The Doctrine of the Covenant of Redemption, Chapter 1
CHAP I. An Introduction.
THE Unparallel'd and Incomprehenſible Love of God to Sinful Man, diſplayed in the wonderful Affair of his Redemption and Salvation; is the great thing celebrated in the Scriptures; and is that which invites our moſt frequent, and raiſed Meditations. Paul therefore prays for his Epheſians, that they, together with all Saints, might be able to comprehend it, Eph. 3. 17, 18, 19. Nor is there one paſſage in this whole Tranſaction, but what is admirable and precious; it being the foundation of our hope to enjoy Eternal Life, who are by Nature Children of Wrath; and but for it, the whole forefeited Race of Adam muſt have periſhed hopeleſly and everlaſtingly. The Contemplation of this is truly ſurprizing: Time is too ſhort; Eternity but long enough to ſpend in the Survey of it. This Love is a Fountain which ſprang up in, and runs down to Eternity. It never knew a beginning, nor ſhall ever come to an end.
Now there are two general heads, unto which our Speculation of this Glorious Myſtery may be reduced.
1. The Proviſion which God made for our deliverance before time, in the days of Eternity.
2. The things which are done in time for the actual Accompliſhment of it. They that would Search the Love of God to the Original, and follow it up to the Wellhead of it, muſt aſcend beyond the Creation of the World, and look for it in that Eternity which had no Beginning. Not only the things that he hath done for us, but the thoughts alſo which he had of us, do Recommend his Tranſcendent Good Will unto us; the Meditation of them was very choiſe to David, Pſal. 139. 17. That God bare Love to his People of Old, He Himſelf aſſures them, Jer. 31. 3. Theſe Thoughts of his had lain hid from us, but that he was pleaſed to Reveal them to us in his Word, from whence we muſt borrow our Information: and it is our Duty and will be our Advantage to enquire into it, ſo far as we have Scripture Light to direct us. The former of theſe is that which is Deſigned in the Enſuing Treatiſe, by Divine Aſſiſtance. and in truth, all our Speculations about the latter will be dark, ſhort, and confuſed, except we trace them hither. We ſhall neither know where our Salvation began, nor what Security there is for it, or how to act our Faith aright about it. Here is the Idea or Exemplar of all that is done in bringing of Fallen Man to Glory: here is the Ratification or Eſtabliſhment of the whole concern: here we are acquainted with the leading Cauſes to, and unfailing Aſſurances of the Vocation, Juſtification, and Glorification of all Gods Choſen Ones: for here we find the firſt Link of that Chain, and that which faſtens all, Rom. 8. 29, 30. The beſt and moſt ſuitable notion under which this great Affair may be repreſented to us for our Information, and ſatisfaction, is that of a Covenant; which being of ſo much uſe among men, is the more eaſily underſtood: and becauſe it carries in it the ſtrongeſt confirmation of things that Humane Nature is capable of, muſt needs be moſt accommodated to the eſtabliſhing of our Faith. Nor is this a meer notion of mans Invention, but that which hath clear and firm footing in the Word of God, as will in its due place appear. Now this Covenant, is by ſome Divines called the Covenant of Suretyſhip; by others, the Covenant of Redemption; becauſe there was in it a full Suretyſhip given for, and a firm Compact made about the Redemption of a number of Mankind, in order to their Salvation.
The enquiry into, and right ſtating of the Doctrine of this Covenant, is of excellent advantage for our better underſtanding of the whole tenour of the Scriptures; the avoidance of many pernicious Errors which the ignorance of it, hath given advantage to take rooting among ſuch as call themſelves Christians; the true apprehenſion of the Terms of the Goſpel Covenant; and the comforting of the Hearts of Gods Children, againſt the many Temptations which aſſault them. I ſhall therefore, as God ſhall pleaſe to aſſiſt me, endeavour to purſue it in this method.
1. To ſtate the right notion of this Covenant?
2. To prove from the Word of God, that there is ſuch a Covenant.
3. To Explain it in thoſe ſeveral things wherein the ſpecial nature of it may be rightly concerned.
4 To ſhew the neceſſity of it in order to Fallen Mans Salvation.
5. To ſhew the Influence which it hath into the Covenant of Grace which is made with us.
6. To draw ſome practica Inferences from it.