The Unsearchable Riches of Christ, Sermon 5
Jeremiah 50. Verſ. 5. —Come, and let us Joyn our ſelves to the Lord, in a perpetuall Covenant that shall no… be forgotten.
SERMON IV.
THere are Two main and Mighty uptaking Buſineſſes, to the People of God; The one whereof is, how to win to be in Covenant with God, to be friends and in good terms with him. The other is, how to ſtand to, and keep Covenant with him, and to live as being made friends with him according to the obligation that lyeth on them. This is the great deſigne of all preaching, to bring them within the Covenant, who are without: and to make thoſe who are within the Covenant, to walk ſuitably to it; and as theſe are never ſeparated on the Lords ſide: So ſhould they never be Separated on our ſide therefore theſe People are brought in here Saying Let us Join our ſelves to the Lo…d in a Covenant: and not only So, but there are Two words added by them, to ſhew their earneſt deſire to keep and ſtand to the Covenant: The one is, A perpetuall Covenant: the other, a Covenant that shall not be forgotten, the impreſſion whereof may never wear away: and this we conceive to be their meaning, 1. Becauſe to forget the Covenant, in Scripture, is to deal falſly in it, and to forget the Covenant and to break it, are the ſame. 2. Becauſe it is (as we take it) oppoſed to their fear of falſe dealing in the Covenant: as if they had ſaid, we were once in Covenant with God, but we did deal falſly in it and forget it: Let us now therefore Join our ſelves in a perpetual Covenant never to be forgotten, Let it be a conſtant and ſtanding, a laſting, even an everlaſting bargain.
This being the meaning of the Words, we ſhal… ſpeak to Four Obſervations from them (the Subſtance whereof ye have heard touched on already and theſe are.
Firſt, That The great hazard which a People Covenanting wi…h God are in, is to ſlip and ſlide fro… their tye and engagement to him, and to forget the Covenant.
The Second Is, That The great ev…dence of right entring in Covenant with God, i… to be ſerious and much concerned in keeping of it, even as much as in entring into it.
The Third is, That The great deſigne and dutie of a Covenanter with God is, never to forget the Covenant, but freshly to remember it, So as to be anſwerable to it in Practice.
The Fourth is, That The great mean whereby this deſigne is got proſecuted and this duty pe formed, is adhering and cleaving to God, accor…ing to the Covenant. Let us (ſay they) Join to the Lord in a Covenant; In this reſpect, adhering to him in it is the mean to keep Covenant; So as we may never fall from it.
The Firſt Obſervation then is, that The great hazard that a People Covonanting with God a…e in, is to ſlip and fall from their engagment to him: or There is ſuch a Covenanting with God, as people may ſoon forget and fall from: a Temporary and unſiker Covenanting, that holds not: A perpetuall Covenant never to be forgotten, Suppoſeth that there is a ſort of Covenanting that ſlips like a knotleſs thread (to ſpeak ſo) and abides not. This is ſadly verified in the experience of many common profeſſors of Religion, and often even of the Godly themſelves in a meaſure; Even now there will be a bargaining with God, and within a litle they will forget it: Peter ſaith, Though all should forſake thee, yet will not I, And yet within a very litle he is found ſleeping, and that ſame night denies and forſwears his Maſter: ſo Deut. 5. the People ſay, all that the Lord hath Commanded us, we will do, and the Lord ſaith, they have well ſaid, O that there were ſuch a h…art in them: and yet within the ſpace of litle more then fourtie days, they ſet up a golden Calf for their God: So Pſal. 78.34 35, 36, 37. When he ſlew them, then they ſought him: they retu…ned and enquired early after God: they remembred that God was their Rock, and the moſt High their Redeemer; but they did flatter him with their mouth, and lied unto him with their Tongue, for their hearts were not ri…ht with God, neither were they ſtedfaſt in his Covenant, they abode not by the mint and eſſay which they made. But I think this is beyond any need of Proof; we rather ſtand in need to have the impreſſion of it made deep upon our hearts; and to go from the work we have been about with Holy fear and jealouſie over our ſelves, beſpeaking our ſelves thus, what if this engagement, we have come under, hold not, but prove like th… hanging down of the head like a Bulrush for a day? Serious thoughts of this hazard would thorow Gods bleſſing, further the exerciſe of watchfulneſs a great deal more; when Carnal Self-Confidence and fearleſneſs creep on & take hold of us, we (as it were) lay aſide our Armour, fooliſhly fancying that there is no hazard, but that all will be well; were there more of this Holy fear, there would not be ſuch frequent ſurprizes; have ye not often been ſurprized and proved unſtedfaſt in Gods Covenant? And ſince ye have ſo many and clear proofs of the truth of this Doctrine in your own ſad experience, is there not the greater need of Holy fear and watchfulneſs?
