The Doctrine of the Covenant of Redemption, Chapter 11
CHAP. 11. Of the Influence that the Covenant of Redemption hath into the Covenant of Grace, which is made with us.
THE Foundation of Fallen Mans Salvation is laid in the Covenant of Redemption: here was the price provided to buy him out of the hands of Revenging Juſtice, and purchaſe for him the Eternal Inheritance. Here alſo was ſecurity given that all thoſe for whom it was provided ſhould be made happy partakers in the benefit of it. But ſtill there is ſomething wanting in order to the bringing of them into the actual enjoyment of this Title, and having this Security made over unto them, and for this the Scripture points us to another Covenant diſtinct from this, which is by ſome called the Covenant of Reoenciliation; but is more generally known by the name of the Covenant of Grace. Not as if the former were not of meer Grace; but here, the Grace which was laid up in the former, breaks forth and is applied effectually unto them, who were before the heirs of it. Nor can theſe Covenants be confounded, without greatly darkning the knowledge of the wonderful Myſtery of the Love of God to men. Theſe Covenants are Eſſentially diverſe one from the other, having neither the ſame Parties, nor the ſame Articles in them. In the former the Father and the Son are the parties, in this latter, God and Man. In the former, the Juſtice of God was to be ſatisfied; in the latter, the Grace of God, which was ſo made way for, is to be applied. In the former, the Law was to be fulfilled by Chriſt; in the latter the Goſpel is to be complied with by man. In the former, Chriſt was made one party; in the latter he ſtands as the Mediator between both parties, 1 Tim. 2. 2. 5. In the former, God Covenanted for us, in the latter he Covenants with us: there he promiſed us to his Son; here he promiſeth himſelf to us. But though theſe are two Covenants, yet there is a near Conjunction between them, and the latter hath a manifold dependance on the former: yea, ſuch, as all the Believers ſolid comfort, and permanent hope ariſeth from it: yea indeed, all the Grace that there is in this Covenant derives from that, as a ſtream from a Fountain; and this may be obſerved more eſpecially in five reſpects.
1. The Covenant between God the Father and God the Son, was that which opened the way for his Covenanting with his people. Had not that Covenant been firſt made, this would never have been heard of. The Covenant which God Indents with his people is wholly of Grace, in all the parts of it, as it is made by him: from the foundation to the top-ſtone of it, there is no other voice to be heard but that of Grace. Now, had there not been an Antecedent Covenant, which man had ſome relation unto, this might immediately; and without any previous prepication have entred into. Grace is free, elſe it were not Grace; and God might have expreſt it to whom he ſaw meet. But when we conſider how it was with man when this Covenant was declared; viz. that he ſtood under an Old Covenant of Works, and was related to it as a Tranſgreſſor; the Precept of it being violated by him, and the Curſe of it having taken place on him, and the Juſtice of God ſtanding obliged to the fulfilling of the Articles in that Covenant which God had engaged in; it ſtood up as an high Wall of Separation between God and Man, and called for vengeance to be executed upon him according to his Earnings; nor could it be appeaſed without full ſatisfaction given to it for the Injuries done it by the ſinning Creature. All mankind ſtood thus Condemned, and Men of Death. Hence it was neceſſary, that without a Covenant of Reparation interpoſing, there could not be a Covenant of Salvation. Had not this great Tranſaction paſt, the Covenant of Works muſt of neceſſity have taken place, and we muſt have been judged and condemned, and for ever deſtroyed by it. God muſt be Just, in being gracious: he muſt not deny himſelf or any of his Attributes: Mercy and truth must correſpond; and how could that be as the caſe ſtood, had there not been ſuch a tranſaction as this? If Juſtice had not interpoſed, Grace might have proceeded without any more ado; but becauſe God must be Juſt in Juſtifying a ſinner, there muſt be proviſ…ion made that he may be ſo: So that this Covenant of Redemption may be looked upon as the procuring cauſe of the Covenant of Grace: it opened the door to it, removed the obſtructions that would elſe have impeded it, and made the way for God to be gracious to poor ſinning man, and ſave him, without any injury done to his juſtice, or violence offered to his law. Here it was that all was laid in that needed to ſatisfy that to the utmoſt farthing: and when that is once appeaſed and its mouth ſtopt, ſo that it hath no more to ſay, Grace hath now its full and free ſcope. In this regard we ſhall find, the Apoſtle reducing of our Salvation to this Covenant which was made with Chriſt before time, as the Root and Original of it. 2. Tim. 1. 9.
