The Unsearchable Riches of Christ, Sermon 4

The Unsearchable Riches of Christ · Sermon 4

p. 243Jeremiah 50. Verſ. 5. — Come, and let us Joyn our ſelves to the Lord, in a perpetuall Covenant that shall no… be forgotten.

SERMON IV.

IT is a moſt deſirable deſigne and worthy to be driven vigourouſly by us all, to the proſecution whereof it would very well become us to ſtir up and rouze our ſelves and one another, according to the Laudable Practice of theſe here mentioned, even to haſten towards a cloſure of the Covenant of Grace betwixt God and us: to have it ſounding loud in our ears, and to have it as the Language of our hearts whetted to an edge in purſuit of the thing. Come, let us Joyn our ſelves to the Lord, in a perpetual Covenant that shall never be forgotten: It should be the great work and buſineſs of a Communion-Sabbath in a ſpeciall manner, as it is our profeſſed deſigne this day, to cloſe and make ſure this Covenant and bleſſed bond betwixt the Lord and us.

Having ſpoken ſomewhat formerly at ſeveral occaſions to theſe ſweet words. I ſhall not now trouble …ou either with the diviſion or explication of them: but ſhall inſtantly propoſe Six or Seven Obſervations from them, and then ſpeak a word to the ſcope, and to the Application of them, in the cloſe: and though it be but a ſhort word from each of them that we have to ſpeak; yet they will be found to be very Concerning to us, and therefore we would take the more exact notice of them.

p. 244The Firſt Obſervation then is, that There is ſuch a thing as diſtinct Covenanting, or mutuall engaging in Covenant betwixt God and a poor ſinner. This is clearly holden out in theſe words as their Scope; It were to no Purpoſe for them to ſay, Come and let us Join our ſelves to the Lord in a Covenant, if there were not ſuch a thing as a Covenant union of God and ſinners. The Scripture is full to this Purpoſe, and the treatie of ordinances is kept up for this end; as we have it, Iſaiah 55.1, 2, 3. Ho every one that thirſts come to the waters, &c. Incline your ear and come unto me, Hear and your Souls shall live, and I will make an everlaſting Covevenant with you, even the ſure mercies of David. This is the Scope that the Ordinances aim at. In Proſecuting of this a little further, we ſhall, Firſt, Explicat what covenanting is, in generall. Secondly, What this covenanting with God is, 1. In reſpect of the parties. 2. In reſpect of the terms thereof. And 3. In reſpect of the ground on which it is founded. And Thirdly, To the form of this Covenanting.

Firſt then, Covenanting in generall may be cleared, from what-Covenanting among men is: Which is a mutuall engaging of two parties on Mutuall terms; the one Party offering ſuch a thing on ſuch terms and conditions; the other partie accepting on thoſe terms and Conditions On which the offer is made: as we ſee in a contract of Marriage, the man engageth to be the Womans, on condition that ſhe be his, and ſhe engageth to be his wife; as he engageth to be her husband, and each engageth to perform ſuitable duties to the other; And we make uſe of this the rather that the Scripture alludeth to it in this matter.

Secondly, We are to conſider Covenanting, as it is betwixt God and a ſinner: for we are not now ſpeaking p. 245of the Covenant of works betwixt God and Adam; wherein there was made an offer and Promiſe of life upon condition of Perfect Obedience; So that if he did that which was Commanded him, he ſhould live, but we are now ſpeaking of Gods Covenanting with a ſinner; for that is the Covenant ſpoken of here: It is indeed a great wonder that ever there ſhould have been a Covenant betwixt God and a Creature; But a greater wonder that there ſhould be a Covenant betwixt him and a ſinfull creature: whatever is ſpoken in Scripture of the Covenant of Grace, belongs to this Covenant. Firſt, The Parties in this Covenant are God and the ſinner, Gods Creature, but a ſinfull creature; It's the Lord Jehovah, and we the houſe of Iſrael, and we the houſe of Judah. Secondly, The terms of the Covenant are not, Do this and live, though the Promiſe be the ſame, for it's life that is offered; yet it's not on the ſame terms; for though the life be as good as that which was promiſed to Adam; yet the terms are far better: The ſubſtance of this Covenant we have ſet down, Jer. 30.31, 32, 33. and cited Heb. 8.10, 11, 12. unto which this ſame invitation doth here relate; I will make a new Covenant with the houſe of Iſrael and with the houſe of Judah, not according to the Covenant that I made with their Fathers; But this ſhall be it, I will write my law in their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my People, &c. And Come (ſay they here) and let us join in it: His engagement is to be their God, and their engagement is to be his people, and the terms follow; which are on Gods part, free forgiveneſs of ſins through the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt imputed to them, thorow whom they are accepted, as if there had never been a quarrel. And on their Part, by faith to take hold of him and of the Pardon of ſin, which ſeparated p. 246betwixt him and them, through Jeſus Chriſt, as he offered to them; Therefore, Rom. 10.6. It's calle… the Righteouſneſs of Faith, oppoſed to the Righteouſne… of the Law, ſpoken of befo e; and what ſaith it? ſaith not, who shall go up to Heaven? nor who shall d… ſcend into the depth? But the word is nigh thee, even i… thy mouth and in thy heart, that is the righteouſneſs Faith, which we preach, that if thou shalt confeſſe wi… thy mouth the Lord Jeſus, and shalt believe in thy hear… that God raiſed him from the dead, thou shalt be ſave… That is, if ye make ſuitable uſe of Chriſt for your Fea… with God, and give up your ſelves to him to be … Servants, ye ſhall get peace and Pardon of ſin here, a… E…ernal life and Salvation hereafter. Theſe in ſhort a… the terms on which God offereth himſelf to ſinne… Thirdly, The Ground of this, and how it comes to pa… tha… ſuch a Covenant is acceſſible, is the Mediators i… terpoſing in a Covenant of Redemption with the fath… concerning elect ſinners; wherein he hath procured th… Covenant of Grace betwixt God and ſinners, by … Performing the condition required of him in that C… venant; for this Covenant of Grace and Reconciliati… is nothing elſe, but the reſult of the Covenant of R… demption and the execution thereof; we had never … ground to ſay, that there is a way laid down for … peace with God, except there had been a Covenan… Redemption betwixt him and the Mediator; wher… the Mediator undertook to ſatisfie Juſtice for the ſins the Elect, by bearing their iniquities; and hath the P… miſe of being Satisfied for the travel of his Soul, by ſeeing of a ſeed, and by his Juſtifieing many thorow Fa… in him; as it is Iſaiah 53.11. This gives the riſe to t… Covenant of Grace betwixt God and ſinners; and the… fore theſe two are put together, Iſaiah 55.3. Ino… p. 247your ear, come unto me, hear and your Souls shall live, and I will make an everlaſting Covenant with you, even the ſure mercies of David; That is, the ſure mercies of the Mesſiah; the aſſignation whereof, even of the Purchaſe of Redemption made by him, is by Covenant made over to the Believer in him, and therefore when we ſpeak of this Covenant, it alwayes ſuppoſeth & implieth Chriſt, who Iſaiah 42 6. Is called the Covenant; becauſe he is given for the ground of Covenanting betwixt God and ſinners; it being by him and in him, that God and ſinners meet; there being a gulf (as it were) betwixt ſinners and God, he hath made himſelf the bridge on which ſinners may come over and meet with God; and the Covenant brings us to Chriſt; as under the Law, Chriſt was typed out by the Mercy ſeat and the Arke, wherein the law was put, to ſhew the linking together of Chriſt and the Covenant: the efficacie of the Covenant flowing from Chriſt, and the Covenant giving us a title to Chriſt, and making Chriſt acceſſible to us: It layes (as it were) a Bridge to us to ſtep on, and makes an open door to us to enter in by on Chriſt, and by Chriſt to the Holie of Holies thorow the vail, which is his flesh.