The Second Obſervation is, That, Thoſe who are ſincere and Serious in Covenanting with God, will be no leſs ſo, in keeping of and ſtanding to it. Where People are ſound and Honeſt at the heart, it will be no leſs an uptaking work to them, how to keep Covenant, then it was to get it entered in; Therefore theſe here mentioned have it as one peece of their Seriouſly uptaking buſineſs, how to be joined to the Lord in Covenant; and another, how to get it ſtood to, ſo as it may be a perpetual one never to be forgotten: the Same reaſons that prove that there ſhould be, or that there is Seriouſneſs in making & cloſing the Covenant, will alſo prove that there ſhould be, and will be ſeriouſneſs in endeavours to keep it; for if the Perſon honeſtly mind to enjoy the Bleſſings Covenanted, he muſt and will endeavour to keep and ſtand to the Covenant; If he honeſtly mind and ſincerely deſire to be in good terms with God through the Covenant, he muſt and will endeavour to ſtand to the Terms of the Covenant, and breach of Covenant will waken a Challenge. If it be a Principle of true ſaving Grace that puts a perſon to deſire to be under the bond of Gods Covenant; that ſame Principle will make him deſire and endeavour to abide under that bond, and to keep faithfully to him; Thus David ſaith, Pſal. 119. verſ. 29.30. I have choſen the way of thy precepts; and I have ſtuck unto thy teſtimonies: There is a chooſing of the Covenant and Teſtimonies, and a deſigne of ſticking to them, when upon choice cloſed with.
The Uſe of this Point ſerves for Inſtruction: would ye fain have a mark of your honeſty in Covenanting with God? Here it is, and we know no better mark or evidence to give you then this, even to be ſerious and much concerned in keeping Covenant: God will never account that man to be a true Covenanter; that will caſt his law behind his back. The Apoſtle James Chap. 1. Speaks of two ſorts of men that are bearers of the word, and be compares the one ſort, viz. Forgetfull hearers, to a man, Who beholding his naturall face in a glaſs, goes away, and ſtraightway forgets what manner of man he was; but the other ſort are ſuch, Who are no… only hearers but doers of the word: that man (ſaith he) shall be Bleſſed in his deed: It is not the ſayer, but the doer and the keeper of the words of the Covenant, that is bleſſed: as many as Seriouſly engage to God, are put on (as we ſaid before) with as much ſeriouſneſs, in endeavouring the performance of their engagement, as to come under it: I ſpeak not of a Perfect performance or fulfilling of engagements without any the leaſt defect, that is not to be win at here: but of Serious minding and endeavouring, in the Lords ſtrength, the Performance of that which we are engaged to: For there is a great difference betwixt mens failing and ſlipping of infirmity, and their ſinning with allowance: the former ſheweth a body of Death to be yet remaining, and may conſiſt with faithfulneſs in Gods Covenant: but the latter ſpeaks out a Slothful careleſs and negl…gent undervaluing of God and of his Covenant: let never ſuch a man cloke himſelf with the pretext of being in Covenant with God, nor Palliat his palpably groſs and voluntary breaches of Covenant, with the pretext of infirmity, who doth not ſeriouſly drive it as his great deſigne, to be fai…hfull in Gods Covenant.
