bond-woman, an… the Child of the Free-woman, ſaith the Apoſtle, theſe were Types, — And wherein did they differ? — Why, the Child of the Bond-woman was born after the Fleſh, but the Child of the Free-woman was born by the Promiſe, on…ly by the Promiſe, an abſolute Promiſe, and therefore I ſay, if you be born again by the Promiſe, the abſolute Promiſe, then are you in Covenant with God.
And to ſay no more in it but this, If you be the Seed of Chriſt, then is this Covenant made with you, for it is made with Chriſt and his Seed; and if you be Abrahams Seed, then are you the Seed of Chriſt; for you may ſee how they go together in the third Chapter of the Galathians; Now to Abraham and his Seed were the Promiſes made: he ſaith not, unto Seeds, as of many, but as of one, and to thy Seed, which is Chriſt. And if you do believe as Abraham did, then are you Abrahams Seed. So that thus briefly you ſee, who this Covenant is ſtricken with, and who are the ſubjects of it.
5. But then fifthly, ſuppoſe I be in Covenant with the Lord, or ſuppoſe I be not; if I be not, is there any great hurt? ſuppoſe I be, is there any great good?
Much every way; give me leave to give you a little taſt of it.
Firſt, If you be not in Covenant with God, how can you expect any bleſsing, mercy, or deliverance from God? for do but look into the Scripture, and you ſhall find, that all bleſsings, mercies and deliverances come to the people of God by vertue of the Covenant, and according to the Covenant: — Will you inſtance in outward deliveranc…s, the World is not drowned again? Why? — but becauſe of the Covenant. — Will you inſtance in ſpiritual deliverances? ſaith the Pſalmiſt, He commandeth redemption, he remembreth the Covenant; He maketh Redemption effectual by remembring the Covenant. — Or will you inſtance in both together? ſee what is ſaid in the 9th of Zech. 11. As for thee alſo, by the blood of thy Covenant, I have ſent forth thy priſoners out of the pit, wherein is no water: It includes both outward and ſpiritual deliverances: So that now, if you be not in Covenant with God, what deliverance can you expect, or what mercy, ſeeing they all come by vertue of the Covenant, and according to the Covenant?
But on the other ſide, if you be in Covenant with the Lord, then are you exalted and honoured, yea, greatly honoured. For if it be an honour to be in League and Covenant with a great Prince, What an honour is it to be in Covenant with the great God? When God did ſpeak to Abraham of ſtriking a Covenant with him, he falls down upon his face; as if he ſhould ſay, Who am I, that the great God ſhould be in Covenant with me?
Again, If God be in Covenant with you, look whatever excellency there is in God, that is made over to you for your uſe. And as that King ſaid to him that was in League with him, My Horſe is thine, and my Men are thine, and my Money is thine; ſo when God enters into Covenant with a poor Soul, — he ſaith, My Wiſdome is thine, and my Power is thine, and my Love and Mercy is thine: Whatever excellency there is in God, is made over to you, being in Covenant with him.
And if that you be in Covenant with the Lord, then all his Retinue, his Creatures, and his Servants, alſo are in Covenant with you, in the 2d. of Hoſ. 21. It ſhall come to paſs in that day, I will hear, ſaith the Lord, I will hear the Heavens, and they ſhall hear the Earth, and the Earth ſhall hear the Corn, and the Wine, and the Oyl, and they ſhall hear Jezreel. — Why? — verſ. 19. I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in Righteouſneſs, and in Judgement, and in loving Kindneſs, and in Mercies: And then it ſhall come to paſs, that I will hear the Heavens, and they ſhall hear the Earth, &c. So that if you be in Covenant with God, then all his Retinue, all his Creatures, and all his Servants are in Covenant with you too.
And if you be in Covenant with the Lord, then he is in Covenant with you, and your Soul, and your Body both; not on…ly with your Body, but with your Soul, and not onelyonly with your Soul, but with your Body, with your whole man; and therefore if you dye, the Covenant is not diſſolved between God and you. The Covenant may be diſſolved between a Man and his Wife at Death, but this Covenant can never be diſſolved; and though you ſin, and break with God, God will not break with you, I hate putting away, ſaith he.
And then, you may go to God as upon a Throne of Grace, and look upon God as ſitting in a Rainbow. Oh what a mercy, what a bleſsing is it to be in Covenant with the Lord?