Thirdly, As for the Form of this Covenanting, it is, as in other Contracts, God making the offer; and the perſon accepting it; Gods offer is in the word of the Goſpel, wherein he ſaith, Come and I will made a Covenant with you: as the Apoſtle hath it, Rom. 10. The word is near thee, even in thy Heart and in thy mouth: and the Sum of it is, If ye Believe in Jeſus Chriſt, ye shall be ſaved; the propoſing whereof in the Goſpel, is the laying of Gods offer before you, and it's as really Gods offer, as if audibly he were ſpeaking to you from Heaven, as he once ſpake the Law on Mount-Sinai: p. 248It being his Authority, by which Miniſters are ſent treat & cloſe this Covenant with you: As it is, 2 C… 5. We are ambaſſadors for Chriſt, as if God were beſeec… ing you by us: we pray you in Chriſts ſtead, be ye reco… ciled to God: That is, be friends with him by enteri… in Covenant with him: and he ſheweth us the grou… of it: For he who knew no ſin, was made ſin for us t… we might be made the Righteouſneſs of God in him: Go… offer is, I am Con…ent to be thy God, and to make … that is mine forthcoming to thee for thy good, upo… condition thou quit thy own righteouſneſs and beta… thee to my Son the mediator for righteouſneſs and lif… The ſinners Covenanting is his formal and diſtinct, … leaſt, his reall conſenting to that offer on theſe term ſaying with his very heart, I am content to have God … be my God, not by vertue of any thing in my ſelf, b… by vertue of Chriſts ſatisfaction, which hath procur… acceſs to ſinners for peace and Reconciliation with Go… and this is called a Submitting to Chriſts Righteouſneſ… So then, there is a devoting of the Soul to God, a hear… conſenting to give it ſelf away to him to be ſaved a… Sanctified, to live to him and to his Honour; as i… Iſaiah 44.5. One shall ſay, I am the Lords, and anoth… shall call himſelf by the name of Jacob; and another sh… Subſcribe with his hand unto the Lord; As if it were ſai… whoſe are you? and the perſon ſhould ſay, I am God for, as plainly and diſtinctly, at leaſt as really and ſol… ly, a perſon wrought upon by Gods Spirit, gives … Anſwer and return to Gods offer in his Covenant, a… reſignes himſelf to God, as if Paper were laid down b… fore him, and he ſhould ſubſcribe his Name with … hand to be Gods. There is an obligation really tak… on, and a conſent plainly given: the perſon with … very heart Subſcribing the Contract; which, 2 Chr… p. 24930 8. is called a yeelding or giving the hand to God. He cometh with ſtretched out armes in the Goſpel, and ſaith, Man or woman, who findeſt thy ſelf loſt, cloſe with me in my Son Chriſt, and thou ſhalt be ſaved; and our conſenting is, our hearts catching hold of that word and yeelding to him, as one ſtriking hands with another, with whom he hath before been at odds & variance; in ſigne of his being content and ſatisfied to be reconciled to him, and of his being ſo in very deed.

The Second Obſervation is, That This covenanting wi…h God hath with it or in it a near union and Conjunction with the Lord. Let us (ſay they) Join our ſelves to the Lord in a perpetua…l Covenant; the word …o ning hath in it a ſpeciall Emphasis, being ſuch as is uſed to ſet out the conjunction that is betwixt the Husband and Wife; for this cauſe (ſaith the Lord) shall a man leave Father and Mother and cleave to his wife, and ſo the wife cleaveth to her husband; Thus the word is, Gen. 29.34. Now shall my Husband be joined to me; therefore she called his name Levi, which flowes from this root, Added or Joined, In proſecuting this point a litle, we would ſpeak ſhortly, 1. To the nature of this Union. 2. To the properties of it. Firſt, As to it's Nature, we would conſider, that there is. 1. A legall union, wherein by contract and bond there is a transferring of the intereſt of one Partie to another; which is here; for God becomes the ſinners God, and the ſinner becomes Gods own, as his portion and Property; Even as in marriage, the Husband p. 250is the wifes, and the wife is the Husbands, and the Relation ſtands, though they ſhould be in Severall Kingdomes. 2. There is a Myſticall union, which is ſpirituall and more Myſterious, wherbey God becometh one with Covenanting ſinners, and they become one with him; God by his Spirit dwelling in the Covenanter, and the Covenanter dwelling by faith in God: which floweth from the former mutually transferred right or legall union, and followeth on it: In which reſpect it's ſaid, 1 Cor. 6 17. He that is Joyned to the Lord is one ſpirit; He is Gods Temple, and God by his Spirit dwels in him: by this one ſpi it, is meant a Spirituall conjunction, Union or Communion whereby God takes hold really of the Soul by his Spirit, and the Soul takes a reall hold of God by Faith: they do mutually embrace each other, as the Husband doth the wife by vertue of their Union. 3. This Union implyeth a nearneſs, a friendlineſs, an intimacy and familiarity, and it is oppoſed to diſtance and eſtrangement from God: The Covenant really entered into, is like a bond to keep the believer near God, glued (as it were) and ſtraitly join'd to him: or it is a cementing with God, to ſpeak ſo: By this Covenant God and ſinners are made near and knit to one another and kept from ever Separating: There is ſuch a near and ſtrait Union betwixt Chriſt and Believers, as is betwixt the foundation or corner-ſtone and the houſe, yea as is betwixt the vine and the branches, Epheſ. 2. John 15.

