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O F T H E
O VENA NT of GRACE, Opened and Applied,
I N
I S E R M O x> S,
On 2 Samuel xxiii. 5. cached at New-Mills in Loudon.
that zealous and faithful Minilter of the Gofpel*
JO HN NE VA Y, Miniiter there,
n the Time of Scotland's pureft Reformation.
., lr; the Author's own Hand, in a very fair A )t9 from which this is printed. Never before pul
To which is added, ) Letters, written by the Author to his
Parifhoners when he was in Hoii.
- - ■
{ lv. \. Incline y:ur Ear, and come unto me j bear, and your 'ball live j and I ivill make an everlajiing Covenant ivitb you, iefuri Meagre t of David.
\xv. 14. The Secret of the Lord is witlj them that fear 'illjhevj them bis Covenant.
GLASGOW: in the Year, M DCCXLVIII,
f Price Bound Eighteen Pence. ]
i
A I*V ER'TISEME
tv
THAT there is in the Hands of tli usher, Thirty-nine excellent Sefti upon ChrifPs Temptations, preached fiir )R, at fills : The
if the Publifher finds fuitnbJc Encourac. in what he hath already publifhc willing to communicate to the Uk 1 Publick alfo.
To the Right Honourable,
JOHN,
Earl of Loudon, Lord Maitchline, &c.
Right Honourable,
SINCE the following Sermons upon the Covenant of Grace, were preached in your Lordfhip's own Parifh Church of Loudon at New-Mills, at that Time when your noble and honourable Great-G rand-Fa- ther, the Earl of Lou don, not only as a princi- pal Peer of the Nation, but alio as Lord high Chancellor of Scotland, was fuch an eminent Inilrument, in the Lord's Hand, toeilablifh in ation, both in Church and State,- the pur- veformation that ever was eftabliihed in any particular Nation under the •lent Difpenfation; and that the fervent /
accord-
vi T*o the Read:r.
with him, no Fountain opened to the Houfe of David, and Inhabitants of Jerufalem, for Sin and for Unclean- nefs, Zech. 13. i. no Sanflificatioi of the Spirit, no Be- lief of the Truth, 2 Theff. 2. 13. no regenerating Grace, no Victory over Satan, the World, and indwelling Sin, no Reftoration to the Likenefs ana* Image of God, no Communion and Fellowfhip with God in Time, nor En- joyment of him to Eternity : For, if the Covenant of Redemption, or, Suretiftiip, had not been entered into betwixt the Father and the Son from Eternity, God had never entered into a Covenant of free Grace and Recon- ciliation with Man, thro' Chriit Jefus ; fmce the firit is the Foundation and Eilabrifhment of the lait ; and then, the World had never known the great Myflery of Godlinefs, God manifefled in the Flefb, juftified in the Spirit, feen of I Angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the World, received up into Glory, 1 Tim. 3. 16. and the wonderful great Love that the Father hath bellowed upon the elect World, that they fhould be called the Sons of God, \John 3. 1. And fince this new and living Way (in the Cove- nant of Grace) whereby God brings many Sons into Glo- ry, is wholly out of free Grace and undeferved Favour, it may juftly be the Wonder of all the Godly in Time^ and the Admiration of the general Ailembly and Church of the Firft-born in Heaven, to all Eternity.
Many excellent Treatifes have been written upon the Covenant of Grace; yet there are fo many great Myfte- ries to be found therein, that there is Hill need of a fur- ther Difcovery thereof; and therefore, all that hath been faid on this excellent Subject by others, doth not in the leaft make what is treated on by the reverendAuthor, in the following Sermons upon the Covenant of Grace, the lefs ufeful ; elpecially confidering that manyThingsin them are in a more plain, eafy, diltincl, and edifying Method, and more adapted to weak Capacities (whofe Knowledge can- not comprehend and take up what is written in learned Treatifes on this Subject) than any that I know of: And, befides this,there is fuch a great Depth of the infinite Wifdom, , Lo*e, and Mercy df God to fallen Man, in the Covenant of Grace, that no Man can find out the fame to Per fee /
tion
Ta the Reader. xil
tion, Job vi. y. For, altho' all that ever hath been writ- ten upon this pleafant Subject were put in one Volume, it might juftly be hid of it, as the Queen of Sbeba faid of the Wjfdom and Rfches of Solomon, that the one Half was not to!d, i Kings 10. 7.
• As rhe folio v ing Sermons are very plain and ea(y, {o they are very found, folid, and edifying; not with the in- ticing Word's of M n\< Wiidom, but in Demor»ilrat!on of the spirit and Powc, zCor. 2 4 and the Doctrines th&eiij advancedVery clearly proven from the Word of God.
T^he famous Author is of the fame Judgment with other orthodox Divines, in afle ting that the Covenant of Grace is conditional, and that Faith is the alone Thing required as the Condition thereof: This makes the pubtilhing of thefe excellent Sermons the more neceffary at this Time, when thefe two old Ant in tnt an Errors, viz. That Faith is fiot the Condition of t')e Co-vcnant of ' Grac, and that /ffhance is of the EJJencc of Fat! h, aie revived by fome Preachers, and too well believed by fome People, who it appears by their Practice) do not, with the noble Bercans, Ails 17. 10, 11. try thefe Tenets by trie Rule of holy Scripture, but take them as Truths upon the Au- thority of their Preachers : Now, fince thefe Errors are pubhckly taught and defended, I muit crave the Reader's Patience, till I (hew m> Opinion in Oppcfition to them both :
I. Concerning Faith being the Condition of the Co-v, of Grace : L~ft f mould be miilaken, as a Favourer of that legal Doctrine of -Papiih and Arm tribes Salvation, in Whole or in Part, to Man's Frce-wiil or Good-works, I do cheariully own, chat f'aiih. is nei- ther the efficient nor meritorious Cau*e of Man'* Salvati- on ; for, (1.) The efficient Cnu-e or ivJan's Salvation is only the Free-Gr.ice of God alone, who lov^ 14. 2. jultifie^ K and giv :er of
Liie freely, without Money, an J ivichoat 6. and 22. 17. If a. 55. 1. (2.) The formal Condition of the Covenant of Grace, as it is the Covenant of Sureti- fhip, made betwixt the Father 2
concerning the Son's ranfoming, redeeming, purchafmg, and baying cf the -Elect World, to be a peculiar Pe
b 2 tn
iut the certain Affui of the Mind, a^ I the Spirit of God, that
w hat the Lord hath promikd to Believers in general, ilia 11 Jbe made out to the Perfon% felf in particular, P/a/. ] > 4. 16. Da?:. , And this I
Which is called, by ibme, the Faith of Adherence, is ac- ceptable with the Lord, where the Faith of Afiuraoce is wanting; which appears from the following Initr.ces of il, who had Faith but not AfTirance; as, (x.) Thefe who hid the we.ik Handi, the feeble Kne^s, and the . fearful Hear: j who were exhorted to be ilrong, and en- couraged with Ctod's Purpofe concerning it he wou'g come and fjve them, If a. 353. (2 ) Th./e, v%ho, :hev walked in Darknefs, and hid no Li^hr, were exhorted to truft in the Lord, and to (lay upon their God,
life, who was under Darknefs and '['error, thro' the wnoie Tract of his Time, Pfa/m 88. throughout. (4.) >'ira}b\ who Cried to th'c Yj. rd in the Lime of his Trouble, reefed to be carafo t i .as troubled ; io that his Spirit was overwhelmed ; yes kecped waking, and was made to complain,
and would be favour- able no more, &rV. P/al. -12. (5.) The Le- per, that came to Chrilt., and worfhipped him, faying, Lord, if thou Ttilt tl;pu canft make me clean, M atth. 8. 2. (6.) The Man who brought his Son to Chrilt, to be dif- poifefTed of the dumb Devil, who cried out, and faid with Tears, Lor J, I believe, help tbou mine Unt Mark 9 24. (7.) We read that Chrift delivers fome, who, /or Fear of Death, were all their Life ti t;> Bondage, Hib. z. 1 5. This puts it out o.* Doubt, tnat fome thai! obtain eternal Life at the F.nd of Time, who , in all tfielr Life time, had the Aflurance
r thefe Inltancef, are a pUin C of this Antinomian Error, that AlTurar.ee is of the ::h : And, it the Expedience of the
:his Matter, upon due J be found, that it is with many
Cafe, with the four
e of the great Famine of
Sama-
To the Reader. xi
Samaria, refolved to enter upon the moil poflible Way of . faving their Lives, without the Aflurance of the Event, till Time evidenced it, 2 Kings 7. 3, 4. And, as it was with Ejiber, when fhe faid, Efiber 4. 16. So will I go in unto the King, and if I perijh, I perijb : And as it was with Jcbt when he faid, Chap, 13. 15. Though be Hay me, yet will I ttuli in him.
