A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 77 (Question 20 cont.)
SERMON LXXVII.
II. THERE was a Convenant that God entred into about man's Reſtitution. Hereby was the Grace ratified which was to be exerted in the ratification of it; it is therefore called a Covenant of Grace; becauſe it was all that Grace provided, by which we might he ſaved. In purſuit of this we may enquire, 1. What Covenant is here intended? 2. How out Reſtitution was ratified in it?
1. WHAT Covenant is here intended?
A. THERE are divers gloſſes made upon it by ſuch as expound this Catechiſm. And poſſibly it might be diverſly underſtood by the Compilers of it. The difference between the Covenant of Works, and the Covenant of Grace hath been all along underſtook and acknowledged in the Church of God, eſpecially ſince the days of the Goſpel. But the notion of the two Covenants of Grace, viz. of Redemption and Recon…il…ation, hath not been ſo diſtinctly taken up: and hence they have been frequently reckoned but one and ſo treated of; which hath rendred the doctrine of Grace more obſcure and indiſtinct. And thus ſome interpret it here. But that theſe are two diſtinct Covenants, though both have Grace in them, and deſigned by them, hath been more evidently of later years made to appear from the word of God. The one was made from eternity, the other in time; one was made for us, the other with us; in the one Chriſt is conſidered as a divine Perſon, in the other as God-Man: in the one he becomes a Surety, in the other he ſtands as a Mediator. In ſum, the latter ſuppoſeth the former, & is built upon it; God having Covenanted with his Son for us, made way for his Covenanting with us in him. Now if we will weigh the matter, it will evidently appear that no other than the Covenant of Redemption can be here rightly intended; it being an eternal agreement to deliver us from our miſery, and bring us into ſalvation, as we are here told: in which we could not poſſibly be concerned as Convenantees, but only as the objects of the Grace therein deſigned. Here then the doctrine of this Covenant doth properly and methodically belong. But, having lately publiſhed a brief Treatiſe on this Subject, I ſhall now ſay the leſs of it, and only give a ſummary account of the matter in the reſolution of the 2d. Enquiry, viz.
2. HOW our Reſtitution was ratified in it? Anſ. THIS will appear in the conſideration of the Covenant it ſelf, in its nature and deſign. In which we ſhall ſee how all was made ſure and unchangeable. Here then let us obſerve,
1. THAT the doctrine of the Covenant of Redemption belongs to that of Election. God in electing of ſome to everlaſting life, did enter into this Covenant. It is true, this and Election are not one and the ſame thing, this Covenant being but one branch of it, and not the whole. There is a great deal more goes into Election than this; but yet it is not a diſtinct thing from Election, but an ingredient of it. And therefore they that ſuppoſe as ſome do, and the words in this Anſwer ſeem to infer; that this Covenant preſumes Election to be firſt paſt, are greatly miſtaken; and render this Covenant a ſuperfluous thing. We are ſaid to be choſen in Chriſt, i.e. in the Covenant made with him.
2. THAT in Election this Covenant belongs to the means. We before obſerved that Election reſpects both the end and means, which though inſeparable, and at once in the decree, yet have their order. Now the end of Election is the promiſe of free and rich Grace: and as Election pitcheth upon ſome to be the monuments of it; ſo there muſt be a way in which this Grace may be made illuſtrious in them. And we obſerved there are many ſtops in this medium; which though in the decree they are but one entire medium, yet they not only follow one another in the execution, but have a connection one to another in the wiſe contrivance of God; and they accordingly make way one for another. Hence man's fall and miſery, made him to need a recovery, and was a medium to the ſhining of Grace in his recovery. And man's fall bringing him under a ſentence of condemnation according to a righteous law, hereupon there muſt be a redemption-price paid to the juſtice of God for his delivery, elſe he cannot be ſaved. Now the contrivance and confirmation of this in the divine purpoſe is that which we call the Covenant of Redemption. So that in it there is a ſuppoſal of man's apoſtacy, and proviſion made for his relief under it. Not that the permiſſion of the apoſtacy was decreed before the recovery was thought of but both together, how elſe ſhould that permiſſion be a medium deſigned for the exaltation of Grace? Though yet God did decree, firſt to let man fall, and then to provide him a remedy. But they were joyned together in the decree. Here then is the place of this Covenant.