Secondly, As for the Properties of this Union by p. 251Covenant, a few of which we ſhall only now touch at, not having acceſs to inlarge, as this Subject by it ſelf, would require. 1. It is with the Lord himſelf, not with any benefit, common gift or Grace or MercieMercy, theſe fo…low the union with himſelf, the Covenanter becomes one Spirit with him (as is ſaid,) and ſaith the Apoſtle, Epheſ. 5. we are flesh of his fl sh and b…ne of his bon…. 2. This Union is in and through Chriſt, by whom it is made up: he being the Temple and Tabernacle or meeting place wherein we meet with God: So that we are not anxiouſly to enquire, nor curiouſly to diſpute here, how our union with God, and with the Mediator do differ: we unite with God in him, and upon the Grounds of his Redemption, in which reſpect, our union with God is more Mediat. 3. This Union is very friendly, moſt firm and indiſſoluble: It's a wonderfull near and ſure Union. It is an inexpreſſible union, and therefore we muſt here give over ſpeaking further to it, only looking to a word of it, John 17.21, 23. in the 21. verſ. ſaith our Lord: That they all may be one, as thou father art in me and I in thee, that they alſo may be one in us: It's ſuch an union by the Believers being in God and in the Mediator, as is that, whereby God and the Mediator are one, though no parity is here to be underſtood, but a reſemblance only: and verſ. 23. I in them and thou in me, that they may be made Perfect in one: I in them, here the union is moſt Immediat: and thou in me, there the Union is more mediat, viz. by Gods being in the Mediator dwelling in the p. 252Believer, and the Believers dwelling in God, (the fulneſs of the God-head being in the mediator) by his meeting with God through faith in the Mediator: and indeed, were there no more but this, It ſaith that this Covenant is a good bargain.

The third Obſervation is, that Union with the Lord by this Covenant is accesſible to a run-away Sinner, that hath perverted his way, upon his coming aright to cloſe with him therein on the terms of it. Who are thoſe coming here to Join in Covenant with the Lord? It is, even thoſe ſpoken of Jerem. 3.6, 7. Back-ſliding Children, Treacherous dealers, who are bidden return, and he will heal their back-ſlidings: which could not be, if this Covenant were not acceſſible to ſinners: nay let me ſay, there is ſcarce any ſort of ſin, but the Lord out faceth it in his Covenant, as we may ſee, Jer. 3. where the Lord ſaith, Thou haſt played the harlot with many lovers, thou haſt ſpoken a…d one evil as thou could'ſt; yet wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, my Father? If we look to the groſneſs of ſin, were it like Scarlet or Crimſon, Iſaiah 1.18. It shall be made white like Snow and wooll: if ye be willing and obedient, ſaith the Lord, to cloſe a Covenant with me, ye shall eat the good of the Land. In the propounding of the Covenant, he will take away that exception of the groſneſs of ſin, which might ſtand in the ſinners way, were it even rotten Hypocriſy, deteſtable indifferency and luk-warmneſs in the matters of God, putting the Perſon in hazard to be ſpewed out of Chriſts Mouth, yet he ſaith even to ſuch (if they will indeed take his counſell, and be content to have p. 253their deadly evils removed and their wants ſupplied) I counſel thee to come and buy of me Eye-ſalve, Gold, and Garments: and Behold I ſtand at the Door and knock, if any man will open the door, I will come in to him and Sup with him and he with me. Only take this word of Advertiſment here, and then I ſhall clear and confirm the Doctrine further: when then we ſpeak of ſinners acceſs to God by this Covenant, we mean, that there is acceſs, only on Condition they take with their faults and come weeping, heart-broken and ſomeway ſuitably affected with their ſin; theſe only are the perſons that may comfortably expect this acceſſe, he ſeeks after ſuch, though he will find none ſuch till he make them ſuch. For further clearing and confirming of it then, we would conſider theſe Four things. 1. Gods end in the Covenant, which will make out this, that there muſt be acceſs to a run-away ſinner by this Covenant to union with God, when he comes home to him in the way of Repentance and Believing; becauſe his end in the Covenant is to ſave Sinners, often ſpoken of; to Juſtifie the ungodly, Rom. 4.5. To dwell with Rebels, Pſal. 68.18. To get a Name and a Praiſe to himſelf of being gracious: as it cannot admit of, nor let in a ſinner, but on this Condition; So it cannot but accept of a ſinner having this condition. 2. We would conſider Gods contrivance of the covenant in making it ſuitable to ſuch an end, ſo as it may make the Riches of his Grace to ſhine, and may be effectuall for the gaining of Souls; and therefore, 2 Sam. 23.5. It is ſaid in this reſpect, to be ordered in all things and ſure: and Jere. 31.33. compared with Heb. 8. The ſubſtance of it is ſet down compended in a few words, I will Pardon their iniquity and remember their ſin no more, &c. 3. We would conſider the adminiſtration of the Covenant; It's not in an p. 254immediat way, as that firſt Covenant made with Adam was, wherein there was no mediator, neither was there need of any; but it is in a mediat way by a ſuretie and Mediator, who hath taken on and engaged for the debt of the Covenanting ſinner, and hath under taken for his thorow-bearing: now why is this adminiſtration and diſpenſation? But becauſe the Principall debtor is a bankerout and not able to Satisfie for himſelf; therefore he hath acceſs to come and get Pardon, and to be friends with God thorow the Mediator. 4. We would conſider all the Properties of the Covenant, eſpecially the freeneſs of it, and we will find that they ſpeak out this; It's a Covenant of Sure Mercies, Iſaiah 55.3. And all the Promiſes and Articles of it reſpect ſinners, and hold forth this, that there is a way laid down, how a ſinner at feud with God, may get this Union made up by Covenanting wi…h him.