Now would ye know, wherein this Seriouſneſs in keeping and Performing Covenant conſiſts. Ye may take it in theſe Characters. The man that is Serious in performing his engagement, 1. His heart is taken up with it, and there is an ardent longing to be anſwerable to the Covenant that he is entered into with God; His greateſt wiſh in all the world is, as to be in it, ſo to be faithfull in keeping it; therefore ſaith the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 119.5. O that my wayes were directed to keep thy ſtatuts; and this is given as a mark of the Bleſſed man who is undefiled in the way: and ſaith he verſ. 6. Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have reſpect unto all thy Commandments; which is a reaſon of the former, and a confirmation of it; he deſignes to be ſhort in his obedience to no command, and he does not allow himſelf in his ſhort-coming even as to degree, but is conſtant in purſuing his deſigne always even unto the end. 2. Seriouſneſs in performing appeareth, by kindly acknowledging the impreſſion of the weightineſs of the eye and obligation that the Covenant lays on Perſons; it ſomeway affects and burdens them, ſo that they walk not ſo lightly as others do under the obligation & debt of the Covenant; though it be a friendly debt, and alſo a Priviledge: Their burden is not, that they are under the obligation, but how to get it performed, thus ſaith the Pſalmiſt, Pſa. 56.12. Thy vows are upon me, O God: they take on vows to God, and keep them on, and walk, as being under them: this is a main thing to be looked to in keeping Covenant. 3. This ſeriouſneſs in performing, appears in the fear that perſons have of going wrong and Miſ-carrying; they are afraid to break to God: neither are any ſo ſuſpicious of them, as they are of themſelves, knowing by ſad experience, that their hearts are deceitful above all things: and this is a very native evidence, conſidering what we heard of our ſickleneſs, which cannot be without the impreſſion of fear. 4. It appears in a Holy carefulneſs and diligence to prevent that which they fear: leſt at any time they let a buckle ſlip (to ſpeak ſo) and leſt that which they feared come on them, their fear puts them to diligence to prevent the thing feared: This makes them to faſt and Pray, and to be watchfull over themſelves in looſe and untender company, and to eſchew them as far as they can, and to hazard ſome loſs, rather then to put themſelves under a ſnare; watching and praying leſt they fall into the ſin of dealing falſely in Gods Covenant. 5. It appears in the ſharpneſs of challenges, when any thing miſcarries in their hand: They are ſoon challenged for the very firſt beginnings of a breach: a wrong look will affect them: therefore faith Job, Chap. 31. I made a covenant with my eyes, why then should I look upon a maid? And the heart, while tender, will loath and ſcare at the leaſt thing that hath the remoteſt tendency towards a breach, were it but the appearance of evill: Any the leaſt guilt ſoon toucheth and ſmiteth them, not only that which is their own, but even that of others: Thus good Ezra ſaith, Chap. 9. Should we again break thy Commandments, and Joyn in affinity with the People of theſe Abominations? And he lyeth in the duſt before God mourning, becauſe of this. 6. It appears in reſpect of the exerciſe of a perſons Faith: as It's an uptaking work and buſineſs to honeſt Souls, to get their Faith founded rightly in cloſing the Covenant with God, that they be well grounded in believing: So it is no leſs an uptaking and exerciſing work, to be improving their faith on Gods Promiſes, to make them forth-coming according to their engagement and for keeping Covenan…: which is the Apoſtles exerciſe, Gal. 2.20. To live by Faith on the Son of God: I am (ſaith he) Crucified with Chriſt, nevertheleſs I live, yet not I, but Chriſt liveth in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh, is by Faith on the Son of God, who loved me and gave himſelf for me: and try it who will, they ſhall find it to be an uptaking work, rightly to exerciſe Faith for entertaining of Spiritual life, and for preventing a Covenant breach with God. It may be, for as many Profeſſed Covenanters as are here, that but few of you know much, if any thing at all, what it is to be taken up with being Anſwerable to the Covenant according to your engagements: this, no doubt, makes much unſound work, that ye do not ſingly and ſeriouſly deſigne this: that ye reach not forward, that ye bear not down the b…dy, and bring it under Subjection leſt ye come ſhort here. If ye were ſuitably ſerious, theſe Characters and evidences might be as ſo many directions to you: there would be much watchfulneſs in doing; ready entertaining of challenges and convictions: much hea…t melting under the ſenſe of wrongs done to God: and the very appearances of evil would he ſcared at and appear terrible. There is an evil readily incident to many Profeſſours of Religion, that they would fain be at marks of a good Spirituall ſtate and of being in Covenant with God, but ſuch as would not diſturb their carnal confidence, eaſe, and lazineſs, nor put them on to painful diligence: but we have no ſuch marks to give: neither dare we for the fear of God, and becauſe of the hazard of Souls, aſſigne any ſuch; there being none ſuch given or aſſigned in the word of God: nay let me tell you, that if there be not Painfull diligence and Faithfulneſs in keeping Covenant with G…d, it will darken the light of any other mark that can be given; and no doubt, it's this negligence and unfaithfulneſs that makes many good marks, clear in themſelves, dark to many Chriſtians, while they give not diligence to make their calling and election ſure, and give not all diligence to add one Grace to another, and one degree of Grace to another: It is alſo the cauſe of uncomfortable walking, yea of uncomfortable Communicating: but to be ſincere & ſerious in owning our Covenant-engagements, and faithfully forth-coming in the Fruits thereof, and in a cor…eſpondent converſation, is a mark that will give comfort, and ſome quietneſs at leaſt, till Comfort come: the Lord will comfortably confeſs ſuch as faithfully confeſs him.