3. THAT this is analogically called a Covenant. It is ſo called in Pſal. 89.3. I have made a covenant with my choſen; I have ſworn unto David my ſervant. Which can intend no other in the Antetype. So Zech. 9.11. And is called the counſel of Peace, Chap. 6.13. Now the reaſon why God repreſents it to us under the title of a Covenant, is becauſe of the great reſemblance it hath to ſuch a thing among men. And there are all thoſe things in it, which according to our conception amount to a full and perfect Covenant in all the parts of it. There are Parties concerned in it, there are Articles of agreement in it; there is a connection between theſe Articles on each part; there is a mutual conſent in them, and they are fully agreed upon, and ſcaled. And when theſe things are looked into we ſhall ſee both what the Covenant is, and how firm the ſalvation of God's Elect is made by it. Here then,
(1.) THE whole Trinity are concerned in the decree of Election. It is indeed ſometimes aſſigned to the Father, it being the firſt work, and ſo accommodated to his order of ſubſiſting. Eph. 1, 3, 4. But it being the counſel of the divine will, which is common in ail Three, it belongs to the Deity: it is as eſſential act, Job. 5.19. It is God that loved us; God that appointed us to the Kingdom. And as in this God head there are Three Subſiſtances, ſo they are all one in theſe actings which are divine; and for that reaſon the decree is called a Counſel; not becauſe God admitted any but himſelf in the conſultation, but becauſe the Three Perſons are agreed in this determination, being individed.
(2.) THAT in the things decreed by Election, there is a particular concern of each of the Three Perſons, perſonally conſidered. This is well to be obſerved. As to the end indeed, that is the glory of Grace, and in this they are equally concerned. It is the glory of God that is the ultimate deſign of it, and Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt ſhall be equally honoured in it, but in the media to this end; each of them hath his perſonal relation; and this is according to the Oeconomy of the divine Perſons. It was in the divine Will to exalt Grace in the Salvation of man; and accordingly man is made, treated with, and by the over-ruling Providence of God falls into ſuch a condition as to need ſalvation in a way of Grace; and here each of them doth his part in bringing it about. And here, 1. THERE muſt be a Salvation appointed for them, and the perſons appointed who ſhall partake in it, and a propoſal made for the bringing of it about; and an aſſurance given that i… this way it ſhall be done. Of this appointment we are informed, 1 Theſ. 5.9. For God hath not appointed us to wrath: but to obtain ſalvation by our Lord Jeſus Chriſ…. Luk. 22.2…. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me. And this being the firſt work, is aſcribed to the Father, as belonging to his order of ſubſiſting, being firſt of the divine Perſons. 2. THAT fallen man may …btain this Salvation, be muſt be redeemed. God ſuffered him to fall, that he might be ſaved by Grace. And being fallen, he is become a priſoner of juſtice, a lawful captive, and muſt be redeemed by price. The law muſt have i… ſatisfaction, and none but a divine Perſon was capable of paying it: and this muſt be done in order to his having happineſs reſ… to him. This therefore being the next thing belongs to the Second Perſon, or the Son of God, and on that account the title of Redeemer is put upon him, becauſe he came …n this errand. Gal. 4.4, 5. But when the fulneſs of the time was come. God ſent forth his Son made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we …ight receive the ad…ption of ſons. 3. THAT man may be made actually to partake in this Salvation, the virtue of this Redemption muſt be applied to him. For it Chriſt be not made ours, he cannot p…fit us. We muſt be inveſted with this bo…fit: it muſt be brought home to us; and we cannot apply it to our ſelves. We cannot be perſwaded to accept of it, without an alm…ghty influence on us. The… muſt then be a divine Perſon for this too; and this b…ing the laſt work in it, belongs to the H…y G…od, who is the Third and laſt in the order of perſonality, He therefore is our Sanctifier. Hence that, 2 Theſ. 2.13. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren, … …d of the Lord, becauſe God hath from the beginning ch… ſee you to ſ…lvati…n, throu… ſan…f…tion …f the Spirit, and belief of the truth. And we have all Three put together, 1 Pet. 1.2. Elect …ccrding to the fore…n …e…edge of God the Father, through ſan…itf…tion …f the Spirit unto obedience, and ſprinkling of the blood of Jeſus Chriſt.
(3.) THAT all this was determined & made ſ…e in the dearce of Election. As God reſolved to have the glory of his Grace in the ſalvation of ſuch a ſubject, ſo he reſolved of the way of it, and the work of each Perſon about it was concluded upon: otherwiſe there was no d…cree of Election. A Decree is a firm purpoſe, not a thing in ſuſpenſe, or under deliberation, but eſtabliſhed. And Election is, as of the means, ſo of the end. Now theſe are neceſſary media, and therefore the one of them is mentioned, 1 Theſ. 5.9. by Jeſus Chriſt: i. e. through his redemption. The other, 2 Theſ. 1.13. And if this redemption and ſanctification had not been as ſure in the purpoſe, as the ſalvation, it had not been a Covenant well ordered in all things, as it was.