The fourth Obſervation is, that Covenanting with God is a very short cut for the quieting, peace, and happineſs of a treacherous back ſliding ſinner: Therefore, when theſe People here ſpoken of are, in their Holy heat and warmneſs, ſtirred up under the conviction and ſenſe of their guilt: as the ſhort cut to come to peace and a happy condition, they ſay, Come and let us Joyn our ſelves to the Lord in a Perpetuall Covenant. It's the accepting of Gods offer, and being content to be his on the account of Chriſts righteouſneſs, that they Propoſe to themſelves as the ground of their calme, quietneſs, and happineſs. This Obſervation implies theſe Three things. Firſt, That Covenanting with God, doth fully make the Covenanter happie, though formerly he hath been a miſerable ſinner; and O! This is a good bargain, that makes a ſinner compleatly happy: It makes him to ſay, Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there p. 255is none upon the earth that I deſire beſide thee: Pſal. 73. I ſhall name a few Scriptures to ſhew the full happineſs of a ſinner that enters in this Covenant: The firſt whereof is, 2 Sam. 23.5. Although my houſe be not ſo with God, yet he hath made with me an everlaſting Covenant well ordered in all things and ſure, and this is all my Salvation, and all my deſire: It's menſura Voti, even all that heart can wiſh: and theſe words being conſidered as David the ſweet ſinger of Iſrael his laſt words, when he is a dieing, they clearly imply a commendation of this Covenant as full for the happineſs of a ſinner. Another paſſage is, Revel. 21.7. He that overcometh shall inherit all things: How is that? even thus: I will be his God and he shall be my Son, that is, in ſubſtance; I will declare my ſelf to be in Covenant with him, This is the compend of the compleat happineſs of Glorified Saints in heaven, and the begun happineſs of Believers, of Sojourning Saints here on earth, in a leſs meaſure and lower degree; for in Heaven God will be all and in all: and is not this a good bargain, & good to ſinners? which commends it the more. A Third Place is, Rom. 8. Where it's told us, that nothing can be laid to their Charge, But it's anſwered in this Covenant. They have a Cautioner to pay their debt, and to ſtrengthen them for their dutie: I will (ſaith he) be their God and they shal be my People: I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me: I will pardon their iniquities, all bygones, and heal their back-ſlidings, they ſhall not get leave to go from me: would ye be pliable and yeelding to Gods Covenant; I will put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts, and a new heart will I give unto them, and will cauſe them to walk in my Statuts and to do them. Secondly, The Doctrine implies, as it is a full Covenant, or makes the Covenanter p. 256fully happy: So it makes him ſickerly & ſurely happy: 2 Sam. 25.5. It's a Covenant well ordered in all things and ſure, who ever by Faith betake themſelves to Chriſts righteouſneſs, and lay hold on this Covenant, may expect Communion with God as certainly as Adam before the fall had it for it's the ſame God that promiſeth who is as faithfull as ever he was: Hence it is called a word tryed as ſilver in a furnace ſeven times, a pure word that cometh out of the furnace alwayes as maſſie and weighty as it went in: and the ground of the Covenant being Chriſts ſatisfaction, it makes it Sure. Therefore he …s called a tryed Corner ſtone, a ſure foundation. Thirdly, It implies, that, as it is a Sure, So it is a compendious and ſpeedy way to happineſs & of deliverance to the Sinner, which maketh much for Gods praiſe: He is a very preſent help in time of trouble, or a ſpeedy help, Pſal. 46. So, Pſal. 32.5. I ſaid (ſaith Dav…d) I would confeſs my trangresſion, and thou forgaveſt the iniquity of my ſin: Immediatly (as if he had ſaid) upon my confeſſion, without longer delay: and Rom. 4.7. This Pſalm is made uſe of, to demonſtrat the Righteouſneſs which is by Faith in Chriſt.

The fifth Obſervation is, That ſinners who are lying under a quarrel with God and have the offer of a Covenant, should betake themſelves to it, and without delay p…t a cloſe to the bargain betwixt God and them. Come (ſay they here) and let us join our ſelves to the Lord, in a perpetuall Covenant, whereby is holden out, that when a ſinner hath acceſs to the Covenant with God, he ſhould flee to it & take hold of it quickly. In this reſpect, covenanting with God is compared to fleeing in to the City of Refuge, Heb. 6. That which I mean, is firſt, that a ſinner, who hath this Covenant in his offer, ſhould take no other way for Juſtification and freedom from p. 257ſin and wrath, but hold to this only and ſeek to be Juſtified by it. 2. That he ſhould do it ſpeedily: when the word of the Goſpel ſaith Come, he ſhould anſwer, Lo I come unto thee; when God by the Preaching of the Goſpel maketh a gracious declaration, that he will accept of loſt ſinners that come to him, and ſaith, This is the day of Salvation, this is the accepted time; as it is, 2 Cor. 6.3. and when by his miniſters he waiteth on you, inviteth and wooeth you, ye ſhould preſently, without delay or demurr, cloſe with the offer and accept o… the invitation.

The ſixth Obſervation is, that Thoſe who are convinced that they have ſinned and would fain be in Covenant with God, should endeavour to have it throughed and made ſure, to have it an abſolutely cloſed and ended bargain. This is very clear in this peoples practice, who concernedly ſay, Come let us Join our ſelves in a perpetuall Covenant never to be forgotten, they think they cannot get it made ſure enough, and therefore they joyn, never to be forgotten, to perpetuall, they Judged that it could not Poſſibly be made too ſure: which manifeſtly ſaith, that when God giveth an opportunity to enter into or renew a Covenant with him, we ſhould be Holily ſolicitous, in very good earneſt, and greatly concerned to have it made ſicker, as the words is, Nehemiah 9. verſ. laſt, We make a ſure Covenant and write it, and our Princes Levits and Prieſts Seal unto it, that word Iſaiah 44.5. Is remarkable to this Purpoſe, One shall ſay, I am the Lords, and an other shall call himſelf by the name of Jacob; and another shall ſubſcribe with his hand unto the Lord; That it might ſtand (as it were) over his head, as being formally and explicitly engaged in, with heart and hand: and they that know how fickle and inconſtant their hearts are: and how prone to p. 258deal looſely and unfaithfully in Gods Covenant, have good reaſon to look to this, that all be ſure work; that they get not the ſhell for the Kernell, and go not down to the grave with a lie in their right hand.

