The Doctrine of the Covenant of Redemption, Chapter 7
CHAP. 7. Whether it be a Covenant of Works, or of Grace.
IT may furthermore be Enquired, whether this Covenant of Redemption is to be accounted a Covenant of Works, or of Grace; and here let me premiſe: That it is certainly a Covenant distinct from both of thoſe which ordinarily come under theſe Denominations among us. It is neither that which was made with Adam in Innocency; nor that which is made with us in and through a Mediator, for in both of theſe man is of one party; whereas he is not ſo in this, but only a Subject in reſpect of which it is made: But if the enquiry be, under whether of theſe conſiderations it is to be looked on in it ſelf, it may be readily replied, that according to its reſpects, it may be accounted either the one or the other. Here then we are to look upon it, either with reference to the matter of it, and the terms between the parties, or to the end and deſign of it.
1. If we conſider the matter of it, and the terms which were agreed on between the Parties Covenanting, it fully agrees to a Covenant of Works; and indeed it bare a proper reſpect to the Covenant of Works which paſt between God and man at firſt. for Chriſt was to be the Second Adam; and therefore he was to do that for us which the other failed of doing, and to reſtore us from that miſery, which he by his failure brought upon us: hence that, 1 Cor. 15. 22. As in Adam all dy even ſo in Christ ſhall all be made alive. But yet it was not the ſame Covenant with that; not only becauſe he was a diverſe party, but alſo becauſe he was differently concerned: for Adam was only to obtain the Bleſſing by his Active Obedience, and to fall under the Curſe by his Diſobedience, and that irrecoverably as to any power in himſelf, whereas the Son of God was to merit by his doing, and to make Satisfaction by his Suffering. But yet it ran in the tenor of a Covenant of Works, in which there is a work to be done, and a Reward to be given on the account of it. He was to purchaſe and pay for what he had, and that to the full price: on which account the Inheritance is ſaid to be Purchaſed, Eph. 1. 14. and he is ſaid to give himſelf a ranſom, 1. Tim 2. 6. but this will be more fully ſpoken to, with the reaſon of it hereafter.
2. If we conſider the end and whole deſign of this Covenant, it iſſues in being a Covenant of Grace. Though it were ſo laid that Grace might appear conſiſtent with Justice, and therefore there was a work to be done for the making way for it, yet it carried Grace in the aim of it, as will appear; for,
1. The laſt end of it was for the advancement of Rich Grace. Eph. 1. 5. 6. and the very Satisfaction made unto Juſtice in order to it, puts a great luſtre upon this Grace, in as much as Chriſt was to remove that obſtacle out of the way by his obedience which mans ſin had thrown into it. It was that God might expreſs his free and undeſerved favour to a number whom he had Choſen to be made partakers in it: that he might beſtow upon man a Salvation which he never Laboured for; bring him to an heaven he never earned; enrich him with a portion which he could never have Purchaſed; and free him from a Miſery which would elſe have Swallowed him up for ever, & which he had Procured to himſelf.
2. Hence all the means which were agreed upon between theſe parties for this end, were the contrivances of this Grace. The whole Plot was ſo laid out, that in all of it there ſhould be the Beams of Divine-Love and Favour ſhining forth: for,
1. The whole proviſion of a Redeemer was of Grace: whether we conſider it on the Fathers part Propoſing the thing, & accepting of the way: He was under no neceſſity to offer ſuch a Propoſal; it was abſolutely free, yea, that he would be reconciled to ſinners in ſuch a way, was Grace The caſe is Criminal, man by his fall becomes a Delinquent; Juſtice might have fallen upon him, and refuſed to have taken any other in Exchange. Though the Satisfaction be valuable enough, yet the receiving it thus is voluntary, therefore it is Grace. Had God ſaid the ſinner himſelf ſhall Die, it had been juſt: or if we conſider it on the Sons part undertaking it; he had no obligation lying upon him by any kind of neceſſity; he was God bleſſed for ever before: his Divine Eſſential Glory could not be augmented by it in the leaſt, he had no Conſanguinity to move him, for it was the Son of God that Covenanted, he took up the kindred or relation by Covenant: ſee for this Phil 2. 6. 7. it was therefore of meer grace.
2. The work it ſelf which he undertook to perform, conſidered with relation to this thoſe for whom he was to do it, was alſo Grace. The Covenant of works requires of thoſe that are under it, either to Do or to Suffer: but that when we fell ſhort of doing, and have therby expoſed ourſelves unto Suffering, another ſhould interpoſe, and undertake to do and Suffer for us, this it requires not. The Son of God was in himſelf naturally under no Law, and therefore his putting of himſelf into ſuch a condition as to be under it, and this that ſo he might do the greateſt kindneſs, muſt needs be of Grace; and that was the very deſign of this Covenant, Rom. 8. 8. God Commendeth his love, in that whiles we were yet ſinners, Chriſt Died for us. ſo, Gal. 4. 4. he was made of a woman, made under the Law, to Redeem them that were under the law.
3 All the proffers of Salvation, which are in the Goſpel made unto Sinners, are the reſults of this Covenant: Here they have their Foundation. We find that all the good that is t…ndered to Fallen men in the Goſpel, is offered freely. We muſt indeed come for it; but without money, and without price, Iſa. 55. 1. we muſt take it indeed, if we will have it, but it muſt be freely, Rev. 22 27. But whence is it that there are ſuch liberal offers made to the children of men? why it flows from the Covenant of Redemption, and had it not been for this, there had never any ſuch …ews been heard of in the World. Here was the Foundation laid for all the Saving Grace which is Diſpenſed in time to any of the children of men; and ſo it muſt needs be a Covenant of Grace.