As this Doctrine, That AJfurance is of theEJJence of Faith, is falfe, being contrary to the Word of God, fo it is very dangerous ; for, thereby, every Perfon, tho' never fo godly, who wants Aflurance of Salvation, muft be judged to be in a State of black Nature, fince every Perfon is in a natural State, till once they have faving Faith in Being : And this is a mod harfh and unwarrantable Cenfure, to pafs upon fuch as are exerciied unto Godlinefs, yet toffed with I empefts and not comforted, Ifa. 54 11. becaufe they are under various Doubts and Fears, concerning their Intereft in Chrift ; and fuch as are vainly puffed up , by their flefhiy Mind, with an imaginary Aflurance, which, according to this Doctrine, they attained unto at the very firft breathing of Faith upon their Souls; which is neither according to the Law and the Teflimony, nor yet builded upon the Foundation of the Apoftles and Pro- phets, Jefus Chrift himfelf being the chief Corner-Stone, Ifa. 8. 20. Eph. 2. 20. mud be judged the only Saints upon Earth ; and the Doctrine that denys that Faith in any Senfe is the Condition of the Covenant of Grace, is no lefs dangerous; for, if this were granted, it would undeniably follow, that People may be faved without Faith, tho' they never believe in the Lord Jefus Chriil ; and that the Condemnation of fuch as perilh under the Light of the Gofpel, is not founded upon their dying in L:. belief, and not believing upon the only begotten Son of God : I heartily wifh, that fuch as belong to the Lord, may be delivered from fuch dangerous and falfe Doctrine. Bui, good Reader, to detain thee no longer, I muft tell thee, That the Reverend Author of the following Ser- mons, was Minifter at New- Mills in Loudon; where thefe Sermons were preached, in the Time of Scotland pureft Reformation ; where his Name and Memory is yet fa- b 4 voury,
.t to be ; for, befides his Sou ndru
n his Conversation, .literial Function, he was alfo very zea- fediofl, which were con- trary to S. led Work of Reformation; of which, thefe following are a few Inllanccs : (i.) \. the Earl of CaUpdery and Major General Middltlon, cru-' elly perftcuted the well-afteited People in the Weft of
ciences, becaufe 'they would not j^n in the Duke of Hamilton* unlawful Engagement ot War againll E feft Breach of the 5ol< i'everal ocr. S and wt
h of • ecution o1 .enant Eng (2 ) When, in ^ ting up th(
Malignant . Throne, as iupreme
and St '651, did ratify and ap-
prove the publu of bringing tfiejcflly ex-
cluded Malignant* again, into o.^er
and Trull, in Judicatories and Armies, he was one of •
who faithfully witnei lad Courfe | 3 ) After
kedTyrram, Cba les II. broke Covenant with Man, by overturning the whole covenanted Work 0 formation, and impofed the Oath of Allegiance, in \\ the Snprerr: eluded, h<
unlawful Oath, wa5 banifhed I nions 1
After he was g the Pla , he it'll n
ftor to his which
muns up;,
.1 written wjjh bi
5t$ the Read xiii
As it is hoped, that the following Sermons will he very acceptable to all the Godly into whofe Hafrds they come, fo, more efpecrally, to the Pariihoners of Loudon, ir. . Parim Church they were preached, and for whole Ule they were lent from another Nation, by as faithiu' \ nifter as ever laboured among them ; frcm Hand- write and original Manufcript they are pri and the Lord's Providence of preserving them, and bring- ing them to the Publick, after they were for a longTime, loft from the Parifh of Loudon, ought to be acknowledged with Thankfulnefs.
That the Lord by his BlefTing may make the following Sermons uleful for the Information, Strengthning, Edifi- cation, and Comfort of many of the Lord's People, is tne earned Deiiie of,
Ghrtfiian Reader,
pland, J an. ")
Vb, 17+8. $
Thripland, Jan. 1 ftncere FrienJ,
6r
Wi lliam Young.
croftick upon theName ofMr.]o\\
MOST famous and renowned Seer, A Pallor, who cid Burden bear : S uch Zeal for Truth inflamed thee, — To wr.nefs for ithfully ;
E nduring unjuft Banifhment, R acher tnan pie-ife iii Government,
I n what was unlawful for thee, • ding to Supremacy ;
t dead, doth raife tb;
rant now can banifh thee; 3.0'xt from fuch Monfters free, vur'd thy all to win the Prize, >
Earth delpij C
/here true Comfort lies.
A
JOHN' tjlorton B
James Brown Baillie. Jamei Richmond Bailiie. John Ma Ton jun Wtra
s Smith jun. Weaver.
{; Smith Weaver. Richmond inn. Weaver. Ja'v,fs R.chmond We3\
John Brown Maltman. n Taylor, mg Shoe-maker.
ei.
I ter.
Allan nth.
Archibald Jamiel'on Portioner.
^el Smith. James Mncltel Portioner. Aird Merchant.
.ierchant. Portioner.
odburn Shoe- maker, Dee Carrier. ! chran Fle/her. Richmond Shoe-maker, b Servant.
! rber.
ht. -on Shoe-maker, right.
ell Officer.
kor Tanner.
John ' t
j.,hn John P Thorn
Stephen Tom nee. Janet Boi U John FinJay I\r t Jam<
John Borland Ten John Fin i
John Thorn fon T : J >hn Morton T n J tmes Morif-m Tenant. I Morton M nder N'fbet Tenant, ioirer. , Hugh Campbe;l Servant. ah Tenant.
Tenant. Robert Nifbet Tenant. Hugh Aird T Hugh Mair Tenant. Hugh Camp' John Walker Portioner. Jarrus Small Servant.
m Millar Tenant.
Thomas Mu> U J4mes Adam Wr'ght. Brown Sen
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Tenant.
Campbell.
aid Guthry Weaver. i N'.fbet Millar. Mfbet Smith. i Mafon Wright.
SUBSCRIBERS NAMES, x^
Robert Wood burn Shot-maker. Elizabeth Nilbct. John Young Weaver. Thomas Lejmont Wright. Robert Tod Weaver. Hugh Paton Tenant- Robert Paton Tenant. | Alexander Thoml'on Weaver* John J^ckfon Tenant. John Campbell Tenant. William Muckle Tenant. William Wilfon Tenant. James Mitchel. James Brown Tenant. John Smith. Archibald Campbell. John Thomfon. John Lambie Servant. Thomas Morton Portioner. Andrew Aird.
Parijh of Galjlon.
GEORGE Nifet Portioner. George Hunter. Miller, es Campbell Portior.er. Hugh Mair Tenant. Jonn Lambie Maltman. William Lambie Weaver. John Leacock Portioner. William Leacock Portioner. John Richmond Portioner. John Nifbet Coupar. George Mair Merchant. Alexander Mitchel Portioner. Alexander Morton Smith. Mair Merchant. nderfon Portioner. J hn Hodge.
h Muir Tenant. Law Portioner.
Patifo ©f Finnic k.
1 OHN Howie Tenant. «' St \ !.en Torrence.
ner, 12 Cop.
i Alexander Marfhal
Parifo of Maucbiine.
OHN Adam W Alexander Brow .. Matthew R Alexander Richmond.
Parijb of Sorn.
\ OHN Henry Portio. J J 'hn Cowan Servant. John Henry.
J hn Richmond Portioner. William Henry Weaver. Barbara MfGechen. James Richmond Portioner. George Richmond.
Parijh of Evandale,
ANDREW Hamilton P Michael Cochran Portion, J hn P.ryfon Shoe-maker, j
John Borland. ohnFjirieM-rchant inu5/j n Coo.
Parij7j of Eaglcjharr.,
I OHN Young Tenant. J J tmes Orr Ten Kobe! Orr.
J .hn Barn^ Workman. Janet Paterl
And re v. ;ant.
Alexander Young. James Young jun. James Young Robert P3tet: John Andrew
RefcL Michael Reid jo<,
. >ung. John Orr. William Young.
S U I E S.
Margaret Young jgn.
M.ii£arrt I
Andrew (
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John Y»
Arthu- -.int.
John int.
Hugh M >nt£omerie '1
|ohn Orr S Robert Voi
William \' int.
William Gilmor Tenant. William Bryfon Tenant. Peter Wa'l
Andrew Wflfon T.-nant. Andrew Young Tenant. Mafgare' Young. James Parle Servant. Andrew Young Tenant. John Turner Servant. James Young Tenant, ung.
\vm Tenant.
nor Tenant. Williai
James ' James A.
■ i Tenant. John Reid T
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^upningham.
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Rr)bert Fult'urd Fl John Clark. Weaver.
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Alex
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WILLIAM BRYSON Tenant
John R John R Robt
Rob-rt Grai|
Andrew Cra'g T.nrtnt.
John Brown Shoe -maker, 12
Con I Andrew Bi John Faui.
Alexander ^ lot,
Jame
Andrew Gilmor Tenant. Jam en Oilm John I
Connel Weaver. iM Craig M
ipar. int.
nant.
• r Weaver in .
• Coal-grieve ,C
SUBSCRIBERS NAMES, xvii
Parijh of Kitbryde.
JOHN Granger. Andrew Lindfay Tenant. John Pvu fief Tenant. Janet Struthers. John P.iterfon Tenant. James Granger Portioner. James Dalgleilh Tenant. n Tenant. ant. Chriltopher Ruffel Servant. William Riddel Weaver. Rob.rr ■
James Strutherb Tenant. James A Tame
William Lindfay Farmer. William Lindfay
ifqn. John Crawrurd Portioner. William Wilfon Weaver. James Strang Portioner.
Warnock Tenant. Gavin Semple jun.
ler Lindfay Tenant. ruthers Servant. William Park Poitioner. John Park.
Alexander Lindfay Servant. Robert Fleming Portioner. John Orr Tenant. William Burns Workman, John Arneil Weaver. John Lindfay Miller. Robert Young Tenant. Chriflcpher Crawfurd. James Wilfon Portioner. John Bruning Portioner. Alexander Dalgleifh Servant. Robert Strang Merchant. William Strang Portioner. James Young Tenant. John Struthers Shoe-maker. Andrew Strang. Andrew Lindfay Portioner. James Strang Tenant, i Craig Tenant.
Robert Sudderland. John Allan Weaker. William Hood Weaver. Andrew Gilmor Portioner. James Hamilton Shoe-maksr. James Smith Weaver. John Ruffel. William Strang. Robert Naifmith. John Fleming Mafon. John Paterfon Portioner. John Reid Merchant. Robert Dalgleifli Taylor. James Dykes jun. Robert Wardrop Tenant. William Graham Portioner. James Alexander Portioner. Alexander Aikenhead Tenant. Agnes Craig Servant. Archibald Park Portioner. John Jackfon Weaver.
Reid Tenant. Andrew Allan Tenant. William Barr Tenant. James Smith Tenant. John Marshal. Alexander Young Portioner. James Jackfon. James Pollock Portioner. John Wilfon Portioner. Thomas Watt Mafon. Alexander Pollock Weaver, n Jean Pollock. Katharine M'Alafter. John Bows Tenant. John Mather. Stephen Ruilel Portioner. John Wilfon Tenr.nt. Andrew Ruflel Si
.th. John Wat! John Lyon John Sham
WUliam W
SUn [BERS VES.
and G or bah.
ADERCookT hal.
in.
Dyer.
d Wright.
. m Thomfon Porti \ander Secular Mafon. Cordiner. William Shiels Land -labourer. Chapman, in Land- labourer. Jamts W/lfon Ma ion.
m Currie Land-labourer. Thomas Graham. John Campbell Hammer-man. John Reid T
Cunningham Weaver.