The Seventh Obſervation is, That There are ſometimes beſide other times, wherein ſome People beſide others have it pungently Put to them to enter in, and to renew their Covenant with God. Theſe here ſpoken of, who ſay (having Gods preſſing call to it, before they ſaid it o…e to another) Come and let us join to the Lord in a Covenant; are put to it more then others, and at this time more then at another: in a word People are then put to it in a mo…e eſpeciall manner, 1. At ſuch a time when the Goſpel is clearly, convincingly, and powerfully Preached unto them, Preaching of the Goſpell being Gods way of meeting and treating with ſinners, and t…e Miniſters and Preachers thereof being as his ambaſſadours Commiſſioned and ſent forth by him to treat, and cloſe a treaty with ſinners, on the terms c…n…ained in their Commiſſion: which when they with ſuitable concernedneſs and earneſt…eſs do, their hearers are the more put to it. 2. They are thus put to it, when ſome ſtirring and warmneſs of affection towards Covenanting wi…h God is wrought in them; or when their own frame, through Grace, Preſſeth them on to it; as we may ſee it did in this People. 3. When the Lord o…tener then once or twice, in frequently renewed opportunities of thi kind. Puts People to it; and more eſpecially in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper; the very fight and offer of the elements in the Communion ſpeak plainly, on the matter, to the Communicants, are ye indeed in earneſt in the great buſineſs of covenanting with God; Since ye are now to receive the Seal of it? If ye be not, ye notably Profane the Ordinance, by p. 259ſetting a Seal to a blank charter: It is therefore called the Covenant; This is the Cup of the New Covenant: Becauſe it puts you in mind of the Covenant, and puts you to it, whether ye will really engage in it: It is like the Kings appointing a day for ſealing of Pa…dons to Rebels; his Proclamation firſt Puts them to it, to accept of the Pardon; Next the heraulds put them to it: and then Laſtly the ſet and fixed time or day of the ſealing, puts them Moſt of all to it: and ſo it is with you in this Ordinance, that we are by and by to be about.

We come now to the Application of all, wherein we ſhall not inſiſt on all things that theſe Doctrines Miniſter ground for: but ſhall Pitch on ſome moſt Uſefull, and which are the great Scope of the Text and of the day.

And in the Firſt place, I would Beſeech you to endeavour to gather and compoſe Your ſelves, and gravely to ponder what it is, that this day ye are Preſſingly called to; It is even this, Come and let us Join our ſelves to the Lord in a Perpetual Covenant, never to be forgotten. Know and Believe, that there is ſuch a thing as Covenanting with God; That God is dealing with you to Covenant with him; and that it is a good bargain: To you is this word of Salvation ſent: And ye ſhould be very Seriouſly thinking how to get it accepted and made uſe of; how to receive this offer by Faith, and how to get your ſelves given up and awa… to him; becauſe in this Covenant (as I ſhewed before) there is a Mutu…ll engaging; God offers himſelf and all that is in him to be ours, and to be made forth c…ming for our good: and we by Faith cloſe wi…h the offer, and give up our ſelves to him to be at his diſpoſe: have ye any ſerious thoughts of this? But your ſelves to it, and we p. 260in the Name of the Lord put you to it, for we cannot well proceed any further, till ye be at ſome point in this: are ye in earneſt? Is this your errand in being here to day? If not, why are ye come hither? Is it to ſee how the day goeth, or is it only to get your Communion, as ye uſe to ſpeak? Alace! what's that? It's to Covenant with God, and ere ye depart this Place, to put it to a point, that it may be a cloſed bargain, that ſhould be your errand.

And therefore in the Second Place we tell you, that the great God is content to Covenant with poor, fectleſs and ſinfull C…eatures, whereat ye may wonder, and ſay, Is it ſo in very deed that God will dwell with men on earth? Will he indeed Covenant with men, with ſinfull men, with Treacherous dealing men, with backſliders? Yea we tell you, that it is ſo; he is content to be your God, and that ye poſſeſs all things in him, content to pardon you all your ſins, to give you Grace and Glory, even every good thing: to enter you heirs to a Kingdome, and on good and eaſie terms: to do it freely without Money, and without Price, If ye be but indeed content to accept of His offer on his eaſie and very reaſonable terms: and may not your very hearts laugh within you at the hearing of the glad tydings of this Covenant, and that God is yet content to make it up with you? O how ſappie and Maſſie is this! and that is a very ſweet word to this Purpoſe which we have, Pſal. …7 6. God, even our own God shall bleſs us, which may make the Believer ſmile: This relation of our own maketh the bleſſing double: and it flows from this formal, a… leaſt, real Covenanting and union with God, and the Believer hath a right to this and all things: He hath here an offer and another ſort of right, then he hath to his houſe and land or cloths, it's aright to God, that p. 261giveth a right to theſe things, I mean a Spirituall right: for we ſpeak not now of that which is civill: let us, therefore, ſtay our ſelves and wonder, and be ſtirred and affected with it, that the infinit and alſufficient God is content to make this good bargain, and even now to make it with us Sinners, even with inſignificant and unworthy us.

Thirdly, We make Proclamation of this bargain to you, and avouch, that there is Salvation offered to ſinners, and to be had through Jeſus Chriſt: the Lord alloweth and warranteth us to make this Proclamation, as well as he did Jeremiah, when he ſaith to him, Chap. 3.12. Go and Proclaim theſe words towards the North, return thou back-ſliding Iſrael, and I will not cauſe mine anger to fall upon thee, for I am merciful, ſaith the Lord, and will not keep anger for ever: He alloweth, nay he Peremptorily Commandeth that ye ſhould be put to it: and therefore when we have laid the Covenant before you: what ſay ye to it, what will ye do? We muſt have an anſwer from you: ye have his word and Oath for confirmation of it: O Believe and take hold of it, and ye ſhall get the ſeal from us as his Commiſſioners; who treat with you, according to our Commiſſion, in his Name; And here we muſt be particular, and be ye particular with your ſelves: take and receive what we ſay to you with a warrant, as the word of the Lord, for it is no leſs his Word now, then it was when Jeremiah and the other Prophets ſpoke it, when the Apoſtles ſpoke it, yea When Chriſt ſpake it himſelf: It's the ſame Covenant and the ſame word, that this day is preached to you; The Lord cals us to ſtir up our ſelves, and to ſay in good earneſt, Come let us joyn our ſelves to him in a Perpetuall Covenant, 1. The party inviting is the Lord Jehovah in the Mediator, and ſure he is a p. 262moſt, yea the moſt excellent Party; thy maker (ſaith he Iſai. 54.8.) is thy Husband. 2. There are in this Covenant excellent Promiſes: God is content to be your God and to take you for his people and Spouſe, to Pardon your iniquity, to heal your back-ſlidings, to Sanctifie and ſave you, and to make you eternally happy: and are not theſe deſirable? 3. It calls you to give your ſelves up to him: and indeed it is very reaſonable, that if the husband give himſelf to the wife, ſhe ſhould give her ſelf to him. Are ye then content to treat with God in the Mediator, and to be his on his own terms? It is good to meet and treat with God in him. Have ye any ground to except againſt this? Doth it pleaſe or diſpleaſe you? ſay to it, tell your mind? For I declare to you, that if ye get him to be yours, you muſt needs be his. I fear many of you ſtand and ſtick at this, notwithſtanding the high reaſonableneſs of it: is this, think ye, an evil, diſadvantagious, or Prejudicial exchange? whether is it better that the one and only true God reign over you, then that Sathan and a multitude of ſtrange Lords, your Luſts, taking the Throne (as it were) by turns, ſhould reigne over you? It's both ſad and ſtupendious, that ever this ſhould be ſuffered once to come in queſtion or debate; and yet, Alace! it's this, or ſome thing like this, at which it will ſtand: either ye will not take God for your God: or ye will not give your ſelves to him to be his People, on his own very reaſonable and eaſie terms? and I trow, ye will make no better. I would, therefore, yet again put you to it: for it's the very thing that ye are called to, the great buſineſs of the day, and it's come even to the ſhock.