(4.) WE muſt of neceſſity conceive of each of the divine Perſons freely c…nſ…nting in this affair. The divine will is indeed but one, ſo that it is impoſſible but that they ſhould all will the ſame thing: yet as we are to conceive Three Perſons in one God-head, ſo we muſt conceive them to have perſonal properties, or elſe the notion and name of perſons is not only improperly but falſly aſcribed to them. When we ſpeak of the Father ſending the Son, and the Father and Son ſending the Spirit, we muſt conceive of them as perſons conſenting thus to be ſent. For they are equally God with the Father; and muſt on that account be voluntary in what they engage in. Chriſt therefore tells us that be laid down his own life, & none took it from him, Joh. 10.17, 18. And he declares his free conſent. Heb 10.7. Then ſaid I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy will, O God. And we muſt reckon ſo of the Spirit, for he is God.
(5.) In this … they became mutually obliged …. There was no other concerned … this …coſaction but theſe Perſons: and therefore … could not be obliged to any elſe. And to make a Covenant obligation, there muſt be p…es related to each other in it, and ſo it is here: if therefore here were not a confirmation, that could not be future, but muſt be uncertain and depending; the contrary whereto we are aſſured of in the Scripture. The Son ſtood bound to the Father, and on this account is ſaid to come to do his will; and on this account upon the performance of it he challengeth the reward, Joh. 17. begin.
(6.) IN this Covenant we have to conſider, 1. THE Parties Covenanting. And that is God, and the Son. There are Three Perſons intereſted in it, and each hath his part in it; and in that conſideration we may call them Three Parties; but the parts of the Covenant are but two, and ſo the parties are not more. So that we may account God the Father and God the Holy Ghoſt as one Party, and God the Son as the other. Though the former be more frequently aſcribed to the Father, yet we find that the Holy Ghoſt hath alſo his part in it, which aſſures us that he is of one Party. For the honour and praiſe of our ſalvation belong to him as much as to the other. 2. THE thing in which this Covenant is concerned is the Redemption of men from the curſe of th… l…to. And for this reaſon we call it by ſuch a name. It is the doing of all that is requiſite to the making way for ſuch a Salvation; and the bringing of it about in ſuch a way as, whiles Grace is magnified, Juſtice may alſo have its due, and not ſuffer in the leaſt. It is the buying of the priſoner out of the hand of the law, and the redeeming of the forfeited inheritance for him; it is therefore ſo ſtiled, Eph. 1.14. 3. HENCE we are to conſider how each Party is concerned in this, by a voluntary undertaking. In and by which it amounts to a Covenant in the beſt conception we can have of it, and according as God himſelf propoſeth it to us. And for a right taking of this up, let us obſerve theſe things, [1.] THAT God will have ſome of fallen men to be monuments of his Grace in their Salvation. Whether he would have glorified this Attribute in this way or no, was in it ſelf a thing arbitrary: and ſo, whether he would ſave any of that poſterity: ſo that in all this he acted as a free agent. Man's death for ſin was a righteous penalty, but his recovery again is of Grace, and therefore God could be under no obligation to it, but his own good pleaſure; but God hath ſeen it meet thus to do. He will have ſome of this unhappy race to taſte of his favour, and be reſtored to life, and this good will of his is the foundation of our felicity. [2.] THE Son of God is looked upon as the next perſon is procure th… … for him. Man's fall forfeited his hapineſs, and procured his miſery, and ſo be needs Salvation. The law held him faſt, and would not let him go without ſatisfaction: he was poor and inſufficient to make it for himſelf; no …cer creature was capable of doing it for him, not have him ſo much good will as to have done it, none eye pitied him; none but he who is God could do it. It muſt then be one of the divine Perſons who doth it, or it can never be done; and ſo either Juſtice muſt ſuffer injury, or God muſt mil of his purpoſe, as the caſe ſtands with man in his apoſtacy. It is moſt agrea be to the order of the divine Sub…itances than this prov…ce tail upon the Son, the ſecond Pation and accordingly it is propoſed to him. We have an account of this propoſel, Iſal. 33. 10 let a pleaſed: the Lord in hen ſo …: when than … offerting for, ſin he ſhall ſee his ſeed, be ſo…d pri…g his days, end the pleaſure of the Lord ſhall … in his hand. [3.] THAT the S…n way do this to effect there are ſeveral things …, viz.