City of G/jfgow.
ANDREW LockhartMtrcht James WaUon Stay-maker, B >yd Stay-maker. s Porter Heel -maker. John Vv*ilf>n Servant. Patrick M'Adam Servant. James Provan Servant. David Stiang Merchant. Thorn a :ng-makcr.
iiner. iiner. John Wright Indw
Her. •her. . Andrt
George ( Joh» Ca
Ligbtburn.
Tmvn and P i
C-nt.
William M:llar W John Naifmi'.h Shoe-maker. ■ Torrence Sh>e-maker. John Warn
William B -;er.
James Naifmith Sh I Robert Coupar Wright. John Robertion Weaver. Urns Wood-cutter. William B-own Smith. Francis Dividfon Weaver. Jean Wilfon. Thomas Paterfon Shoe-n,
William Adam.
Parijh of Leadhillu
THOMAS Telfer Miner. John liner.
Miner. William Gemnw!. James Rowan M Lauren
William Dcnholm M James S William Lot
John Richard Portioner in M. kirk.
Tinnahill Stationer in ^ nock. Robert Armour Bonnct-mekcr
SE. 'NS
( < )
SERMONS
O N 2 S A Mil E L xxiii. i, 2, 3, 4, 5.
2 Sam. xrxlii. 1.
5 ^ f A*/* be the laft Words of David : David the Son of Jej/e fa id, and the Man who was raifed up on high, the anointed of the God of *Jacob% and the fweet Pfalmijl of Ifrael^ faid, &c0
DA V I D 1 in hh Time was fn many and va- rious Cafes; fometimes, in the Depths, and crying out of them, Pfal. exxx. 1. other- whiles Deep calling unto Decf, bu: he r^ot able to call ; for all the Waves aid Billows
>■ him, Pfal. xlii. 7. at another Time, fet on a Rock, and bis Goings eftablijhed, PfaL xl. 2. but while he thought that bis Mountain p , God hid
Facf, aid be was troubled, PfaL xxx. 7. lornetimrs, he wa> forely ftraitned, fear <w
I ancther 1 lme, the lor
8. of that fame Pfalm the Wilde me fs, and Oivi ; ctherv. .
SERMON I.
liverance from all his Enemies, Plat, xviii. Title of the , foinetimes, refolving to <ivalk in his Houfe w
ci. 2. a: another Time, he findeth his Houfe not fo with God : Now; he Cometh to his laft Reckoning, about iiis publick Calling, and about his peribnal and domeilick Carriage alfo, he is feeking the Shore, and out of his Sea of Troubles, and Depths of fad Excrcife, he cometh to Land upon the Plank of the fure and everlafting Covenant, and maketh a Song for altogether, once for all, he fingeth a fweet Requiem to bis Soul.
In this Scripture, we have, firft, the Preface, in which we have, i. This holy Man defcribing himlelf, ver. I. 2. His Warrand, for what he fpeaketh and fingeth, z, 3. 3. He reflecteth upon his publick Admi- niltration, and readeth a Lecture to Rulers, ver. 3, 4. 4. He reflecleth rfjbon his Houfe, Court, and Family, and rinde:h them not fuch as they mould have been ; fo he rolleth himfelf upon, and taketh hold upon the well-ordered Covenant, that fo he might come to 2. Soul ver. 5. 5. He taketh notice of the Sons of Be- /in/, who lived without Yoke; who either would never enter in Covenant, or made no Bones to break it ; he defcribeth their wretched Manners, and woeful End, v/r. 6, 7.
Doer. t. From the Preface, <ver. 1. where thefe Words
are called the I a (I Words of David \ it is this, That the
Words nf holy Men are to be obferved and remembered.
The Spirit doth record the lalt Words of David, and
lie fingctn iwcetly in them ; the laft Words of Jacob, in
dix. and of Mofes, in Deut. xxxiii. Stephens, in
v .1 . particularly in -ver. 59, 60. efpecially, ChrilVs
vVords before his Death, Luke xxiii. 34. praying
for his Enemies, and in <ver. 43. on the Crofs giving a
Kingdom, J olm xix. 26, 27. taking Care of his near
thirfting more to have the Work
of Redemption perfected, than for bodily Refrefhing ;
50. of that chap, that precious Word, It is
nd that Word, in Matth. xxvii. 46. My God,
1 forjakenme? and that laft Word of
all,
bit i S a m u E L fcxiii. i.
all, fpcken with a loud Voice, in Luke xxiii. 46. Father, into t by Hands 1 command m\ Spirit; he went not away in a Cloud; and then his 'all Words afcer h:^ Relurreclion, ard before his Afcer.fion, Luke xxiv. from ver. 4 a. till near the End of that chap, and hi oui Hea- ven afcer bis Aictrrfior., Re<o. xxii. 1 6? H. The lalt
f boly Men are mofb Becaufe
jv are near and have a quick Seen: of Kea\ -djtjfjyi- '5- with vii. 5 j, -6. 2^'. L«fl Words leave beft n, //£j xx. 33. 5//. Then, :VIen may fpeak moil . impartial felrimonies. :. Agninlt. thoie who are nothing moved with th* rds of holy iVlen, either firit, or lalt; even Jc(epb*s r.ren were fuch once, in (ten. xxxvii. 19. IJbmael oft* ner, though but once rtcoded, Gen. xxi. 9. Such were the Epicureans, and Stoich, Acts xvii. 18.
Ufe 2. Study the Golpel, and Iiilen to it ; lay if up in the Heart, and obey it from the Heart, Rom. vi. 17. There you have the lail Words of Chriit, Htb. i. 1. and his confirmed Teihment, Kb. ix. 16, 17.
Doct. 2. From David": Parentage reported by him- felf, God/y Men neither are, nor need to d of their
poor Beginnings.
The Son of JeJJe was of fmall Accounr with T I Sam. xx. 30, 31. fo was he alfo with Doevy 1 9. and with Nabal, 1 Sam. xxv. 10. Da*vid himfetf ^to, when he came to reckon wi;h God, thought little of .Houfe or Kindred, 1 CI ron.w'w. 16. So did Gid vi. 15. Vet David here fingexh of hi: c a rife, he was of the holy Patriarchal Seed, his Rile was, there was in it the higher Commcndai of the LordTs free Favour, I Cforon.xt'iX. 14. 3. Hi not in Danger to be puffed up bj uie to be; fee it in Saul, comparing * xx. 30. but David knew it well, at his heji Eft ate, is ai
1 new that Chriit wis to ip. i Root, I/a. xi. 1,— 10. liii. 2.
4 S E R M O N T.
gatoR Pride in thole that cannot hear of their iings and Extractions ; Pride breeds For- . it breeds Dildain. z. It may be of profitable Ufe, often to remem- ber our poor Beginnings; the Holy Ghoft calleth us often /' tbe Syrian ready to perijh, Deut. xxvi. ^. to the Pit iv bene e ive are digged, 1/ai. li. I. our wretched natural Etlate, in the Similitude of a wretched Infant, Ezek. xvi. 3. 4.
DoCT. 3. The Godly take notice of raifing Mercies, from
gber* So did Hannah in her Song, 1 Sam. ii. 8. fo doth Mary in her's, Luke i. 48. and this fame David, P/al. ex'ui. 7,8, they do, I. Becaufe, fuch are higheii Favours. 2. In the Thought of thefe raifing Favours, they remem- ber their fometime low Eitate, which make them the more fweet. 3. The Meditation on thefc, is an Help to that holy lifting up of Heart, fuch as J tbcjhapbat had, 2 Cbron.xv\'\. 5, 6. 4. The not obferving of thefe, ma- keth the worie Men, Deut. xxxii. 15. Jejhurun toaxed xnd kiciedi not only Uzziab, after he was helped to be llrong, bis Heart was lifted up, 2 Cbron xxvi. 15, 16. bat even good Hezekiab, forgetting how the Lord r him up, bfs Heart alfo came to be lifted up, 2 Chen, xxxii. 25. • U/e 1. We hive had many raifing Mercies, fuch as //: .id, in Deut. xxvi. 19. God made us bigb above all Na- ime and Praife ; from a very low Eftate ; we have reafon to blame our unsuitable Walking, for any Tiling which hath, or fhall befa} us.
Ufe 2. VV ho would duly prize raifing Mercies of what- r kind, would be frequent in the Meditation of the tate from which they have been raifed ; it will keep c Mercy high in Eftimation. r. 4. From the Defignation which David taketh inted of the God of Jacob; 4 if tbe true Melfiah, tbe great anointed One ; • it is, godly Men when upon their Reckoning, hould t.ike nopce of their Calling, and . ir Station i as well as, how thej
ricd
on 2 Samuel xxiii, i. 5
ried in it: This Anointing was the Way how Kings were fet apart for that Office, fo it was a Ceremony by which Prieits and Prophets were fet apart. It is of good Ad- vantage befide the Duty, to remember how we entered in a Station and came by it; fo did Solomon, 2 Cbron. i. 8. Jeremy in <bap. i. 5, II. Paul, Gal. i. I. For,
1. God expecleth Service of us, not only as Men, but .as Men of fuch a Calling, 2 Sam. xii. 7. Ezek. iii. 17.
2. The Thought of our being culled of God, if ferious, it will both engage and encourage us the more in the Service. 3. The takir.g of fome Callings, and Way of being engaged in them, doth ferve much to the Com- mendation of him that calleth.
^ U/e 1. Some may hive a Challenge (or little remem- bering how they were called to be Chriitians ; other-, how called to be Ministers, when there hath been little Suitablenefs in the one or other, to iome lingular Appear- ing* of God in thefe Callings.
Ufe 2. Learn we one ana other, to remember our Cal- ling, how we came to be drawn out of the common M and to be fet apart for Gcd : Remember how even a^ Cnri- ftians, we are called with a holy Calling, 2 Jim. i. 9, how we ought to ix a Ik war I by cf it, 2 Theff. i. I I hard to the r.lark, for the P/iz of this high Calli'.g, P iii. 14. -
DoCT. 5. Godly Men look upon all their fignal and : ' Faz':urs, as coming from God as in Covenant w/th tlym.