And therefore, labour to be at a point, whether ye will cloſe with him or not: If ye will ſincerely ſay, we p. 263take the Lord to be our God, and give our ſelves to him, to be his People and ſervants: then we ſay to you, and aſſure you in his Name, that this Cup, that by and by ye are to drink, ſhall be according to his warrant, The new Covenant in his Blood. And to preſs you to the thing, let me but Ask you a few Queſtions. 1. Is there not need of Covenanting with God? Are there not many ſins on your ſcore? Is there not a quarrell betwixt God and you? Is not this bargain meet and ſuitable for you, which holds out remiſſion of ſins and peace with God? are ye not urgently called to it? And what ground of challenge will it be, think ye, that this was in your offer, and on very free and eaſie terms, and ye would not accept of it, but would needs deſtroy your ſelves? 2. If there be ſin and a quarrell, is there not a neceſſity to have it taken away? Have ye laid your account and reſolved not to be ſolicitous and carefull, whether ye be friends with God or not? And if ye will not ſay that, why do ye not enter this Covenant? 3. Is there any other way to get ſin pardoned and the quarrell taken away, but by making ſure your Covenant with God? David or any others that were ſaved, were they ſaved any other way? This Covenant was all his Salvation and all his deſire. 4. What will ye ſay in the day of the Lord, when the Trumpet ſhall ſound, and he ſhall call you to an account for refuſing his free and Gracious offer; when there will be no more treating with you, when he ſhall ſay, and make your own Conſcience ſay to you? It was plainly told you, that there was a quarrell ſtanding betwixt me, and you; It was told you, that I was willing to enter into a Covenant with you, and to remove that quartell, I ſent my Meſſengers unto you for this end, but ye made light of the matter: Say to it, O ſay to it; ye muſt ſay ſomething, p. 264Yea or Nay; ye are not left to be indifferent and to keep up your ſelves in this matter; I tell you if ye ſay not Yea, ye ſay Nay; and as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, Acts 13 46. Ye paſs ſentence on your ſelves, and judge your ſelves unworthy of Eternall life: It's interpretatively a ſaying, that ye will not have Heaven and life thorow Chriſt: and therefore, as ye would not deſtroy your own Souls, I beſeech you, nay I obteſt you in the Name of the Lord and for his ſake; accept of this Covenant. We tell you and as the Apoſtle hath it, we ſay, Be it known unto you, that through Jeſus Chriſt remisſion of ſins is Preached to you: He hath purchaſed life and Salvation to ſinners, And to you is the word of this Salvation ſent: Give, O give your conſent to the bargain, and that is all we ſeek of you.

Now to Proſecute this a little, and to put you yet further to it, becauſe it will ly before God, whether we have put you to it or not, and whether ye have accepted of this Covenant or not: whether we were in earneſt in Propoſing it, and whether ye were in earneſt in cloſing with it: Conſider, 1. The Perſons whom we put to this, and the things that we put you to. 2. The terms on which, 3. The grounds from which, and. 4. The qualifications and directions whereby.

Firſt, As for the perſons whom we put and preſs to this Covenanting with God: It's not thoſe only who have gotten their tokens warranting them to come to the Table, nor thoſe only that are debarred and ſo have got no tokens: but it's all of you, Thoſe who are afar off and near hand: but differently: To the tender Soul, we ſay, come forward: to the ſecure we ſay, Humble your ſelves and then come and join in this Covenant. The thing we call you to, is to take the Lord to be your God, and to give up your ſelves to be Gods, we call p. 265you to take God to be your Maſter, and your Father, your Saviour, your Head, your Husband, your Friend, even your all, and that is no ill nor ſmall offer: and we call you to give up your ſelves to God, to forſake your Fathers houſe, and all your kindred and to cleave to him: to join your ſelves to the Lord, as the Text hath it: and as it is ſaid, The Prodigall Joyned himſelf to a certain Citizen, So ye would joyn your ſelves to the Lord, and be beholden to him for your life.

Secondly, As for the Terms, they are in ſhort: that Seeing God ſaith, accept of my Sons Righteouſneſs, and ye ſhall be my Sons and Daughters: ye would freely accept of it, and take and put Chriſts Righteouſneſs in the place and Room of ſelf-righteouſneſs which was in the Covenant of works: found your plea before God on nothing that ye can do, but on Chriſts doing and ſuffering for you, which now by Faith ye reſolve to adhere to, and reſigne your ſelves to him without any reſervation, to be guided and ſaved by him, in his own way.