2. The Application of the Grace of the Covenant of Reconciliation, whereby any of the children of men are brought into that Covenant, and truly entituled to all the good which is therein promiſed to the Children of God, bears an entire reſpect to the Covenant of Redemption. That all the Children of men are not taken into the New and Everlaſting Covenant, is certain. That all thoſe to whom it is offered in the Goſpel, do not cordially embrace it, is alſo evident upon obſervation. So that the reaſon of the difference cannot be becauſe ſome do hear of it, and others do not. That any refuſe to come into this Covenant, and remain in their unbelief, when they are outwardly called, is their own fault, and it will be charged upon their wilfulneſs, Joh. 5. 40. But that any do entertain it, and actually cloſe in with the terms of it, and believe in Chriſt for ſalvation, is not of themſelves or by any power of their own, but of God, Eph. 2. 8 And if he ſhould have done no more towards their believing, than he did to the other, they would have been for ever under their unbelief. Now there muſt be ſome reaſon aſſigned why God applies it to this and not to the other. This cannot be in the Creature, becauſe all are alike Children of wrath, and equally guilty and filthy in their natural ſtate as born, Eph. 2. 3. It muſt then be in God. And as the Covenant of Redemption was a reſult of his meer good pleaſure, ſo the Application of the Grace of the New-Covenant, is an act, of his faithfulneſs to his promiſe to Chriſt in that Covenant. Hence, when God comes with his Converting Grace, to beſtow it upon any; when he powerfully perſwades the man to receive the word of truth, and accept of Jeſus Chriſt upon his offer and terms; and paſſeth by that other who ſits by him, and leaves him to deſpiſe, and make light of the Grace exhibited to him; he evermore hath his eye upon, and proceeds according to the tenour of this Covenant. So that thoſe who were Covenanted for by Chriſt, and given him of his Father, are brought into the Covenant of Grace by the Holy Ghoſt. The Spirit of God, when he comes to make the Goſpel Efficacious unto the ſalvation of ſinners, by putting them into the Covenant of Grace, he takes his meaſures by this Covenant: he reads thoſe ancient records, obſerves who they were by name, that were given to the Son of God in that tranſaction; he addreſſeth theſe with his power, and cauſeth them to hear his voice that they may live; we have ſuch an expreſſion in Acts 15. 48. as many as were ordained to Eternal life believed. Yea and our Saviour Chriſt lays that down as a Rule which never fails, John 6. 37. All that the Father giveth me, ſhall come unto me. Chriſt firſt redeems them by Price, and then the ſpirit delivers them by Power: he firſt buys them out of the hands of Justice, and then the Holy Ghoſt comes and fetcheth them out of the Priſon of Sin, and from under the Power of Satan, and enlargeth them. So that the Covenant of Grace in reſpect to the extenſiveneſs of it, to the Subject, is made juſt as large as the Covenant of Redemption, that being the pattern according to which it is made, and the reaſon of this is grounded in the former conſideration: for till men are bought out of the hands of the Law they are not free to be indented with in a way of Grace they are not Sui Juris, they cannot Covenant for themſelves; they are the ſervants of ſin and ſatan, and priſoners of the Law: except therefore Chriſt have paid the price for them, they are in no capacity for this Grace, but muſt abide under their former ſtate of Condemnation.