So much in the Expreffion, the Gcd of Jacob\ Co
hlofes giveth Aflurance of Help and Conduct to I/>\
\ i. 30, 31. from this, the Lord your G>;d ; (o doth
ua commend the Favours (hewed to ffraelt rt was
Lord your God that did fo and f 0 ; and Nehemiah i. c.
plcadeth upon this Score, that he was a 6
"int. h is £ood both pleading for, and Holding our Mercies fo by Covenant. 1. So they are ^rct:y coming from the Promife, the Covenant is ci Proiniie. 2. So they are made moft fure, even fworn by him for wp.oin it js impofiiDle to lie, Heb. vi. 18. 3. They are 1 bundant, the Lord himfelf is firlt given; where any Gift is received by Covenant, he is the Reward, A 1
S E R M () N L
Ufe I. Hence is feen the Sin and Mifery of thofc, that never look to God, as a God in Covenant with them ; they cannot expect that which is promifed in Hag. to be free of Fear, or to nave the Spirit remaining in them; they may grip after, or receive a Mercy, but cm plead no Intertii in Jehovah as the God of the Pjal lix. 10.
Ufe 3. Let all who profefs rhemfelves Chrifti ther in Recognition of the olJ, or Merc: r looking unto, ;ng for C
their God by Covenant, <»ccofding to the - Lord's People in Ifai. xxv. 9.
Doct. 6. tie caiieth hirnielf the fv , the Pon." nd'ing cf tJ
/ Man to ft arc Glory, is 90
7tne commend bit.- So ootn Paul hirnielf, 1 Cor. xv. 10. but it mult be, 1. To fct forth the L( more, t the Grace of G
are called to far™ forth lis Virtues and Prat ii. 9. 2. In tne C\:lc of Vindication, Paul to glory. 3. For the encouraging of others, io in Ia'vl 16. Cutne and bear all ye that fca>
^t the'Lo/d hmth done for my Sou/. j this fometimes, will help to engage our I both more unto Praii'e, and to all Chriftian Performances. 1. Againit bailard Humility, which cat. ulnefs to God in thofe who have Favour.-, but do conceal them, contrary to the Practice of the Saints, --who ?nake mention of t: Praxes "f the Lord, according to ail a:, Jxni. 7.
: raih to cenfure either a5 witlcfe or vain- : .cannot conceal the £reat and >gs of God be tf owed on them,
■ ces which they have found ; ; Dot hut
Job xxxii. 1 ho make (
on 2 Samuel xxiii. i. 7
Doct. 7. From fweet Pfalmiit, not fo much for the Singing and Mufick in them, though David was good of that Art, 2 Chron. vii. 6. Amos vi. 55 as for the Matter.
So the Pfalms are a fweet Scripture, in Pfal. xcv. 2. it is, make a jo\ful Xoife with Pfalms ; when he is (peak- ing of the Days of the Gofpel, as ma£ be gathered by comparing <ver. 7. of the PfaJm, with Heb. iii. 7. and in Jam. v. 13. Is any Man merry , or of a right Frame of Spirit, let him fing Ffalms. 1. There is much of Chriit in them, particularly in Pfal. ii, xvi, xxii, xlv, lxxii, ex, 2. There are many fweet Experiences in them, fomething for every Cafe. 3. The \ery Stile and Phrafe is pleafant. 4. More Teilimonies cited out of the Pfalms in the New Teftament, than almoft out of any other ok ; and Chrifl coth cite the Book of the Pfalms twice,
xxix. 42. and xxiv. 44. U/'e 1. Againft thofe who have Pfalms fweet for nothing : for the Tune in Singing, and their Shortnefs in Reading.
Ufe 2. Search this Scripture, and delight more in it ; the iweet Singer made many of thefe fweet Songs, and there is much fweet Matter in them, (1.) For Contem- plation. (2.) For Practice. (3.) There is a Glafs in them of Saints Cafes and Experiences, Temptations, Wreft- lings, Victories.
Doct. 8. He is called the Jweet PfalmiH of Ifrael, the Obfervation is, That Pjalms were made both then, ar.d are now to le ufed for the publick Edification of the Church, 1 Chron. xv. 19. and xvi. 4, 5. with Eph. v. 19. and Col. iii. 1 6. yea in Pfal. c. 1 2. the Gentiles are commanded, to come before his Pre fence with Singing.
Now, that Singing of Pfalms is a Gofpel Ordinance, may be further proved thus, 1. In the Places cited to the Epbe- fans, and Col-jfians, the very Titles of the Pfalm* in the Bao'c of Pfalms, and other fcriptural Songs are exprelTed ; Pfalms are Mit/morim; Hymns are Tebillrm ; and fpi ritu- al Songs are Shirim. 2. Chrifl after he had inftituted the Supper, and fo put an End to the legal Supper,' yet put he not an End to Singing, but with his Difciples, he fung an Hymn before he 'went out to the Mzunt of Oh
A 4 uth.
8 S b K M O N I.
Matth. xxvi. 30. and Mark xiv. 26. 3. The Pfalm ilru&ion and Admonition, and Singing, Col. iij the firit two Ends a:\d Ufes are moral and perpetual,
not the third? in Epb. v. 19. there is in the Or:, ral binging, and Pfalming it with Grace in the tfeart doth quality the Singing as to its Principle and prin- cipal Qualification, but not exclude vocal Singing
xcv. |, 2. which prophefieth of the Djvs of the Gc'oel, we are appointed in ail our folemri to come before him with Singing; either then \vc mutf ling the Pfalms, and other fcriptural"Songs or the D mutt be altogether negleftcd ; we have not Men dinary, and of the extemporary Gift in that Thing ; nor may we admit Songs made by Men in the VVorlhip of God, more than their Homilies or Sermons; neither is it like, that the Spirit cf the Lord would take us ctf from infallible Scriptures, fuch as Pfalms and other fpiriul Songs, rind fend us to wait on the Gifts of fallible * erring Men. 5. The Singing of Pfalms i the pure$ Times of the Church; it is recorded in - xvi. 25. that Paul and Silas Jang Praifes to GW in Prifon ; the Word may be better rendered, theyfzng Hymns to Cod: And in all the Times of Persecution under Heathen Emperors, their great and frequent Exercife was Singing of Pfalms, who were moll zealous Chriftians.
U/e 1. This is for the eliablifhing you in the Faith of this Truch, that Pfalms-Singing is a Gofpel Ordinance, and to be continued in the Church for publick Edificati- on of the fame: It was both prophefied of in the Old iment ; beifde the Places cited, compare J/'ai. Ivtf. 7, 8. wi:ii Rom. x. 14, 15. it fpeaketh clearly of rhe i' of iiie Gofpcl, and it is faid there, n</ub tht J
: ; and is commanded an<J pradifed in tie New.
2. This is then for Confutation of thofe who are nganitf Singing 0f Pfalms in the Days of the but upon leveral Accounts; fome for the U lhof%with whom tl;ey are to join: To tb< . 1. That as in :; and Drinking at the Lc
Supper, who eat and drink unworthily, do eat and drink
to
on 2 Samuel xxiii. i . 9
to themfelves, not to the Prejudice of their fellow Com- municants, and fo they fuffer for it, i Cor. xi. 29, 30. So it is of thofe that fing not with Underflanding, nor with Grace in their Hearts. 2. Others, for that they think that Singing of Pfalms, and other Scriptural Songs, isnot a Gofpel Ordinance: To thofe I fhall endeavour to give Satisfaction, by fome brief Anfwers to their Objections, or Exceptions. (1.) Some fay, they are not the Word of ill exprefly required in Col. iii. 16. Anfnv. They e endued by the Spirit of Chrift, as by the Spirit he preached in the Days of the Old Teftament, 1 Pet. iii. 18, 19. fo he penned Scripture alfo. (2) They fay, L)avia\ Pfalms are not named. Anfw. Ail the Pfalms were not his, and we affirm, that other fcriptural Songs are to be fung as well as they ; and further we fay as to that, that neither Chrift nor his Apoftles, citing either the Bool^ of Pfalms, or naming particular Pfalms, 60 cite them by (his Name always; oftner not fo, compare Luke xx. 4*. with xxiv. 44. and Acls xiii. 33. (3.) This Singing re- quireth that the Singer be filled with the Spirit, Epb. v. 18. what Need of that if we have our Words taught: Anf-w. \lt. They are spiritual Songs, id. There are fpi- ritual Ends in Singing, Teaching, and Admonifhing, and fpiritual Rejoicing. (4.) All the Word is required there to dwell, fo not fcriptural Songs only. Anpw. All the Word, it is true, but in its feveral Ufes. 2d. Every Word not fo titled. (5.) Pfalms were annexed to the Temple, committed to the chief Mufician. An/hv. \ft. All ot them ha^e not that Tide, not the half of them. zd. Some clearly belong unto the Gofpel, Pfal. Ixxiv. 7. and xliv. 17,— 23. compared with Rem. viii. 36. which (peak of a Time when there was ao Temple. 3d. They are not to be rejected now, for that the inftrumental Mufick which was pedagogical then, more than Prayer, becaufe of the Incenfe. (6 ) Why (tinted Pfalms more than dint- ed Prayers? Anf<w. They are dinted by the Lord, and hie Ordinance dorh not ftraiten. (7.} The Pfalms are old, and thefe Songs mull be new, Re*v. xiv. 3. Anjhv. New Songs in the Revelation, are much of them taken out of the Pfalms, Rev. iv. 1 1 . and v. 9, 1 2. and xv. 3, 4 and *ix.
>•
io S E R M O N II.
5. 2/ The nc , and the new Creature,
make the new S< . that are in Chrijl are nru
tuns, 2 Cor. v. 17.
SERMON II.
2 Samuel xxiii. 2, ;, 4.
7^<r Spirit of the Lord /pake by mi , 6 bw* fjf
my Tor. : The God of Ifrael fa'id, the fpah tn
He that ruleth muft be j;i : : the Fear
of L And he /bail be as the Light of the Morning, when the -c
rifethy even a Morning without Clouds ; as the tt
Grafs /fringing out of the Edi
Rain.