The Third Obſervation is, that It is and will be the great ſtudy of Perſons really entered in Covenant with God, to have it an abiding bargain, a perpetuall Covenant never to be forgotten: This is their deſigne as well as their duty, that their Practice and walk may be ſuitable to the Covenant. And it being the main thing implied in the words, and that which we intend to inſiſt on: I ſhall in the proſecution of it, ſpeak a litle to theſe three. 1. To what it is to aim to have Gods Covenant perpetual, and never to be forgotten. 2. To the reaſons and the ground that there is to preſs this. And 3. To ſome motives and encouragements for exciting to it.
For the Firſt, viz. What it is to ſtudy to have Gods Covenant Pe…petuall and never to be forgotten? We take it up in theſe particulars. Firſt, That thoſe entered in Covenant would drive the great deſigne of the Covenant; which it Summed in theſe Two words, To have God to be ours, and our ſelves to be Gods; It's even that which we have in Anſwer to the firſt queſtion of our excellent Catechiſm, What is Mans chief end? To enjoy God, and to glorifie him; to enjoy him as our own God, and to glorifie him, by acknowledging our ſelves to be his, and by devoring our ſelves to his Service, as being a People formed for himſelf, to shew forth his praiſe; This ſhould be vigorouſly driven, as the great deſigne of the Covenanter with G…d; and it would be a notable help to keep Covenant: even to live and walk, So as we may have Gods Company: for what Uſe ſerves Gods Covenant unto us, and our entering therein, if we continue as great ſtrangers to him as before? If this be not driven as our deſigne, we forget wherefore we Covenanted. Secondly, There would be a minding of our own obligation in the Covenant, as the condition or mean by which the end, viz. The enjoying of God, is come at; which is in a word, to be his, to walk before him, as he willeth Abraham to do. Walk before me and be thou Perfect, God himſelf is that which the Covenanter ſhould Principally aim at; & walking before him is the mean appointed for coming at that end; in ſhort, what ever the Covenant ſaith in reference to our duty; as to abandon Luſts, To be Holy in all manner of Converſation: to be watchful: to glorifie God in our Bodies and Spirits which are his, &c. Is that which we are tyed to in the Covenant, and which we would ſeriouſly drive at as our great deſigne. Thirdly, There be a minding and remembring of Gods engagement to us in the Covenant, which is a part of it, as well as our engagement to him; and never to be forgotten by us: Return (ſaith the Lord, Jer. 3.) Back-ſliding Children, and I will heal your Back-ſlidings: Return, for I am Married to you: I will be your God and guide even unto Death: I will never leave thee nor forſake thee, &c. And this minding and remembring of Gods part of the Covenant, is a crediting of his Promiſe; Many Believers mind and remember their own part of the Covenant, but forget that God is tyed to them: which is to Remember, not a Mutuall engagement, ſuch as the Covenant bears out, but only our own Particular engagement, which makes us have ſo many failings on our ſide, and doth very much weaken our hands in dutie; becauſe we lay not the weight of our performances on God that hath Promiſed, who is faithful and will alſo do it: We will find it to be frequent and familiar to the Saints men ioned in Scripture, to mind Gods part of the Covenant as well as their own, and Particularly to David in the Book of Pſalmes, who ſaith, Thou haſt made a Covenant with thine anointed: Thou haſt laid help upon one that is Mighty: art not thou from Everlaſting our God? Lord remember thy Covenant, that is the Covenant that God hath made with his People; and of…en elſe where. The great weight of a Believers life and conſolation lyes here: Alace! what would our life, or our engagement be, and what would our Comfort and Hope be, without his engagement to us in the Covenant? And if this be not ſuitably minded and remembred it will prove but a very heartleſs bargain. Fourthly, It implies this, Seriouſly to endeavour to conform our Practice to the many great Obligations that we ly under to him, and which Gods offer and Covenant do on many accounts call us to. This is a ſhort hint of what it is to keep and do the Covenant of God, and to Perform it alway even unto the end, to have his Covenant Perpetual, and never to be forgotten.