But in caſe I be not in Covenant with God, what ſhall I do to get into Covenant with him? — And in caſe I be in Covenant with God, how ſhall I walk ſo as becometh one that is in Covenant with the great God? Here are two Queſtions, I ſhall ſpeak briefly to them and conclude.
Firſt, Do you ask what you ſhall do to get into Covenant? Are you affraid any of you, that you are not yet in Covenant with the Lord, and would you be in Covenant with the Lord?
Why then be ſure of this, that upon a right and good underſtanding of the nature of this Covenant, you go to God, and make your choiſe of this Covenant of Grace, to ſtand and fall by. The word Berith in the Hebrew, for Covenant, ſome think comes from a root that ſignifies to chooſe; a man is in the Covenant that he chooſes, and every man is indeed as his choiſe is.
But then go and renounce the other Covenant of Works, &c. As the way to have a part in Chriſts Righteouſneſs is to renounce all your own Righteouſneſs; ſo the way to have a ſhare in this Covenant of Grace, is to renounce the Covenant o… Works.
Then go to Chriſt as the Mediator of the Covenant, and deſire him to put you into this Covenant; He ſtruck the Covenant with God the Father at the firſt, and he muſt put you into this Covenant, for he is the Mediator of the Covenant; go then to him, as to the Mediator of the Covenant, to put you into Covenant.
Then leave the weight and ſtreſs of your Guilty Soul upon this Covenant of Grace, bear upon this ſtream of Grace, here lay the weight of all, for th… Promiſe is made ours by reſting on it; And what is this Covenant, but an abſolute Promiſe? there then reſt, and leave the weight of your Souls.
And to ſay no more but this; Then go unto the Lord, and give your hand unto God, and your ſelf up to God, as one willing to be led by him into all the things that the Covenant ſhall require. In the times of the Old Teſtament, when they made a Covenant, they ſtruck hands together; In Ezra 10.19. it is ſaid, they gave their hands to put away their Wives; and in the former verſe, they made a Covenant to do it, They roſe, and made a Covenant to put away their Wives: And we find in the 1 of Chronicles, that when David was dead, that all the people came together, Chap. 24.24. And all the Princes, and the Mighty Men, and all the Sons likewiſe of King David, ſubmitted themſelves unto Solomon the King; the word in the Hebrew is, they gave the hand under King Solomon; they gave their hand by way of Covenant, and they gave their hand under King Solomon, in a a way of ſubmiſsion. So when we enter into Covenant with the Lord, we give our hand under God; and therefore if you deſire to get into Covenant do theſe things.
Queſt. Well, but ſuppoſe I be in Covenant with God, as I hope I am, What ſhould I do that I may walk as becometh one that is in Covenant with the great God?
Anſw. Firſt of all, If you be in Covenant indeed with the Lord, then God hath honoured you, he hath exalted you, and honoured you greatly; and if God have honoured you, why ſhould not you honour God?
Now firſt, the more you fall down at the feet of the fulneſs of Chriſt, in the ſenſe of your own unworthineſs, inability, and inſufficiency, the more you honour God: There is one, ſaith John, who is mightier then I, whoſe ſhooe latchet I am not worthy to unlooſe.
2. The more you cry up thoſe Ordinances and wayes of God, that are decryed by the World, the more you honour God.
3. The more you keep cloſe to God in declining times, the more you honour God.
4. The more you truſt God at a dead lift, when all means fails, and when a ſentence of death is upon all the means, the more you honour God.
5. The more you ſerve God, contrary to your own diſpoſition, and rea…h the ſervices of God over the head of your own diſpoſitions, the more you honour God.
6. And the more that you do prefer the things of God in time of competition above other things, the more you honour God.
7. And the more you part with your much for Gods leſſer, the more you honour God. What is Honour? Honour is a teſtimony of anothers Excellency; Now when I can part with my much for Gods little, his little truths and things, I do teſtifie an excellency in God; I ſay, the more you can part with your much for Gods little, the more you honour God.
8. And the more you do keep cloſe to the Name and Faith of God and Chriſt, even where Satans Throne is, the more you honour God: Now then hath the Lord honoured you, and taken you into Covenant with himſelf; then ſurely it is your duty for to honour God, and by theſe ſeveral particulars you may honour God.