3 All the encouragement which an awakened ſinner hath to embrace & take hold of the Grace which is exhibited in the Goſpel Covenant, ariſeth, or is fetched from the Covenant of Redemption. There is a previous Conviction which is wont to be wrought in the heart or conſcience of a ſinner, in order to the propoſal of the Terms of the Goſpel to him: and this is requiſite, for without this Conviction he cannot be brought to ſee any need that he ſtands in of the benefits of the New-Covenant; and conſequently cannot be perſwaded to give them entertainment. Now in the working of this Conviction, he is made to ſee and apprehend his forlorn wretched ſtate, and how he came to fall into it: that an holy law hath been broken by him; that by vertue hereof he lies under guilt, and is faſt bound by a Sentence of Condemnation, to ſuffer the wrath of God, and vengeance of hell: that he hath to do with a God who is a juſt and a righteous Judge, who will ſtand to his word, and is unchangeable, and will give accompliſhment to all that he hath ſaid without fail. So that when he is under the terrour of theſe Convictions, and now the Grace of God is tendered him in the Goſpel, and he is ſpoken to, and treated with about the things of his peace: he is told that God is Gracious, ready to pardon, willing to receive him into favour, and to beſtow ſalvation upon him; although theſe thing are glad tidings in themſelves, yet there will ariſe demurs and enquiries in him about the matter, and he will be ready to ſay, how can theſe things be? he will preſently demand, how then ſhall the Juſtice of God be ſatisfied for me? how ſhall the mouth of the law be ſtopt? how ſhall the firſt Covenant be fully anſwered and ſtand inviolable? neither is it to be ſuppoſed, that ſuch an one can believingly caſt himſelf upon the Goſpel Grace, and place his reliance upon Chriſt, till he be well ſatisfied upon this account. That is not to be accounted for a true faith which raſhly adventures upon accepting of tendred mercy, and never conſiders how it comes, or in what way his ſin may be ſo pardoned, as that God may ſalve the honour of his Juſtice in the Applying of Juſtification unto him. Now this diſcovery is to be made in the Contemplation of the Covenant of Redemption: here alone it is that this is to beſeen: for in that it was that this proviſion was made: Here is the great diſcovery of the Suretyſhip of Chriſt, in which he put himſelf in the ſinners room and undertook to ſatisfie for him, and God accepted of him in that Relation; and accordingly all that he did afterwards in the work of his Humiliation was on this ſcore, and in the Accompliſhment of this Undertaking of his, and ſo it was done on the account of us Sinners 2 Cor. 5. 21. Nor indeed could all that Chriſt actually did and ſuſtered give us a through ſatisfaction on this account, without our being able to refer it to this Covenant, in which it is that we come to know what is the Efficacy and Acceptableneſs of it. We cannot then enter into the Covenant of Grace, without having an eye on the Covenant of Redemption: for in the exerting of Juſtifying Faith, we do not only believe that we ſhall be Saved, but we believe in Chriſt for Salvation, to come to us from his merit, by the application of the vertue of his active and paſſive Obedience to us for our Justification: and the acceptance of our perſons and duties in him, being Sprinkled with his Blood: and all this is a proper reſult from the Covenant we are now treating of.