"ITT E have now this holy -Man, after he hath defcribed * * himfelf as beth Prophet and King, <uer. 1. bring- ing forth his Warrand which he had to be a Prophet, in vcr. 2. The Spirit of the Lord fp^ rd
tvas in my Tongue : He was rai fed up on high and appoint- ed of God unto this, as well as to the other Office.
Doct. I. The Spirit of God f poke b, f o/d, *
<wbo 'were cither Prophets or Penmen of Script u
So we read, that this David fpake by the HolyGhoft, Mark xii. 36. and Ef:iast in Arts xxviii. 25. and all that wrote Scripture, did it as they were moved or earned by the Holy Gholt, 2 Pet. i. 21. This is clear, 1. They fpoke of the Things of God, which none could know but the Spirit of God, 1 Cor. ii. 11. 2. From that Pow- er which the Word hath upon the Spirits of Men, Heb. iv. 12. a piercing Power, to the dividing afunder cf Scul end Spit it. Joints a v; and that it is a Difcerner
of the thoughts and Intents of the Heart : It is evident th?.t it is of divine infpiration, according to 2 Tim. iii. 16.
3. .From
on 2 S a M DEL xxiii. 2,3,4. It
5. From this, that they are impartial, and write down tneir own Faults, as well as of others, Mofes, David, 4. The very Stile of what is fpoken in Scrip- tare, fpeaketh it to be divine.
\ all thofe \* ho receive the Word as the Word of Man, and not as the Word of God, contrary "to 1 "TbcJ. ii. 15. And againil all that call in quefiictfi the Authority of the Scriptures.
c Spirit from God, for he is
\o gi-ie the Hoij Ghofl to thofe that ajk him, Luke xi.
1 ;. that >ou may read, htar and believe the holy Scrip-
with the fame Spirit by which they were enditedi
ached and fpoken, is the Word
bile it is nuritten ; Jo it is
z Mouth of
Mouth of all
Is iii. 18.
\\. Becaufe it was infpired to be communicated ; Chrift
evealed in Paul% that he might preacn him. 2- He
nfpireth giveth Utterance, ASs ii. 4. Preaching is
by Demohitr'ation of the Spirit, 1 Cor. ii. 4. and fuch a
. the Spirit is given, that others may be
ed.
;. Againft thofe who profefs Refpedl to the Word
n, but have none oc but little Refptcr. for the Word
preached. Let them remember and confider that Scrip-
Ifa. Jix. 21. where the Covenant is, for putting
.' departing from the Mouth.
Z. Learn to receive the Word preached, as the
of God. It ii io, f Faith, R:m. x. 8.
/rd of the Spirit, 1 Pei. iii. 1 9. a Piece of th<
' God/in rfs, I Tim. iii. 16.
.ateth h»s Call and Comaiiition to be ael /aid, at. J the Rock of lfrael ftake to me; and then his LtiTon as a King ; He that Sing in the Fear of God. Doer. I. From the Firli, / and a
ready at which 1
So.
12 SERMON II,
So Mofes, to perfuade the Obedience of the Covenant, in Dtut.v. 12. doth preface thus, Hear, O Lord our God made the Covenant : and Aiaph, in I. 7. bringeth God fpeaking thus; Hear, O my People, and 1 will /peak, O Ifrael, and 1 will tejiify againft thee, J am God, even thy God: This twofold Confideration may well prevail, 1. Becaufe he is Supreme, and of fun Authority. 2. He is juft and right in all that which he requireth, or for which he chargeth, Demi, xxx\'\. 4. 3. As our God, and in Covenant with us, he hnth bought us with a dear Price, and, he careth fv>r, ?.n^\ will own us.
Ufe I. Againft thofe that flight any CLarge which they have given them from the preached Word ; not receiv- ing, or not regarding it; they fay r.s much, as that either the Lord is not God, or not theirs, or both. He that is of G§d hearetb God's Words, John viii. 47.
Vfi 2. As often as we come before the Lord to hear his Word, and to receive Commandments from him, let the Thought of thefe two imprefs us greatly, that he is God who fpeaketh, and the God of lft at I.
Doct. 2. This alfo Jbould weigh much with us, in per- fuading us to arfixer the Lord's Call, that he is the Rock of Ifrael.
God is a Rock indeed ; He is the Rock, Deut.xxxn. 4. but Chrift was the Rock of Ifrael, 1 Cor. x. 4. in feveral Re- fpcels, I. For a Foundation, Ifa. xxviii. 16. with Rom. ix. 33. 2. For Refuge, Ifa. iv. 6. with Heh. vi. 18. 3. For Shadow, Ifa. xxxii. 2. 4. For Defence xxxiii. 16. 5. He is the everlaiting Rock, tbi F jfges, as fome read that Word, in Ifa. xxvi. 4. / Lord Jehovah is evo la fling Strength. 6. He is the Rock of the Heart and Portion for ever, even when Heart and Strength faileth, Pfal. Ixxiii. 26. 7. A Rock to follow his People in the Wildernefs, 1 Cor. x. 4. 8. A Rock to his People, againfl which the Gates of Hell Jh all not pre- njail, Mat. xvi. 1 8. Ought not the Confideration of thofe make us willingly nc^tpt of his Charge, and go under the Bond of the Covenant with him ?
Ufe 1. Againft thofe who either fetch their Waters of Confolatipn, or build their Hopes upon any Rock befides
this
on 2 Samuel xxiii. 2, 3, 4. 15
this Rock of Ifrael ; no Rock is like him, 1 Sam. ii. 2* 2. It is againlt thofe who come not to his Charge, not- withstanding all the Advantages which they may have in and from, and with hiin, as a Rock.
Vie 2. Study to know him fo to be the Rock of his People, as to improve and make ufe of him as i'uch ; letl he come to be unto you that Rock of Offence and Stone of Stumbling, Rom. ix. 33. and l Pet. ii. 8.
Doct. 1. From the Leffon and Law prefcribed to him, Woo give 4ui Lefjons to others, muft take out Leffons for them- /elves; vabo give Orders to others under them, mull be ready to take Orders frcm him thai is fbovt them.
Such a Prophet and King was David: See the Watch- man's Leffon, Ezek. iii. 17. and the King's, Deut. xvii. 16. to the End of the chap. The Reaions are, 1. All Power and Authority is under Authority ; and they may fo do with better Reafon than rhe Centurion did, Mat. viii. 9. 2. Power ordinarily breedeth Forgetfulnefs of the fuprerrre Power. 3. It is a Shame for any to teach others their Duty, and not to teach themfelves, Rom. ii. 21. 4. Mini ft era of che Gofpel have themfelves to fave as well as others, 1 Tim. iv. 16. and Kings had need to live Chriftians, who muft die as Men, Pfal.lxxxn. 7.
V/e 1 . This reprovech all thofe who are fet over others, and are not as buiy to take out and leara their own Lef- fon, as to give out and teach Leffons unto others.
Vfe 2. Let Superiors be as buiy to pay Duty to God their Superior, and to the pubiick Ituerefr, as they are b fy to exact Duty from their Inferiors, who yet are their Brethren, over whom they ought not to exalt themfelves, according to that Law, in Oeut. xvii. And M millers would be as bufy to preach the Word in, a^ :o preach it out; to print it within, before they vent it abroad.
Doct. 2. In this Party that mult take out the Ltffoa
and the Defcription which the Holy Ghoft giveth him*
He that luleth over Men, we have this Obiervacion, That
the H:lf Gboft is no Leveller, be is for one above another,
Ruler over
■■h is made Ruler, liding in the fecond Chariot, •ver all the Land of Eg t , Gzn. xiL ^z, 43. and So,
*~~ 'Mill '
i.| S E K M O N IT.
Imd chief Officers, that hire rule "eopV:
i.'i. 10. ar.d Duty is to be payed bv Infer Super
This is cleared thus i. Even in the State of Inn';cency. ie Man bad continued therein, there w a natural Dependence of the Wife on her i-Lffhind, and of Children upon their Parents, though ho -us. 2. Even Difparity of A rience, would probably have bred Rererence to one than to others. 3. Societies could not Hand by mere Parity ; Man is born a focial Creature. 4. Amongtt even good Angels there appeareth fome Order, Col. i. 16: as well as amongft evil, Mat. y j. Sup;
periority and Subjeclion not fo fuitable to innocei. ture. Sin hath made it necefTary, as Medicines are. 1. Againft Anaha^tiilical Fancies of levelling: is nothing to the Proof of it, that where mention is made of Man's Dominion over the Creatures, no mention of his ruling over Men, Gen. 1. 26. For (1.) There is Do- minion for a Man's private good only ; ruling over Men is not fo. (2.) Though all Men have Reafon, all have. not the like Meafure. (3.) It is not cro's to Nature, to be under Subjeclion by Choice for our good. (4.) Servi- tude had its Rife from Sin, not all Subjeclion.
Ufe 2. Be inrtructed unto cheerful Subjection to lawful Powers, from this, as the Ordinance of God, Rom. xiii. 1, 2. Magiftracy is the Ordinance of God, not Tyran- ny : And next, Jet all learn to be fatisfied with their Lot and State in the World, be it bond or free, of Degree higher or lower, 1 CV. vii. 20, 21.
Doct. 3. To Rulers here is a Laiv given ; fo Rulers mufl be ruled by Law, and not rule their Brethren ivitb Rigour,
Lev it. xxv. 43,-46.
Judges mult judge right eoufly, not only hetivixt a ' and his Brother, but btt-jjixt a Man and a Stranger, Deuf. i. 16. He mutt make the Law of God his Rule, ar.d njt exalt bimfelf above his Brethren, Dut. xvii. 18, 1 9, 20. So Rulers mull not be abiolute, (J us) For, 1.
Such a Sovereignty is one of God's Attrioutes, 1 am is his Name ; Cod, and none elf. 2. As Princes rei^n by
Chrift,
on 2 Samuel xxiii. 2, g, 4. 15
Chrift, Pr<?<L\ viii. 15. fo they fhould reign for him, not themfclves. 3. Princes are by People, Man's Cre?ture, I Pet, ii. 1 3. fo fhould be for the People, not themfe.ves : They were made for People, not People for them. 4. The End of Magiliracy is not to fet up a Creature to rule at will, but to be a Minifter of God for good to People ; to be a Terror, not to gor.d Works , but to evil, Ro?n. xiii. 3. 5. U Man's Will were the Rule, then fhould we have no certain Ruleat all, nor yet a known Rule.