1. THAT be because man's ſarety, and undertake for him to do all that is re…re … purchaſe his S…ti…. He muſt put himſelf in our ſtead, he muſt became reſe…ſible for us; and this muſt he by a …e and voluntary act of his own: for he is under no natured nece…ty ſo to do and be; not could he be compelled to it. In which Sure…i…,
(1.) … waſt engage to take … a tare a…e… him. For without it he could …ot go through ſuch an undertaking not could it have been of any uſeſelves for us. It was man that ſinned, and it muſt be man that dies for ſin. And hence the junturition of his Incarnation flowed from this undertaking of his; becauſe elſe he could not have diſcharged this ſuretiſhip. Hence he is ſad for this end to parrake of the ſame nature with us, Heb. 2.54. Foraſmuch then an the children are partakers of fleſh and blood; be alſ himſelf …wiſe teak part …f the ſame, that through death be might deſtroy him that …a… eh power of acath, that is the devil.
(2.) HE muſt engage in this nature to ſubject himſelf to the law. For the aſſumption of it is to this end: and it muſt be for as; becauſe we were under the law, and the Surety muſt put himſelf into the condition of him whom he is ſurety for; that being the very nature of ſurer…ſhip. Hence thoſe two are put together, Gal. 4.4. But when the ſu…neſe of the time was come, God ſent Jorth his Son made of a woman, made under the late. He could not as God be under the law at all, not for us, bur by being a man.
(3.) HE muſt engage to ſu…ſ…l the whole righteouſneſs of the law in ar…ſical. For this is the very purpoſe or deſign of his putting of himſelf under it. He therefore urgeth it for himſelf, Mat. 3.15. To this end he muſt catirely keep the law to all us commands, that ſo the promiſe of late may belong to him for us: and he muſt bear out guilt, and ſuffer our pan th…neat, both of which are contained is … being made ſin for …, 2 Cor 5.21. This therefore he muſt undertake fore and in this was he to be our Redeemer.
2. THIS S…ſt…p of his muſt be … of God. It is not enough in this caſe. th… the ſuretiſhip be eſſered, and the perſon reſp table, as in reſpect of debts cannot be denved; but the caſe is command, and God is eſſenced, the Sincer is a man of d…; and the injury is done by him personably; and for an… a… man at perſon to be … in the room of a …, and dye for him is at the pleaſure of the eſterded Judge: and that it is with man. God therefore muſt approve of him, …i…e the value of his obedience will not am…t to ſatisfaction. God therefore refi…th to this approbation. Mat. 2.1….
3. HE muſt have an effarance giver … the his … …le…m the di…ge of th…ſe for when … from are … …s …. He muſt know … his work ſhall ſecceed. Iſai 52.10. And … they for whom be gives himſelf ſhall be delivered by it: elſe all his work would be leſt. And there are three things which … contained in this,
(1.) THAT …d will be armed to them. Sin hath f…itred up God's holy anger againſt them; and he is purſuing them to death: and tell he is ree…l…d, they are children of d…ath, and exp…ed to all the … written againſt them. It by this work he do not pacity God's anger, and pr…e … favour for them, the work is loſt: for its to bring about this re…liation that it was undertaken. The offerings therefore of … were called drenements, the Sacrifice … pacity God's anger, and procure remiſſion and acceptance.
(2.) THAT they ſhall be …tanced to him. … this alſo is require in order to their Savaltion; they are not only under his juſt ange, but full of enmity agaiſt him; they … therefore be reconciled, which is to be done by the application of powerful and f… Grace to them; for which reaſon God is ſaid to reconcile them to him, 2 Cor. 5.29.
(3.) THAT hereupon they have all … and eternal bleſſings b…ſtowed on them for … ſake. For herein their Salvation doth … fiſt. They are to be brought to glory. … 2.10. To be bleſſed with all ſpiritual bleſſings Eph. 1.3. He is to have them depoſined into his hands, and to be at his diſpoſe, even all fulneſs from which they are to receive a plenteous ſupply.
4. THAT … theſe things may be ſecond, they do mainally engage themſelves one to … they by firm promiſe. And ſo a Covenant … ratified between them. The promiſes … conditional, and …t on both parts; and they are mutual obligations, in which there is ſomething to be done, and ſomething … received upon the doing it a … to a C…n…t in the way … of it among mea.