2. If the Lord have made and ſtricken a Covenant with you, then Friends give me leave to ſay to you, Why ſhould you be ſolicitous for your own things? If you be in Covenant with the Lord, and God in Covenant with you, God will take care of your things; therefore why ſhould you be ſolicitous about your owne things? God is in Covenant with you, he will take care of yours.
And upon this account, in caſe there be any loſſe upon the things of God, why ſhould you not be as much affected for that loſſe, as for your owne loſſes? For if you be in Covenant with God, and God with you; Gods things are yours, and your things are Gods: Gods things are yours, Why then ſhould you not be as much touched with the loſſe of any thing that concerns God, as with any thing that concerns your ſelves?
Yea, Why ſhould not God have the uſe of all yours? God is in Covenant with you, and you have the uſe of Gods things, his Wiſdome, his Power, his Mercy; Why? — Becauſe he is in Covenant with you, and you are in Covenant with him. Why then ſhould not God have the uſe of your thing alſo, your Name, and your Eſtate, and your Body, and your Time? If you be in Covenant with God, and God be in Covenant with you, yours are Gods, and Gods are yours; why ſhould not God have the uſe of yours, as you think to have the uſe of Gods?
3. If God be in Covenant with you, and you be in Covenant with God, then why ſhould you not live at an higher rate then the beſt of the Jews did? You are in a better Covenant then the Jews were; though for ſubſtance the ſame (as you heard) yet you are in a better Covenant, and ſhall not your lives be better?
You have a better Mediator, and ſhall not your lives be better?
You have better Promiſes, and ſhall not your lives be better?
Your ſtate now is called Grace to That: The Law was given by Moſes, but Grace and Truth comes by Chriſt, John 1. Chap. Look therefore upon the Jews, look into the Old Teſtament, and look upon the beſt of them, and think with your ſelves, am I in a better Covenant? Oh then how am I ingaged to live better? Oh that our lives were more exalted upon this account. Why ſhould not our lives be better, and we live at a higher Rate?
4. If you be in Covenant with the Lord, and the Lord in Covenant with you, then be ſure of this, That you be true to God; be true to God in the matter of his Worſhip: the Covenant ſtricken between God and you, is a Conjugal Covenant. A Woman, though ſhe will admit another man into the houſe with her Husband, yet ſhe will not admit him into the bed, that is a breach of Covenant. Now the Worſhip of God is the bed wherein Chriſt doth bed with a Soul; and therefore if you look into the Old Teſtament, you ſhall find that Idolatry is accounted Adultry, and Harlotry: — Why? Becauſe they took Idols, and men into the bed with God. Would you walk then as thoſe that are in Covenant with the Lord, away with every thing of mans out of Chriſts bed, Remember it is a conjugal Covenant? Whatſoever is of mans coming into the Worſhip of the Lord, which is the Lords bed, is againſt your Covenant. When God ſpeaks of a Covenant, he ſaith, Thou ſhalt be for me, and I will be for thee, Hoſ. 3. Chap.
5. And to conclude all, if you be in Covenant with the Lord, and the Lord with you indeed, go away, and walk humbly, and be very thankfull. When the Lord made a Covenant with Abraham, Abraham, ſaith he, go thoughout the Land, and behold it in the breadth thereof, and in the length thereof; ſo ſay I, hath the Lord entered into Covenant with you, go into the Land of the Covenant, behold the length thereof, and the breadth thereof, and what God hath promiſed in that Covenant: behold it in the length thereof, and the breadth thereof, and thus will your heart be affected and raiſed to thankfulneſs. Thus Davids heart was raiſed, for ſaith he, Lord, though thou makeſt not my houſe to grow, this is my ſalvation, I am in Covenant with thee; And ſo you may ſay, Lord, thou makeſt not my Family to grow, I have never a Child, this is my ſalvation, I am in Covenant with thee; though thou makeſt not my houſe to grow, but I am poor, and my houſe is pulled down, or burnt down, this is my ſalvation, the Lord be praiſed, the Lord is in Covenant with me; thus do, and you ſhall be thankful.
And this is the laſt thing, if you be in Covenant with the Lord, go away, walk humbly, and be thankfull, that God ſhould ever enter into this great Covenant, this Covenant of Grace with you, even with you.
And ſo now I have done with the firſt argument, that there is a Covenant ſtricken with the Children of men: The ſecond follows, Jeſus is the Mediator of this Covenant.