1. Againfl that Turtfb, abfolute, and arbitrary Power, to which moil of Potentates do now pretend and exerce.
Ufe 2. O pray for fuch Rulers as may be content to be ruled, and not be like the Princes, that removed the Bawd, Hrf. v. 10. God will pour out his Wrath on fuch like Water.
Doct. 4. The ejfential and a bf a lately neceffary Property of a Ruler, is, that he be jufl.
He muft decree Juftice, Prc<v. viii. 15. He muft tho- roughly execute Judgment betwixt a ?>'ian and his Neighbour, .Jer. vii. c;. He mull: execute the Judgment of Truth and ' Peace in the Gates, Zech. viii. 16. Injultice is condemned, Pfal.\x^jJ\\. 2. by the Lord, and the unjuft Man is an A- bomination to the jufl, Prcv. xxix. 27. That Rulers mud be jult, appeareih thus, 1. The Nature of his Office, and of that Ordinance, is, to give unto every Man his Due. 2. They are called Gods, fo fhould remember they judge for God, 2 Cbron. xix. 6. 3. Who fee not to the Rights of others, do betray their own. 4. To d?Jujlict and Judgment, is more acceptable to God than Sacrifice, Prov. xxi. 3. 5. Judging faithfully is that which efta- blifheth Thrones, Prov. xxix. 14. and the Land too, ver. 4. gf that chap.
1. Hence the Reafon of fo many Thrones and States overturned becaufe of Injuftice, and that Throne of Iniquity, Pfal. xciv. 20. and Seat of Violence, Amos vi. 3.
Ufe 2. As Rulers fhould learn their Duty from this, fo Peo- ple fhould pray to the Lord, that he woald raife up fuch Ruler!, as may rule in Righteoufnefs and Equity ; fo as they are called Gods, they may be like him, Pjal. xcviii. 9.
Doer.
j 6 SERMON II.
Doct. 5. Magijlrates and Rulers fhould rule in the Fear bf God.
So they fhould be fuch as fear God, Men of T,ufh, ha- ting ( , Excd. xviii. 21. The Fear of fhould be upon them, 2 Chron. xix. 7. they fhou' Lord in their Station *wiib Fear, Pjal. ii. 11. 1. Becaufe the Fear of God fliould rule and reign in every Ci 2. Very hardly can a Judge be jufl becwixt ivlan and Man, rendering to every one their Dues, if he be not holy, and one that rendereth to the Lord his Due. 3. N<;ne can be a qualified Judge without Wifdom, and // of the Lord is the Beginning of true Wifd.m. 4. The true Fear of God would eat up all the Fears and Hopes, which ordinarily make Judges partial; and it would curb and cure corrupt ArFections.
Ufe I. This is againlr the Election and Admifiion of profane Men to be Magi ft ra tea. Holinefs in the Scrip- tures is required, as the neceflary Qualification of a Ma- giftrate, as well as of a Minifter.
Ufe 2. Rulers fhould regulate their Laws, and all other Rules, with this one Rule, the Fear of the Lord. This fhould be to them the all-ruling Law.
In <ver. 4. We have two Encouragements to the jufl and holy Ruler: one is, That he mall have a clear and comfortable Condition, He /hall he as the Light of the Morning iv hen the Sun rtj.:>jy a Morning without Clouds. 2d. That he fhall be of a growing prolperous Condition, as the tinder (rmfs9 fpringing out of the Earth, hy clear /fi- ning after Ruin.
.0 the Firft, The juft and holy Ruler, he hath it prumifed unto him a very clear and comfortable Life. Such had SoLmon : He judged the People with Rightecuf/:rjj9 and in his Days there ivas /Ibundanct oj Peace, Pjal. Ltxii. It is true, that Pfalm is fpecially underllood of Chrilt and his Kingdom, but it had no fmall Accomplifh- ment in Sohmcn and his Kingdom: That it may be well fo, take thele Grounds, (1.) A clear Confcience. (2.) In- feriors doing Reverence to them as to Fathers. (3.) Ju- ftice puts Things in Order, fo cleareth : But Injuftice doth jumbie, fo puts Thingi in Confufion. (4.) Light 1.
' for
on 2 Samuel xxiii. 2, ?, 4.
for thofe that are righteous, BfaL xcvii. I I. (5.) Where Righteouihefs and Holinefsare, there the Lord command' eth a Blefling. In ^*a\ xxxi. Z3. when the Lord bringeth back the Captivity, it is promiled, that this Speech (hall be ufed, 7 he Lord blcfs thee, O Habitation of Juftice, and 'a in of Ho line fs!
U/e i. The Reafon of the cloudy and unclear Con- dition of the Land ; the Reafon is, amongli other Things, from this, that Rulers have not been juft and holy ; many leaping on the Threfhold, and filling their Matters Houfes with Violence and Deceit: This makelh the Day of Wrath, a Day of Trouble and Diftrefs, a Day of Wafte- nefs and Defolation, a Day of Darknefs and Glocminefs, a Das of Clouds and thick Darknefs, Zepb. i. 9, 15.
Ufe 2. Who defire a bright Morning upon this King- dom, let them pray for fuch Rulers, as may entitle and enjoy this Promife: Alas! good Men are rare, more pre- cious than fine Gold ; even a Man is more precious than the goldtn Wedge of Ophir, Jja. xiii. 12. No Wonder that good Rulers be rare.
As to the Second, The juft and holy Rulers have this Promife, that they mall be of a growing profperous Con- dition ; as the tender Grafs fpringing out of the Eart' clear Jhining after Rain. So Solomon keeping the Charge of the Loro his God, and walking in his Ways, ojc. hath the Promife to profper in all that which he ihpuld do, and whitherfoever he turned him, 1 Kings ii. 3, 4. f<3 in 1 Chron. xxii. i 3. fo Afay becaufe he fought the Lord, The Lord ga<ve him Reft on every Side, and he built arc. pered: and in Prov. iv. 18. The Path of the juft is / Jhining Light. Reafons of this are, (1.) It is a jutf 1 with God, that it mould be fo, and it is promifed it be fo, 2 Chron. xv. 2. The Lord will be with ti. •with him. (2.) Though Innocency be often preyed upon, yet by the Promife of God it is the belt Guard againft Violence; the Innocent Jhall ftir up himfelf againft the Hy- pocrite, Job xvn. 8. and in Job xxii. 19. The Innocent laugh the wicked to font 9 becaufe their own Subftance is not cut but the Remnant of the wicked the Fire con/umeth, ver. 20. and in ver. 30. of that fame chap* it is promifed, That the B
1 8 S E R M O N III.
Lord <u - d of the Innocent. (3.) RightC-
ouinels and Holinels doth put States in a right Complexi- on ; To lie ^row. (4.) Ruling and Judg- ing for the Lord, doth engage the Lord to be for thofe that do io.
Uft 1. Hence may be judged, on what to charge bad SucccfTes, which this Land hath had now of a long Time, in a great part upon this, that Governors have not been as at the firft, not holy and juil as they mould have been; vea we would needs have vlen in Places of Power and Truit, who were notorioufly profane : This we have to mourn for.
2. What we want of Comfort from the Govern- ment of Men, make it out by Faith, from the Govern- ment of Chrift. He guideth all well, and will do all Things well in his Covenant Adminiftrations : He will ride prolperoufly, P/al.xlv. 4. In his Da>s fhall the righ- teous flourifh, Pfal. Ixxtf. 7. He reigning will be a hi- ding Place, If a. xxxii. 1,2. He will reign and profper, Je>. xxiii. 5- and execute Judgment on the Earth.
SERMON III.
I M u E L xxiii. 5.
th God\ yet he bath made h me an evetiajiing C
TH E Kirg and Prophet David hath been with Thankrulnefs rtmemberiog the high Dignities the Lord had railed him unto ; both to be a Prophet and King, and the Orders of Heaven given unto him, for his age in the fame, in the Verfes preceding. In this he falleth upon Search and Enquiry into his Ellatt ; and he findtth his Houfe not in a Condition or Carriage Tunable to his eithe- Rtceits or Engagements; upon which, to get fon;e Stajfc to h;s Heart, he turneth in to the ever-
lailing
on 2 Samuel xxiii. y. 19
lading Covenant, and againft both Sins and Troubles pre- sented unto him, he comforteth himfelf, that God had made with him an everlafting Covenant, ordered in all Things and fure : He taketh ic for all his Dcfire and Sal- vation, though his Houfe fhouid not grow: He is trie lefs troubled, if the main Anchor hold, the Covenant Inte- reft be made, and ft a rid fure.
Intending by the Lord's Help, to fpeak from this Text, to the Covenant of Grace, I fhaii firft fpeak to David*s Cafe and Carriage in the general, as it may be gathered from the Text, and after come to fpeak of that well-ordered Covenant, to which he hath Refuge. As to the firft, we have thefe two, i. His Search of his Condition and Cafe. 2. The Verdict which he pafTeth, or that which he find- eth upon cesrch.
As to the firft, His Search into his State and Conditi- on, he hath been confidering how highly the Lord had honoured him; and now he cometh to examine, what Suitablenefs, or Unfuitablenefs to (o high Favours, was to be found in him and his Houfe before the Lord.
Doct. I. Believers, in their Search of their State ana Condition, Jhould compare their prefent Caje and Carriage, with their former Receipts.