(1.) GOD the Father … to the S… that if he wild … be ſare of all this. He propoſeth theſe terms to him, tells him it ſhall be well pleaſing to him, and he ſhall have a Seed to …. Pral… A ſeed … ſore… it … the Lord for a …. So Iſai. 53.10. It …en …o… … make his … fiering for ſ…, he ſhall ſ… its ſord, … his days, …d the …ſure of the Lord … Pſai. 110.7. He … drink of the break in the …t; therefore ſ… he …ſ…p ſ…e head. He ſith he ſhall have a glorious recom…en…ce; that is that which is called th… … …re him. Heb. 12.2. He gives him all the aſſu…ce of E… p…ce: and all the engage…d… requiſite for his …c…ſs.
(2.) GOD the S…x…s ſ… the …ffer, and upon the … it. He takes his Father at his word, and …ith. I will come to … thy will; … it is …in the … of the book. Pſal. 4….7. It had not been … that written in the Scripture, it is then the records of Eteraty, which are …pared to a … is in which things are reg…el; He … to his Father that he will comply … all … with his propoſal.
(3.) GOD … and … that … to the app… of all the Grace … the Father, and per… ſed by the S…x to theſe for whom is as deſigned, … ſo …ong them; Savaltion. And though the Scripture doth not ſo expreſſy point … the engaging of the Third Perſon in this …; yet we have that there which in…e… it, in as much as his coming is there predicted, and Chriſt more than once tells us of his ſending him, Joh. 14. & 16. which aſſures us that there was a luturition of this work from eternity, as well as of Redemption; which muſt needs imply his conſenting and …ting to come.
5. IX and by this Compact the Salo…tion of … Elect is …ale ſure. There is now by … of this a ſettlement of this matter im…ably; there is effectual care taken thus …o…e of them ſhall perith; there is a have that God bears to them from Eternity; there is a Redemption price indented for with …o… that is able to pay it to the atmoſt; … that is needful to bring them to Grace and though that to Glory, ſetteld by the firmeſt … that can be. It is a Covenant con…ed with an Oath. Heb. 7.21. It is between … that are immutable; it was ratitied in the days of Eternity: if was an act of … …ire-will; and made for perpatuity. Pſal. 119.89. For ever, O Lord. thy word is … in heaven. Yea, to ſhow as the …eſs of it, all the elect that died before … coming and diſcharging this work in … …eſh, were ſaved upon the credit of it. And Chriſt himſelf is in this regard ſaid to … from the foundation of the world.
USE. I. HOW doth this conſideration ſerve to command to us the wonderful love of God to all his choſen. This great care of his to ſecure for them their eternal Salvation is a witneſs of it, in that he not only had a thought of good will for them, but that he ſettled all the concerns of their Salvation in an everlaſting Covenant not to be broken. Well may we ſay, Behold, what manner of love …e hath loved us withal? That ſuch a Covenant ſhould paſs for them in the days of Eternity before they had a being, and that all the glorious Perſons in the adorable Trinity ſhould be perſonally concerned in it, and engaged about it, and all that concerns it from the beginning to the end, be particularly contrived and inſerted in the volume of that Covenant, ſo that there is nothing wanting. How ſhould we then let out our hearts into admiration at, and praiſing of God for this ſo inexpreſſible kindneſs of his?
USE II. HERE elſe we ſee what a ſolid foundation the beſes of God's called ones have for eternal life. Have we but made out calling ſure, we need not fluctuate in our minds about the iſſue of our great and eternal concern. Indeed, if we lock elſewhere we may be puzled about it; but when we conſider, that ſuch a Covenant as this paſt, and is it, ratified, in which all whoſe names are in it, are appointed to Salvation unchangeably, and if God Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt can bring them to it, they ſhall certainly in due time be inveſted with it, and then conſider, that all the benefits that are peculiar to the people of God flow down from this Covenant, and are the performances of it, of which this of effectual calling is one; we are hereby aſſured that we belong to that bleſſed company, and our names are written in Heaven, and that therefore the mighty power of God ſtands engaged to keep and conduct us through faith to Salvation; how quiet and confident may we be againſt all that threatens us either from within or without, and bid defiance to every thing that would go about to ſeparate us from this love of God which is in Chriſt? Let us, then all, both Young and Old, ſeek after this calling, and the aſſurance of it upon a good evidence; and when we have it, let us improve it to draw to our Souls by it all the Conſolations which are laid up in it, to ſtrengthen and eſtabliſh us againſt all the temptations that aſſault us in our warfare.
[OCTOBER 2. 1694.]