As for the Second. To wit, the grounds and reaſons of this, and whereby it may be preſſed. Firſt. We would think of and believe the reality of Gods Covenant, the reality of the promiſes in it, and of all that is ſpoken of it; and would put our ſelves to it, if indeed we look on it as ſuch. The truth is, it is the Language of our unbelief, that we ſcarcely think God to be in earneſt; as if all that is ſpoken of this Covenant were but a cunningly deviſed Fable: If we really believed, that by his Bleſſed Covenant, we may be brought to enjoy God and to be made conform to his Image in Holineſs: to have our vile bodies at laſt made conform to his Glorious Body, &c. And that as certainly we ſhall be poſſeſſed of ſuch great and glorious priviledges by keeping this Covenant, as we a e certain that this world is yet ſtanding; ſuch a Faith would prove to us the evidence of things not ſeen, and the Subſtance of things hoped for: and would be a notable inci…ment and ſharp Spur to Holy activitie in, and to quick diſpa…ch of called for duty: O! But it be a good and reall …argain, and will have wonderfull following, to all that keep it: and whether this be now Believed or not, it will be found a litle hence, that this bargain was one of the beſt that ever was heard tell of in the world. Secondly, We would ſeriouſly bethink our ſelves, what will come of it, in caſe there be Groſly unfaithfull dealing, and unſtedfaſtneſs in Gods Covenant. I ſhal only name theſe five things that will follow on it. 1. Much ſin. 2. Much ſhame. 3 Much reflection on God. 4. Much wrath, and. 5. Much want of peace, and much anxiety in the Conſcience, that is guilty of this ſin. 1. I ſay, much ſin: better there had never been a Covenant in your offer, and that ye had never proteſt your entering into Covenant with God: It's better (ſaith the wiſe man, Eccleſ. 5.5.) not to vow to God, then to vow and not to perform: It had been better that many of you had been cruſhed in your Mothers belly, or that ye had been born Turks and Pagans, and had lived and died ſo, then to be found among them that deal falſly in Gods Covenant, The groſſeſt ſins of Pagans are in ſome reſpect as no ſins in compariſon of this, John 15.22. 2. There will be much ſhame before God, even ſhame and confuſion of Face, everlaſting ſhame: they shall riſe from the dead to shame and everlaſting contempt, Dan. 12. Sinners will have much ſhame ere all be done, for every ſin, But ſuch as have wickedly betrayed their truſt to God, and after they had made Profeſſion of entring in Covenant with him, have dealt Perfidiouſly and falſly in it, will be in a manner hiſſed at amongſt devils and reprobat Pagans, who never had ſuch offers, neither made ſuch Profeſſions: and their condemnation will be acknowledged to carry eminent and conſpicuous deſert in it: Becauſe ſuch had a good bargain, and dealt treacherouſly with God, and quite maried it to themſelves: they have often alſo much ſhame amongſt men; even here: The man (ſaith Chriſt) That hears my ſayings and does them not, is like unto a foolish builder, that built his houſe one the ſand: and elſewhere he reſembles raſh engagers in profeſt Covenanting with him, to men who ſit not down to count the coſt, that begin to build, and not being able to finiſh, expoſe themſelves to the Mockage, Scorn and Deriſion of all that paſs by: Such and ſuch a man (will ſome be ready to ſay) was a great Profeſſor, but now behold what is become of him, take him up yonder, he ſeemed once to have ſome tenderneſs, but now he is quite turned aſide, and become groſs and looſe: Men of any Morall honeſty and ingenuity will be aſhamed to break their word & to violat their engagements one to another in worldly matters: how much greater ſhame is it to break to God, and to deal falſly in his Covenant? 3. It hath deep reflections upon God: for the Covenant-breaker ſaith on the matter, that it repents him that ever he made it, for he hath never gotten good of it, and that God hath not been faithfull in keeping to him, and that therefore he thought himſelf looſed from all its Obligation: Now will any of you dare to ſay, that the Covenant is not a good bargain, or that God is not a good, reſponſall and faithfull party to deal with? What iniquity have y…ur Fathers found in me (ſaith the Lord to his Profeſſing people, Jer. 2.) that they are gone ſo far from me? Come (ſaith he Micah 6.) Before the Mountains, and let the Hils hear my Controverſy with you, what iniquity have ye found in me? wherein have I wearied you, teſtifie againſt me. Sure, all that depart from God, rub reproach on Gods Covenant as a bad bargain, and on God as a bad and unfaithfull party to deal with: O high and horrid practical Atheiſme and Blaſphemy! Doubtleſs ſuch will find that they have played the fools egregiouſly in Committing theſe two great evils, in forſaking God the Fountain of living waters, and in digging to themſelves Ciſterns, even broken Ciſterns that could hold no water: O! If ye could Imagine, what ye will think of it ere long, when ye will not get a drop of watter to cool your tongue, becauſe ye ſaid by your practice, that God was not worth the having, And to the Almighty, depart from us, we will have none of thee, neith…r will we have the knowledge of thy ways. 4. Much want of peace and much anxietie will follow upon it, even the penitent and converting People of God, Jer. 3.20, 21. have much bitterneſs on this account of Treacherous dealing in Gods Covenant: a voice of weeping and Lamentation is heard on the mountains, the Children of Iſrael ſaying, we have perverted our way, we have forſaken the Lord our God, how much more bitterneſs of another nature, how much more Smart, vexation, Anguiſh, Agony, and gnawing of Conſcience ſhall impenitent ſinners have, on account of their falſe and Perfidious dealing in Gods Covenant? This will make the hearts of many to quake and tremble for terror: If ye get Repentance, it will be a heart-break to you; and if ye get not repentance, much heart leſs heart-break and cruſhing is abiding you in the end for evermore; and O what trembling of heart, failing of eyes, and ſorrow of mind may be betwixt and that! 5 Much wrath will follow on it in the day of the Lord, if it be continued in; and judge ye with…n your ſelves if there be ſo many aggravations of, or ſo many threatnings againſt any ſin, as of and againſt unfaithfull, and falſe dealing in Gods Covenant; this ſin hath made the Jews to lye, theſe Sixteen hundred years and above, Scattered among all Nations as a curſe: Therefore make it your great deſigne and buſineſs …ow, to be Faithful to God, and to have the Covenant with him, A perpetual Covenant, never to be forgotten.