As for the Third, How, or from and by what grounds we put you to this: or rather how doth the Lord put us all to it? Firſt, Ye are put to it by his offer in the Goſpel: which, in diſcretion, cals you to give him an anſwer; he cries, Come unto me, and I will make an everlaſting Covenant with you, even the ſure mercies of David, And doth he not require an anſwer? And is it not incumbent to us who ſpeak to you in his Name, to crave your anſwer? We declare to you all, that ye may if ye will, come to be joined with God in Covenant, and may be ſure to be accepted of as his, if ye come aright; Now, what ſay ye to it? either ye muſt look on this as a cheat or cunningly deviſed fable, or if ye dare not look on it ſo, ye muſt accept of it and make it welcome. Secondly, Ye are put to it, in this reſpect, that the Lord p. 266brings you now and then under ſome conviction of the neceſſity of your peace with God; ſomething within you ſaith, that peace with God is worth the having and needfull, that this is a good bargain, and that ye have need of it, and there are now and then ſome raw reſolutions to put it to a point; and it may be there is ſomething preſently that puts you to it; and if not, ſo much the more ye would put your ſelves to it; leſt the Kingdom of God be taken from you. Thirdly, Ye are put to it by this ſame Sacrament; is it poſſible that ye can take the Communion for a Seal and confirmation, except ye Covenant with God before; If ye will not Covenant, ye prove your ſelves to be Treacherous diſſemblers in going to the Communion, and to be liars to God; when he preſents and offers his Covenant: ye profeſs to take his offer and to cloſe the Covenant with him, but ye refuſe, as it were, to take the Pen in your hand, or do throw it away: when he preſents to you the Cup of the New Teſtament, ye drink the Wine and ſpill the Blood, and ſo become guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord, when ye deſpiſe it, and will not make uſe of it, nor Covenant with God that ye may get the uſe of it. And therefore, Fourthly, Know, that ye are put to it preſently and peremptorily, & that the Lord will take it for a refuſall and for a ſcorning and deſpiſing on your part, if ye do it not; and do ye think it a litle matte… to have ſuch a guilt lying on your ſcore? what kno… ye, if ever God ſhall offer to Seal a Covenant with yo… again? and therefore we put you to it peremptorily as to theſe Three. 1 As to the thing, that when he invites, ye come, when he offers, ye receive and give th… Lord your anſwer, not a nay ſay, but a yea, as ye wi… be anſwerable: and upon your ſaying Yea to this Cov… nant on his Terms, we declare in his Name, that … p. 267ſays Yea in taking in the ſinner that fleeth unto him. 2. As to the whole of the thing; for ye muſt not half Gods Covenant; but as ye accept of God to be yours, ſo ye muſt give up your ſelves to him to be his; and as ye take Chriſt for paying of your debt; So alſo ye muſt take him to help you to do your du…ie; take all therefore, and ſubmit your ſelves intirely to him in this Covenant. 3. As to the time, ye muſt do all this preſently; for the Lord doth not allow us to give you an hour, or to promiſe to treat with you one hour after this; It's now, come and let us join our ſelves to the Lord; It's no difficult thing that ye are called to; It's to believe with the heart, and to confeſs with the mouth our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, as it is, Rom. 10.9. The Object is Chriſt: the Condition is Faith, whereby he is griped and taken hold of, and which goeth out towards him in the word: And ſo ye have no more ado, but when the offer and Promiſe comes out, to accept and ſubſcribe, and to ſay, I am the Lords, I will be his, to be ſaved by his Righteouſneſs and made Holy by his Grace, both which are contained in the Covenant; I am content to be beholden to him both for Holineſs and happineſs; and it ſhall be a bargain. The Lord himſelf perſwade you to do ſo, and that preſently without delaying, dallying, or ſhifting and off putting.

Now it may be, that ſome think this to be a good bargain, but they know not how to make it ſure and ſiker, ſo as it may hold for ever. And therefore this is the laſt thing, that in the 4th. Place, we would ſpeak a litle to, viz. How ſhall a perſon Covenant with God, and know that he hath done ſo in very deed? (for the Directions how to Covenant are ſo many evidences of Covenanting, when performed:) For Directions then in this matter; we would in generall, in the Firſt Place, p. 268have ground to ſuppoſe and take it for granted that ye know what ye are, even ſinners, and that Sin hath laid the Foundation of a quarrell betwixt God and you; and that ye know what he is a deſigning and doing by this Preached Goſpel, even to bring ſinners into this Covenant, and to have an union made up betwixt him and them: but ye will, belike, ſay, I know not how to make it ſure: there is no anſwer to this, but, be doing, till ye get it made ſu…e, for your unſureneſs muſt flow, either from ſomething on Gods ſide, or from ſomething on your ſide, ye dare not, I ſuppoſe, ſay that it flowes from any thing on Gods ſide, or if ye ſhould, this is the way to make him ſure (to ſpeak ſo;) and if it flow from ſomething on your ſide, he bids you, return back ſliding Children, and he will heal your back ſlidings, and make it ſure. But in the Next Place and more particularly, conſider, 1. Your end and deſigne, what ye… would be at; ye may have ſome generall aim at ſomething that is good in it ſelf; but that is not enough, i… muſt be ſomething more Particular and peculiar: Is … to get God to be your God? Doth that fill your eye… Is it to get your back ſlidings healed as well as pardoned? That is right, if your aim be to have God and Sp… rituall good; I mention this the rather, becauſe ſom… may love God and the Covenant, for ſome tempora… good; whereas others love him and his Covena… mainly for a Spirituall good, and think themſelves we… come to and made up thereby. Wherein lyes the d… ference will ye ſay; I anſwer in a word, to love G… and the Covenant only or mainly for temporall me… cies, is ill aod ſelfiſh: but to love God and his Cov… nant, to be made thereby really happy in the enjoyme… of him, and to be made conform to him in Holineſ… is good and deſirable, and neither ſelfiſh nor ſervile a… p. 269mercenary: as it is no unkindlie-like token in a wife to love her Husband, to be delighted in him, and to like well to enjoy his company: ſo it is a kindly like Mark for a ſoul to love God, on the account of the happineſs and Holineſs that are to be had in him, and from him: Love to God ſhoulders not out all regard and love to our ſelves ſimply, but it ſhoulders out love to luſts, and all inordinat love to ſelf and to every Idol, nay it's inconſiſtent with true love to God not to care whether we be happy in the enjoyment of him or not. 2. Conſider how, and by what means, and on what terms ye ſeek to come at that end: are ye ſecure, and ſenſleſs of your ſin & miſery without God? It's very like, that ye make but a blind bargain whereof ye will have no reall advantage; but have ye any kindly touch of your ſin and miſery, and of your need of a Saviour; and have ye recourſe to him, as one Able to ſave to the uttermoſt all that come unto God thorow him, and who lives for ever, to make intercesſion for them? Ye may know ſomewhat of your ſincerity in Covenanting with God by the way that ye come to him. 3. What uſe make ye of the Mediator, when ye are come to him? Is your peace with God, and your hope of holding by the bargain grounded on him? Do ye lay the weight of all the good ye expect on his mediation, on his Satisfaction and interceſſion, on his purchaſe? Do ye hold all thorow him? That's a good token. 4. Are ye content to give to God, as well as to take from him? To devote your ſelves to him for Service as well as to enjoy him and Happineſs in him? This alſo is a good token, as well as a direction. 5. Are ye in much Holy fear and Jealouſie of back-ſliding; and is it in your eye and aim purpoſely to Article this with the Lord, to put his fear in your heart, that ye may not depart from him; many perſons will p. 270ſometimes in a warm fit, or in a good mood (as we uſe to ſpeak) come far on, as Agrippa did, but quickly fall off, and return to their wonted byaſs, c…ldneſs and indifferency; therefore in your Covenanting with God, there would be much Holy fear, leſt it be not ſound, leſt it bold not; let your Soul ſay, now I am abſolutely and unreſervedly given away to God, not by Morgage or Wodſet only (to ſpeak ſo) but without reverſion, even for ever. 6. Ye wou…d come to cloſe actually with God himſelf in Covenant: many come to the word and Sacramen… to get, as they think, ſome good, but come not to the Covenant, to be really an… perpetually Joyned to the Lord himſelf. 7. Ye woul… ſeek after ſome heart-warming, by Gods Spirit withi… you, and ſome lively exerciſe of your faith in him, a… ye ſee to be in this Peoples caſe. 8. Perſons that ar… in earneſt will be much affected with bygone ſlips, failings and unfaithfull dealings with God, and are afraid o… falling back and of dealing looſly with the Lord; an… this puts them on to be more Solicitous and carefull to take on the mo bands, and to caſt the knot the faſte… becauſe the heart is deceitful; Come (ſay they here and let us Join our ſelves to the Lord, in a Perpetual C… venant never to be forgott n; They are not content wi… a Covenant, except it be ſiker; the heart proteſts againſt it ſelf if it ſhall draw back, and reſignes and r… nounces its liberty to do ſo any more, if it may be ca… …ed liberty. 9. A perſon would aim to have him ſe… ſure and ſatisfied as to this, that he hath really given h… conſent, that he may have quietneſs in the aſſurance … its being ſo; yet not laying the weight of his Peace o… his clearneſs and aſſurance: but becauſe his comfo… much depends thereon, therefore he will endeavour … have any blank filled up, and the buſineſs put to a poi… p. 271he comes to this Covenanting with Holy fear, ſelf-ſuſpition and jealouſy: and goeth from it with fear; and as he is attended with this fear in Covenanting, ſo in receiving the Sacrament the Seal of the Covenant; Come (ſay they) and let us Join our ſelves to the Lord, in a perpetuall Covenant that shall never be forgotten; O! So ſure as they would have it; ye who ſhall thorow Grace come thus, ſhall find the Lord Jeſus waiting and rea…y to welcome you.