So Jacob remembereth all the Mercies and the Truth which the Lord had fhewed unto him, and findeth him- felf unworthy, Gen. xxxii. 10. And Ezra, in chap. ix. 13. he reckoneth both the Lord^ Rods and the great Deliver- ance : And there is good Reafori for this, 1. The Lord, when he reckoneth with his People, he doth reckon with, them principally upon the Score and Account of Mercies, fo in Ezek. xvi. 5, 6. None Eye pitied thee, and when I pafjtd b i thee, and jaw thee polluted in thine oven Blood, I J aid unto thee, when thou waft in thy Blood, live ; faid unto thee, when thou waft in thy Blood, It 2 Sam. xii. 8, 9. with the fame David, 1 gate thee thy MafteSs Houfe, and thy Mafter s Wives iai mt and
gave thee the Houfe of Ifrael and J udah, and if that had been too little, 1 would have moreover given unto ihet and fuch Things ; wherefore haft thou dejf:, :.mand-
merit of the Lord. 2. Who re^d their Obligation. B 2
2o SERMON III.
Col. i. io. to 'walk worthy of tie Lord^ will find this fpe* daily included, to walk worthy of his Mercies. 3. Sin- nitig, even againft common Mercy, is a great Aggrava- tion of Sin, againlt the Riches of common Goodnefs, Rom. ii. 4. 5. and fuch Sinning doth bring on the more fh.ip and lc vere Judgments, Amos iii. 2 Y,u ottlj have I Families of the Earthy therefore 1 will pu- nifh \:u for ali your Iniquities.
i. Reproof to tnofe that level not their Walk to the Rule of Mercies which they have received ; they have not u ilked of Love, and of their large Receipts: They may have juft Challenges from Deut. xxxii 6. Do ye thus requite and, frcm Je>\ ii. 5. W 'hat Iniquity have
you fund in mc? An J we will rind a threefold Plague at- tending that Way, (1.) A fhamelefs and defperate Oppo- fing of God ; and how dangerous that is, let any j jdge. (2.) A growing Hardnefs of Heart. (3 ) Treafuring up Wrath.
2. Be exhorted to be much in the fearching out and pondering of your Mercies, that the Wrongs in your Walk m>v be the better taken up: Begin even at that, how God at firtf. made Man but a little lower than angels, Pfa. viii. $. and m iketh him fearfully and wonderfully, from Day to Day, Pfal. exxxix. 1 4. how he bringeth Food out of irth, and Wine' which maketh glad the Heart of Man, Pfal.zw. 14, 15. how he grantcth Life and Fa- vour, and by his Vifitation prefervetti our Spirits, Job x. 12. how in him we live, move and have our Being, Ajls xvii. 2$. Then remember all his good Providences, and above all, his Covenant Mercies, and all the fpiritual herewith he hath blefTed us in Chrilt Jefus. Then lit down and reckon what Meeting you have given .
% in their Search, would bring their Ruh ••, iv Aether all be conform to what ,hen to us. I fearcheth whether it was fo witrf himfelf and /here he profeflcth that he would medi- tate on God's Precepts, and fo have Refpect unto his and in ver. 59. that he thought on
his
on 2 Samuel xxiii. fi 2 r
his Ways, and turned his Feet unto his Tejlimonies. In Jam. i. 25. there is commanded the looking Into the perfect Law of Liberty, and continuing therein ; and in IJa. villi 20. lfrael is commanded to go to the Law and to the 7e- ftimony: Believers would look unto this, for, i. If they will not judge themfelves, God will judge them by it, Rom. ii, 12. 2. It is a true and perfect Glafs, as it is compared to it, Jam. i. 2f. 3. Ail other Rules are ei- ther imperfedl or crooked; fuch as, Reafon, Cuilom, Example. 4. If we do not draw up our Charge fully, according to Law,, how fruli we have a full and Con- fcience-fatisfying Difcharge ?
Ufe I. Hence it if rnanifeft what the Caufe is, why many do never come to a true and clear Eilimate of their Eitate ; they do either reckon wilhout the Law, or not punctually with it.
bfe 2. All you who look to give an Account of your Srewardfhip, (and you know not when it may be faid un- to you, as to the Man in Luke xvi. 2. Give an Account of thy Steward/hi p> for thou mujt be no longer Steward) La- bour (1.) To know the Law in all its Dimenfions. O it is exceeding broad, Pfal. cxix. 36. (2.) Exan ine fir ici- ly all thy Ways according to the itrict Rule, confidering ferioufly whether thy Life doth exa&ly quadrate and a- gree with the fame.
Doct. 3. The right Eflimate of our Ell ate, is, to take it up, not as it is in the World, or before Men, but as it ii <uith and before the Lord. My Hou/t is not fo with thet, faith David.
We would examine, whether our Walk hath been with God, as Enoch and Noah their Walk was, Gen. v. 24. and vi. 9. whether before God, as Abraham his Walk was. Gen. xxiv. ^.o. compared with Gen. xvii. I. whether we have walked after the Lord, as the Commandment is, Deut. xiii. 4. There is fpecial good Reafon for thus doing. 1. We are only countable to him, Rom. xiv. 12. and we mull every one give Account of himfelf. 2. Jf we have no better than Man's Tellimony and Ablblution, it may beguile us: They know not our fecret Sins, and Cannot know our Hearts; and Affections may blind and £ 3 niiflcad
22 SERMON III.
miflead them in their Judgment. 3. If we be right with and before God, we cannot readily be wrong befon who are truly godly, ana have the right Decerning: But though we be right in the Eyes of the bell difcerning Men, we ma) be wrong in the Eyes of the Lord. 4. Our eternal Eltate will be meafurtd according to that which is here ; and it is to be with him for ever, 1 The/T. iv. 1 7. So it is necefTary, both that we be with him here, and that we know ho»w we are with him.
Ufe I. Hence is dilcovered their Madnefs, who in the a and Care of their Eltate, never either get, or la- boured to get, above that, to have thejr State and Cai'c here judged, and approved before Men, and of Men.
Uje 2. Let all wile Chriftians try how it is between them and God; and not truit their own Hearts in this Search ; for it is deceitful above all
[Hall know it (1.) By the Word ; what the Word faith of ic, fuch it is. (2.) Know it in three Particulars, i/L What of Chriii is in it. zd. What and how there is in it for God. 3./. How it is with us as to er ? Doct. 4. A Cbriflimn that hath a Family in the Search- ought to fearcb boiv it is ninth his H'u.'e. ua did 100k to and engage his Houfe to the Lord, 15. fo did Abraham before him, Gen. xvrii. io. and David after him, Pfal.ci. 2, — 7. So much was particularly commanded, Dent. x\. 20. David here hath fcarching, how it was with his Houfe. The fame Duty doth ly on all Mailers of Families, I. Becaufe of the general Obligations which \y upon us, both to God and our Neighbour. 2. Becaufe or" the nearer Re- lation, and fpecial Truft. 3. U the Work and Worfhip of God be .: to in Families, how can it go well
with the Chu;^
1. Kcpioof to thofe, who if they do any Thing, in the Point of Search and Care, for fecunng their own fpiritual State, lit down fatisfied, as it there were no other Thirg to be done ; and nevrr look after the State of their Family or Pofteritj, how it is or ihall be with them. It is a bad Token of a Man's own Eitate, to be
negleclive
on 2 Samuel xxiii. 5^ 23
negleclive of thofe, with whom the Lord hath truflcd them.
Ufe 2. All who defire to fecure their own fpiritual and eternal Filate, wouhi look carefully into their Houfes and Families, and take care of all thofe under their Charge and Trull ; remembering and considering that Word, in Prov. xxvii. 23. Be thou ddige-it to knoiv the State of thy Flocks, and u, look well to thy Herds.
Come we now to the Verdiel, which he pafTeth upon the Search, even that Things were not right vn his Houfe, Although my Houfe be not Jo with Cod.
Doct. I. Moll perfcl Men, upon ferfcus Search, will find that Matters are not p right betwixt tbejn ahd Gcd as they ought to be.
David upon Search fometimes flnderh innumerable E- vils compaifir.g him, iniquities taking hold on him, and moe than the Hairs of his Head, P/aL xl. 1 2. at another Time, he fincleth the Iniquity of hi* Heeis CGmpaffing him about, Pfal. xlix. 5. That Bejievers upon Search will find much wrong, it cometh from this, 1. From the vSpi- rituality and Perfection of the Law, and too much of that which is carnal in them, Rom. vii. 14. 2. From that of Sin which doth dill dwell in them, Rom. vii. 17. 3. From the many and divers Ways how Things may be wrong, either in the Defecl and fhort coming, or in the •over-reaching and Superfluity, or by Daubings and Di- ftempers, or by manifold Temptations, readily in the belt Works.
Ufe 1. If it be thus, where is Merit of which the Pa- pijl doth boaft, where are the Works of Supererogation?
Ufe 2. Believers may not ever call in queition, much lefs cait their Intereft, becaufe of Unaniwerablenefs, fhort-comings, or any Difcovery of Sin and manifold Infirmities : The belt of the Saints have upon Search found it no better with them ; yet have not call, away their Confidence for all that.
Doct. 2. Even in befl ordered Families many Things may :metimes ami,s ; yea, and it may be, fome grcjjer Itiinas than in ether Families not fo well looked to.
B 4 Here
SERMON Til.
>k well to his
Ci I. i nere he
eel Heart :
I h thifl I ext
n his Mily, I m\ in Ab >acyS%
I
The Re • :. is a gre
Dcmj to gbi .non may curb
an^ reil rain Sin, it cannot cure it;
i that. 3. Even that which remained of Corrup- tion m pan when 'hey come together, may kmoje a Flame. 4. A Difordcr in the Head o! a Fa- mily, may be punifhed by the Permifiion of oth
be, greater Diforders in the Family, 2 Sam. xii. IP, 11, 12.
Ufe I. VVe may not rafhly caft Families out of our Charity an J Prayer©, though iome foul and fearful Things fall out in them : Such Things have fallen out in goaly Families.
Ujc 2 \s it is the Duty of Heads of Families to fee to thtniiuvt-b, that they walk orderly, and examplary in that w.ic. is good; fo there is Reafofl €0 pray much for gedly Families, efpeciaily the Heads of them, that DOthicg v:iihonourabie to God may be found in them, in theic looie Ti
Doer. 3. "There muft be found and cl< Hon of
Wrongs done , or oj that nubicb is nvrofr^. e can
uke Hold on the Covenant, or improve it to our Com-
fort. Daiid fonna I hings wrong here with his Houfe,
befor d in to the Covenant: So in Ztcb, ix. 1 1.
muft find themfelves P Pit, where
is tn Water, before they hive Benefit by the Bl^d of the
Cown^it ; in . lutth. xi. 28. They mult be labouring^ as
is heavy / iden; and, in Luke xix. 10. Tney muft
be ft\f loit The Reafons of this are, 1. There
coming to Chrilt, until a ivlan be weary of felf, and
willing to come out of him felf: And this cannot b«
wunout Conviction that he is in the wrong Clofe.