As for the Third, viz. Some motives and encouragements to excite you to be Faithful in Gods Covenant and to ſtudy to have it A perpetuall Covenant never to be forgotten; conſider in the Firſt place, that it is a ſingularly good and none-ſuch bargain to them that keep Covenant, there is no bargain more lovely to them that keep touches with God; It's (ſaith dying David, 2 Sam. 23.) all my Salvation and all my deſire, It hath all things in it that my heart can wiſh; we make a pitifull and poor life to our ſelves thorow our undervaluing Gods Covenant; the Believer, by improving of it, might have (as we uſe to ſpeak) a Lords life, yea a Kings life, yea a life infinitly preferable to the life of all the great men, and Monarchs on earth; having all things, though Poſsesſing nothing, as it is, 2 Cor. 6.10. and ſaith the Apoſtle, Philip. 4. I have all, I abound and have no lack, while, in the mean time, he was living on a litle Charity from others; we might have a good li…e here and hereafter: do…h it not exceedingly Commend Gods Covenant, that neither Sickneſs, Poverty, Reproach, Contempt, Perſecution, nor Death it ſelf, though violent and Bloody, can marr this excellent life? when the Covenanter comes to Judgement, Who can lay any thing to his Charge? It is God that Juſtifieth, who shall condemn him? He hath a friend before him, Jeſus the Mediator of the new Covenant, and is in good-terms with God; The great advantage of it in this life and in that which is to come (for godlineſs is great gain, having the promiſe of both) may abundantly commend the Covenant and Faithfulneſs in it: I am perſwaded, there is no ſuiter or wooer to court and put in for the ſinners heart & affection, that can poſſibly out-bid Gods Covenant, can the Luſt of the eye, the Luſt of the flesh or the Pride of life, can Profit, Pleaſure, or Preferment make ſuch Proffers? Is there ſuch advantage to be had in ſerving them, as there is to be had in ſerving God? By the one, Ye bring forth fruit unto Holineſs and in the end reap Eternal Life; but by the other, Ye ſow to the flesh, and shall of the flesh reap Corruption, a poor and hungry Harveſt. Secondly, The very keeping of Covenant with God, is in it ſelf an advantage? It hath a great reward in the boſom of it; for it puts the Perſon to love God, to delight in him, to place its happineſs in him; to ſtudy. Holineſs and Mortification of Sin; and is there not great advantage in theſe? can ye think or ſay, that there is any prejudice in theſe and ſuch things as theſe, namely to be blameleſs in your Converſation; to be ſincere and not a Hypocrite, to be ſerious and not Luk-warm? I am perſwaded, that if ye will but put it ſeriouſly to your own Conſciences, ye will be forced to ſay, that Sincerity in Religion is better then Hypocriſie, and ſtedfaſtneſs in Gods Covenant, then Treachery, and what more do we call for? And Therefore let me, on this ground, and as ye would not come in Tops with your own Conſciences, beſeech you to ſtudy Faithfulneſs in the Covenant: Gods Covenant hath a great advantage of the hearers of it, and of profeſſed engagers in it, even a friend in their boſoms, viz. Conſcience, that will ſide with it, and ſay, that it was a good bargain, that the terms were very reaſonable, & that no prejudice could come by it, but unſpeakably much advantage; & will tell the man, that it would have been his honor and for his profit, to have keeped it and to have been faithful in it; why then, will the Lord ſay, didſt thou deal falſly in it, and renounce it? The wretched mans Conſcience will anſwer, that there was no ſhadow of reaſon for it, it was plain Folly and madneſs, for to keep and do Gods Covenant and Commandment, is Peoples wiſdom before all Nations; Deut. 4. It is a ſad matter, that when men may have that which is infinitly preferable to what they are ſo eager in ſeeking after: even true Riches, Pleaſure and honour, Peace that paſteth all naturall underſtanding, Joy unſpeakable and full of Glory, and every good thing, by Covenanting with God and by faithful dealing therein, that they ſhould not drive this as their great deſigne, and make it their great work and uptaking buſineſs; O That there were ſuch a heart in them (ſaith the Lord, Deut. 5.) That they might fear me and keep my Commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their Children for ever: Men are ready to ſay, we muſt provide for our Families, and under that Specious pretext they ſhift this main work; but Ah! fools that they