4. A true Believer, who is entred into the Covenant of Grace with God, cannot ſtrongly plead for any Covenant-mercy at his hands without running up hither. It is true, the Covenant of Grace is ſure: it hath its firm and inviolable promiſes belonging to it, and every one that hath entertained it by a true and living Faith, is under the promiſes of it, and hath ſuch a Title to them as can never fail him. But let us obſerve, The Covenant of Grace hath its Conditions; and it is certain upon daily experience, that the beſt Believers do but poorly on their part perform that which is required of them, and are often failing in, and falling ſhort of their Duty in this regard: i… therefore they muſt always fix their eye upon that, and look no farther than themſelves, they would not ſeldom, be driven off from Prayer, and loſe their active hopes of acceptance with God; eſpecially when they are over taken with groſs prevarications, and woful ſcandalous failures in their Covenant Obligations: and theſe things have ſometimes held them under doubts, and fears, and darkneſs: and where ſhall they have their Souls lifted up again, and encouraged to go to God for the Grace and help which they need, but by remembring the Covenant made with Chriſt, in which they are given to him, and undertaken for by him? and not only ſo, but it is to be remembred, that there is no Meritorious vertue in the beſt Obedience or Covenant keeping which they over attain unto, to impetrate any mercy at the hands of God for them. Their Righteouſneſs when it is beſt, is but ragged and defiled. There is ſomething in all they do which wants a pardon, or elſe it cannot be accepted of them; and all the right that we have in any of that good which is laid up in the Promiſes of the Covenant of Grace, is derived to us from the merit of Chriſts Obedience and Satisfaction; and we can believingly ask for it upon no other ſcore. When therefore David pleads with God for good, he begs of him to be his Surety, Pſal. 119. 122. All the Encouragement that a Child of God hath to be importunate with God, and wait on him with expectation to be made to partake in his favours, which derive through the Covenant of Grace, is in this, that he knows, or is made to have an active hope, that his name is written in the Covenant of Redemption; and therefore he may boldly ask it for Chriſts ſake; becauſe he hath both purchaſed this good at the hands of God, and alſo that he did it for him in particular.
5. It is the Covenant of Redemption that eſtabliſheth, or maketh unchangeable, all the mercies and promiſes of the Covenant of Grace. For; although it is ſo that God, who is one party in the Covenant he unchangeable, and cannot falſify his word which he hath paſt; yet we who are on the other party, are mutable, and conſequent ly might violate the condition, and ſo come under a forfeiture, and loſe the Promiſes: and therefore ſuch as look no farther than the Covenant of Grace, and conſider the conditions of …, and the threatnings annexed to it, ſuch …, Rom. 8. 13. Hebr. 10. 38. & the like, have been ready to deny the Doctrine of Perſeverance; and ſet up the uncomfortable Doctrine of total and final Apostaſy, whereas this Covenant affords us a compleat Salvo for all this, becauſe in it, there is a ſecurity provided for the people of God, and a promiſe made to the Son that none of thoſe whom his father hath given him ſhall be loſt, or be ſuffered to draw back to perdition. The mercies of the Covenant of Grace are ſure mercies, becauſe they are the mercies of David, Iſa. 55. 3. i. e. They are ſuch as were promiſed to him; viz. to Chriſt, of whom David was a Type. The promiſes indeed are invariable, but if it be enquired how they came to be ſo, it is to be obſerved that they are ſaid to be in him, 2 Cor. 1. 20. It is he who gives them their confirmation: on this account it is that when God ſpeaks of his continuing his mercy to his people, notwithſtanding all their falls and falſe dealings in his Covenant, he Comemorates another Covenant as the ground of his ſo doing, Pſal. 89. 33, &c. Not the Covenant which was made with Davids Children, which intends the Covenant of Grace, but that which was plighted with David himſelf, i. e. with Chriſt, and that is the Covenant of Redemption. Emblematical of this are theſe obſervable Scriptures, 1 Kings 15. 3, 4, 5. 2 King. 8. 16. 34. and a clear diſtinction is therefore made between theſe two Covenants in that memorable place, Ezek. 16. 60. There is the Covenant made with them in the days of their youth, i. e. in the Wilderneſs, which was a Covenant of Grace, under Ceremonies, Signs and Types: this God ſaith he will Remember, i. e. graciouſly; he will perform the good for them which was held forth in it, notwithſtanding all they had done to provoke him to the contrary. But how will he do this? he will eſtabliſh unto them an Everlaſting Covenant, i. e. the Covenant of Redemption: and therefore obſerve, he doth not ſay he will eſtabliſh it with them; but unto them; i. e. he would make them receive the application of all the good which was provided for them in it: yea, indeed, this is it which ſets God on work, to bring about the mercy intended for his Choſen, when they are doing all they can to withſtand it, and lay the greateſt blocks in the way to it; becauſe he hath engaged to do this in the Eternal Tranſac… on that paſt between him and his S… about it.