But it's like, ye will Ask, how is the Sacrament made uſeful and helpful in this joyning to the Lord in Covenant? I Anſwer in generall, as to the Believer, that all the Promiſes are his, and it Seals all the Bleſſings of the Covenant to him, Becauſe the condition of the Covenant is found in him; Even as a pardon given to a Rebell on condition he lay down his Arms, when he doth lay them down and accepts of the Pardon, the Seal is appended to it, which makes it firm and ſure. But what if the perſons doubt of their having entered into the Covenant? Anſwer 1. They are either ſuch as are meer ſtrangers to God and have no deſire after nor reſpect to the Covenant, thoſe are under Gods curſe and ſhall get no good of the Sacrament, becauſe they reſolve not to take Chriſt to fulfill the condition of the Covenant in them, and are not in earneſt to be in under the bond of the Covenant; yet if even ſuch would ſeriouſly reſolve to fulfill the condition, or rather to take Chriſt to help them to fulfill it, they ſhould be welcome: or they are ſuch as are doubting, though they have ſome honeſt deſire; ſuch would remember, the bargain is Mutuall, and they muſt engage to God, if they would have God engaged to them; and if ye have not done it before, do it even now, and the Sacrament ſhall be uſefull and helpfull to you, in theſe reſpects p. 272more Particularly. 1. For ſealing this general trut… If I believe in Chriſt I shall have eternal life; In whic… reſpect, it's like a pardon offered to a Rebell on cond… tion he lay down his Arms; he would firſt ſee it i… writ, and then he would have it Sealed, well (ſai… the King) ye ſhall get it Sealed. 2. It's uſefull a… hath influence in a Moral wa…, to make you accept. Pardon, and to enter in the Covenant; In which r… ſpect, it's an argument, as to allure the Rebell to acce… of the Pardon, So to perſwade and aſſure him, that o… his acceptance he ſhall have it actually and certainl… when it's holden forth Sealed: for, ſaith the Lord, … the Sacrament, ye have my Covenant, and here I a… ready to ſeal it. 3. It furthers our joining in Covenan… In reſpect of its clear holding forth and manifeſting th… bleſſings of the Covenant; the word ſaith, that ye a… Sinners, and that ye will get nothing that is truely goo… but in and through Chriſt: and that God is content … Covenant with you, and to Pardon your ſins throug… him: and the Sacrament brings Chriſt and the bleſſin… of the Covenant to be ſome way viſible and ſenſible … you: and the Go…pel tells, how it is done. 4. In th… Sacrament the Lord condeſcends in the moſt forma… way to Covenant: for in it he ſaith take you my Sou… blood to waſh you who are guilty and filthy: and you… taking is, as it were, a ſtriking of hands with him, an… a ſaying, content Lord, let this blood waſh me: and thi… looking to the word of inſtitution, which gives foot in to Faith, and exerciſing Faith thereon as your warran… your Faith is helped to take hold of Chriſt by and … the Sacrament. 5. It helps to cloſe with the Covenan… by letting you ſee the grounds of the Covenant, wher… on it is bottomed and built. If thou ſhouldſt ſay, Thoug… God would Covenant with me, I will not keep: Th… p. 273Sacrament holds out Chriſt as Cautioner, that hath put himſelf in our Room and engaged in our Name to make us forth-coming, and if thou ſhouldſt yet ſay: will God indeed accept of the like of me? It ſa…th, here is a broken and bleeding Saviour and Mediator to lead thee to God, a Saviour who hath made himſelf a propitiation for ſin: and hereupon the ſinner may be ſtrengthened to take hold of the Covenant, becauſe in the Sacrament he ſees Chriſt himſelf laid as a bridge, on which he may come over to God, and his rent fleſh as the Vaill through which he may, as by a new and living way, enter into the Holieſt.