are; there is no way comparable to this, to provide for families and Children, even to have themſelves and their Children entred into Gods Covenant and made to deal faithfully in it; this engageth him to provide for and become tutor unto the Mans Children; and is there not great encouragement here, to have every good thing beſtowed, and all carking care and anxietie concerning our ſelves and Children removed? Thirdly, We would conſider, that God is a ſingular good Party to deal with, very tender of them that aim to deal honeſtly with him; he is indeed ſevere and terrible, when he becomes the avenger of a broken Covenant; but he is moſt tender towards honeſt engagers, who ſincerely endeavour to keep touches with him, he is no rigid interpreter of their actions, but is ready to put the beſt ſenſe on them that they are capable of; Like as a Father (ſaith the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 103.) Pitieth his Children, ſo doth the Lord Pitie them that fear him; He is a father that will take litle off the hand of his Children, when he knows them to have a will to the work, when he will not deal ſo with others; all his wayes are mercy and truth to them that keep his Covenant and his Teſtimonies; It's not meant of ſuch as keep it Perfectly; for ſo they needed not Mercy, but of them that honeſtly deſigne and endeavour to keep it; and may not that encourage to be faithfull in Gods Covenant, that he is ſo eaſie to pleaſe? Fourthly, Conſider, that he hath graciouſly ſtuffed his Covenant with Promiſes meet for the thorow-bearing of them that would fain keep Covenant: if it be an evil heart that will not love God, which troubles them, the Promiſe is, I will Circumciſe their heart and the hearts of their ſeed to love the Lord their God; Whereas no others, who are without the Covenant, or deal unfaithfully in it, can expect the performance of any ſuch Promiſe. If it be a back ſliding heart, the Promiſe is, Jer. 3.22. I will heal your back-ſlydings: If it be the fear of departing from God that troubles them, the Promiſe is, Jer. 32.40. I will put my fear in their heart, that they shall not depart from me; If it be the dominion of ſin that they fear, the Promiſe is, Rom. 6.14. Sin shall not have Dominion over you, for ye are not under the Law but und r Grace: that is, under the Covenant of Grace: And if it be fear of the Prevailing of Sathans Tentations that troubles them, the Promiſe is, The God of Peace shall bruiſe Sathan under your feet shortly: May we not then take heart to be faithful in this Covenant? Yea he hath alſo condeſcended to come under this engagement too, even to make us forth coming in the Covenant, I will call (ſaith the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 57.) Upon the Lord who performeth all thing for me: It might have been ſaid to David, how wilt thou get all done that thou haſt undertaken? He anſwers, I will call upon him who performeth all things for me; And ſo I will get them all done and Performed, ſo as I may hope to be accepted on the Mediators account and for his ſake. Fifthly, Conſider the Mediator of the Covenant, who is ſurety and Cautioner not only for believers debt, But alſo for their duty; Therefore he is called, Heb. 7. The ſurety of this better Covenant; and when Chriſt and we are engaged in one bond, there is ground for us to expect that ſomething will be got done, tho the principal debtor be not much worth, yet the Cautioner is Worthy and infinitly reſponſible. Sixthly, Conſider, that there are already many, who have paſſed thorow the troubleſome Sea of this world and have been Marvellouſly helped; and it's but a litle, and all you honeſt engagers to the Lord will be thorow the ſame Sea, and fairly ſet on Land; your warfare ere long will be at an end, the prize will be got without any more fighting: what is your fighting, ſighing and walking heavily, clothed, as it were, in mourning for a litle time? It's but for a few years, and it may be to ſome of you not ſo long; and within a litle ſpace, The day of refreshing from the preſence of the Lord will come; a relieving of you from your poſt, a looſing of you from your bonds, a final diſcharge from your warfare will come; and a new ſong will be put in your mouths, and Palmes in your hands: O but faithfull dealing with God in the Covenant will have a heartſome outgate! when ye ſhall come aſhore, all tears shall be wiped from your eyes and ſorrow and ſighing shall flee away: and ye ſhall meet with that word, O warm word! Come ye faithful Servants, enter into the joy of your Lord: ye will not always fight and wreſtle, neither will ye be alwayes tempted and troubled; reſt and repoſe is a coming it's even at hand: then one ray of his Coun…enance will be infinitly more heartſome, refreſhing and ſatisfieing, then all theſe things that ye are now called to abandon and part with, can poſſibly amount to: Chriſts firſt welcome to his Fathers houſe will eternally baniſh the remembrance of all the ſad things that ye meet with in this world
The Fourth and laſt Obſervation is, that The great mean of ſecuring a Covenanter & making him ſtedfaſt, is, Faith exerciſed on God, or adhering to him by Faith, by vertue of this Covenant: It is not, to lay weight on or truſt to our own ſtrength: but ſeeing God hath made a promiſe of thorow-bearing, to undertake the duties that we are called to in his ſtrength, truſting to his Faithfulneſs, and to his furniſhing of us, according to the Covenant: As, when poor ſinners are Summoned to appear before God, and they have no righteouſneſs of their own, they are to ſtep forward truſting to Chriſts righteouſneſs: So when they are called to dutie, and they have no ſtrength of their own to enable them to a ſuitable diſcharge thereof, they are to conſider that God is faithfull, who hath promiſed and who will alſo do it: and indeed Believers have found in their comfortable experience, that when they have adventured on dutie with a believing look to Gods Covenanted ſtrength, they have found it go ſweetly & ſurpriſingly well with them: Thus it is ſaid of thoſe worthies mentioned, Heb. 11. That through faith, they wrought Righteouſneſs, as well as they did all other things thereby: This alſo is it, which the Lord inculcateth, John 15. abide in me (ſaith He) and ye shall bring forth much fruit: as the branch cannot bear fruit of it ſelf, except it abide in the Vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me, for without me ye can do nothing: Where it is clear, that it's not enough, that we be in Chriſt, but that we muſt abide in him, and have continuall dependance on him for the influences of life and ſtrength derived from him.
Ye then that would be faithfull in Gods Covenant, & would have it Perpetuall never to be forgotten, muſt eſpecially make uſe of this mean: make Conſcience of all other appointed means; Watch and pray that ye enter not into Tentation; but ſee that ye neglect not this mean; which if ye do, the Watchman will watch in vain: and your grip or hold will be unſiker, if ye make not uſe of him to make it ſure, and to keep it ſo. And therefore, 1. Mind ſeriouſly and conſtantly what ye are, in and of your ſelves; even fickle, fectleſs, weak, feeble and unconſtant creatures, not daring to undertake any thing in your own ſtrength. 2. Remember what God is; and that ye have a worthy, able and reſponſall Cautioner. 3. Remember that ye are engaged in a Covenant never to be forgotten: forgetting is the firſt riſe of unfaithfulneſs. 4. Remember the Promiſes that God hath made for your thorow-bearing, and let faith be exerciſed on them; Joyn with diligence and watchfulneſs a ſuitable exerciſe of Faith. 5. Take a ſerious look, every day when ye go to pray, of your reſolutions and engagements, renew them frequently and ſeriouſly in his own ſtrength; and be caſting the other knot; and put the heart diſtinctly to ſay, this was my bargain, and I will through Grace abide by it; and then go and pray over it, that ye may be made faithful in your thus Covenanting with God, that ye may be enabled to pay your vowes and make your honeſt reſolutions Practicable; levelling at this as your Scope and deſigne in all duties: I have ſaid ſuch a thing and have not kept my word, Lord forgive it for Chriſts ſake: I am engaged in this and that and the other duty, Lord help me to perform. And for your furtherance in humiliation and ſoft walking before God, look on all your ſins as aggravated by this unfaithful and treacherous dealing in Gods Covenant: and on all duties, as thoſe which your Covenant with God binds you to depend on him for ſtrength to be Communicated to you according to the Covenant, for going about them ſuitably and acceptably: and within a litle while ye ſhall get a fair paſs to be gone, and a full diſcharge of all that ye were truſted with according to the Covenant. And the Lord help you to be faithful, ſo that it may be betwixt God and you in very deed, A perpetuall Covenant that shall not be forgotten.