2. There
on 2 Samuel xxiii. 5. 25
2. There is no coming to the Covenant, without a com- ing to Jefus; and there will be no coming to him, until he be prized; and there will be no prizing of him, till the Soul be humbled, Prov. xxvii. 7. 3. There can be. no clofing with Chrift in a Covenant, until there be a WilJingnefs to give a Bill of Divorce to every Sin ; and Sin muft be made bitter to the Soul, before it part with it. 4. It is natural to Men to blels themfelves in their Way, and to dream of Self-fufficiency ; this being, they will not look towards a Covenant; but found Conviction of their Wrongs will beat them thro' thofe vain Confi- dences, and make them glad to turn in to the Cove- nant.
i'fe 1. This is againft unhumbled Sinners coming to take Hold of the Covenant; they who are not fuffici- et.tly convinced of their Wrongs, and yet dare, and do prefun.ptuoufly, pretend to an Jntereil in the Covenant, they but deceive their own Souls.
life. 2. Lex all who are fufficiently convinced of their Wrongs, do, as David doth here, turn in to the Cove- nant, as to a ilrong Hold. But fome have their Doubt, that they were never duly humbled: To fuch I anfwer, (1.) God calleth for Sincere Humiliation, but hath not let a Mcaf re. (2.) The Lord humbleth greatly fome; fuch as thofe that are naturally proud, fuch as have been notorious Sinners, fuch as he defigneth for great Services ; ^«ot fo others. (3.) Satan raifeth the Storm, and iu- creafeth Fears with fome, more than with others ; which maketh the Humiliation feem to be greater. (4) The Lord knoweth the Strengh of every one : So all are not tempted alike, nor any above Meafure. (5.) That Mea- fure of Humiliation is fufficient, which obtaineth the Ends ; which are, 1/?, Sin loathed and left. 2V, An abfolute Need of Chrift feen. $d, Chriit highly eiteemed, and the Soul made willing to receive him.
Doct. 4. From this, that notwithflanding he found Things all wrong, yet he refolveth to fhelter and fave himfelf ip and by the Covenant, the Point is, Sin ought not to kinder J elf -loft Creatures from taking Hold of the Cove- nant.
So
2f> k> r, k .u u in in. err.
So doth Samuel teach the People, in I Sam. xii. 20. Te have d^e all dnrfs, yet turn not away f om
he Lord: And, in <uer. 22. a very encourag- ing Reafon is g'ven, The Lord <-jj ill not for fake his People, is great Nameys Sab* btcaufe it hath p:eafed the Lord to make you his People: And, in I/a. lvi. 3. neither the Son of the Stranger, nor the Eunuch, are excluded from taking Hold on the Covenant; the Rea- fons are, 1. The Covenant was not made to (hut out, but to take in, humbled Sinners. 2. The Covenant Righ- teoirnefs is a gifted, not wrought for, Righteoufnefs. 3. Tnere are two great Articles, or Claufes in the Cove- nant, which may anUer all Objections to the contrary ; One is in la. lv. 1, 7. Qome, buy without Money, and
without Price, and the Lord nxi/l abundantly pardon.
The other is in Ho/, xiv. 4. hwill beal their Backflidings, and hvt them freely. 4. The Faith of God mult not be of none Effecl, Rom. iii. 3. And Chrift is an Advocate for Six, 1 John ii. I.
Ufe I. Reproof to thofe, who, becaufe of Sin feen, wijl not, they fay that they dare not come : See that pretended Un worth inefs be not Pride : Suppofe never any was fo great a Sinner, God can make new Patterns, 1 Tim. i. 16.
Ufe 2. See your Refuge, who have your Souls in Dis- order: Let not not Sin hinder you: Believe, and take Hold: Hearts fixed on Chrift, will find Virtue from Chrift, both to kill Corruption, and to quicken unto Ho- linefs.
S E R-
( *7 ) SERMON I.
ON TH E
GOSPEL COVENANT:
Which is of a Covenant in G;:neral; and of the Two Covenants, the Covenant of Works, and the Covenant of Grace.
2 Samuel xxiii. 5*. j4l though my ffou/i be n:t fo with Cod; vet he hath made with vie an evert afling Covenant, welt ordered in ait Things and Jure ; for this is ail my Salvation, and all my Dejire, although he make it not to grow.
IN this fad Time, wherein Foundations are either de- ftroyed, as in PfaL xi. 3. or out of Courfe, as in Pfai. lxxxii. 5. when Difpenfations do threaten, as in Jer. xvii. 3, 4. that the Subftance and Treafures of the Lord's Mountain fhall be given to the Spoil, andZion to be madetodifcontinue from her Heritage ; and the Lord him- felf doth threaten, as in EzeLxx'i. 27. 1 <w ill overturn, over- turn, overturn, until he come ivho/e Right it i s ; that is, until MeJJiah the Prince get Poficrffion, and have Right done to him : In this reeling Time, wherein nothing is certain, it were good, and tor the great Advantage of the People of God, to make one Thing certain, even Intereft in him who is laid in Zion for a Foundation, a Stone, a tried Stone, a precious Corner-Stone, a fure Foundation, I fa. xxviii. 16. The Father hath laid this Foundation, this Stone, in a Covenant : He hath given him for a Co- venant
28 S E T
menant • > \ if] fcven
Eyes upon it, It is
fuchar! • -
I] laid
in a Covenant, this
lure*
I , Pro v. vui.
J2. Htrt is the //'<?•?£ fl '// the Pnfoners
pe are to tur*% in t ie itor.ri'. h. ix. II, 12.
It is Chriit in a Covenant, <zu^ ;j / j en the Af-
Lam\ who wiil never want /even
Shepherds, end eight principal Men, to be raijed againd
him, Mic v. 5.
It is of this Covenant I intend to fpeak from this Text; A Covenant i&elf or dered, to which David turned in, when the Th:ngs of his Houfe were in Diforder, and to which we fhould turn in, in the Difordersof the lime. Of t. i; Covenant I propound and purpoie to lpeak, if the Lord wiji, to thefe ten tic
I. VVhat a Covenant, and this Covenant is.
II. How it is a Covenant, that is rnade, and well made, concluded and ended.
III. Who made if.
IV. The Parties engaging and engaged, and all that have Interetf in this Covenant.
V Of the Condition of it.
VI. Of the Properties
VII. Of the Bltflligs of the fame.
VIII. Of the Way and Means liow thefe Bleffings are conveyed.
IX. Of the great Duties required in and by it.
X. Of the Danger and deiperate Eftate of thofe who lay not Hold on it.
The I. Thing to be fpoken to, is, what a Covenant is, and whar this Covenant is. As to the Firfl of thefe, a Covenant is an Agreement betwixt Parties, by Promife and Engagement, upon certain Conditions and Articles: 60 there be civil Covenants, fuch as that betwixt J a cob and Laban, Gen. xvii. 44. betwixt Zcdekiab and the
King
On the C Covenant. 29
King of Babylon, Ezek. xvii. 16. But this Covenant i« facred, a Covenant made by Sacrifice, Pfal. 1. 5. There are two Words which chiefly expreis the Nature of this j Qovenant, in ics Name : One is, its Old Teltament Name, Beritb, coming from a Word v.hich iignifieth to chooTe or cut in Pieces ; for in making Covenants they ufed to cut the Sacrifice in Twain, and to pais between the Pieces; which did exprefs a Curfe upon the Covenant Breaker : . See for this, Gen.xv. 10. iS. and Jer. xxxiv. 18. The other is the New Teitanicnt Name, where it is called a Teftament, Ajdmn, in Luke xxii. 20. where the New Telfament is the New Covenant, and Heb. vii. 12. the better Teftament is the better Covenant : The Word figBifieth a bii'pofnion or Legacy ; it holdeth forth an Agreement betwixt God and Man, wherein the Riches of Cnriii, and the great Things of Salvation and eternal Life, are difponed to Man upon Condition of believing and receiving Chrift for Righteoufnefs.
U/e 1. Of this; fith this Covenant, from its Name, is a Bargain of free Choice, upon certain Articles, all who have a Mind to it, mull choofe it upon the Terms in which it itandeth j they muft enter in it, fo as they bind themielves with a Curfe not to break it : The Curfe by Confent is to the Breaker: To enter into a Covenant, and into a Curfe, in that reiptcl, is ore Thing, Neb. x. 29. And making of a Covenant, is the cucting of a Covenant, P/al. lxxxix. 3. who break it, fhali, accord- ing to the Curfe, be cut in Pieces, cut afunder, in Luke xii. 46. cut in Twain.
Ufe 2. Is the Name and Nature of this Covenant a Difpofition by Will ? Seek to have and hold it of free Wiil and good Pleafure : Seek to have and hold it, as ratified by Teftament, by the Deathv of the Teita.or, Heb. ix. 16. Take all the Legacy, from Remiflion of Sins to eternal Life ; and be content to be at the great Le- gator's Difpofal. This Covenant then is by the firiiNaine a Bargain, the beft Bargain ; and by the fecond it is a fure Bargain, ratified in a Teftamenc, and by the better Teilament. Further, that you may know what this Co- venant is, know this, that the Lord hath made two Co- ve i.-
30 SERMON I.
venants with Man : The fir It in the State of Innocency, Gen. ii. 16, 17. wherein Life was promifed to Man, upon Condition of Obedience, and Death threatened upon his Difobedience. This may be called the Law, or Cove- nant of Nature; by Nature written on the He^rt, Rom. ii. 15. or the Law fimply : Ye are nai widtr the Law, in Rom. vi. 14. is, ye are not under the Co- venant of Works, or the Law and Covenant of Works; becaufc the Condition of this Covenant is Doing, Rom. x. 5. and Gal. iii. 12. There be five Things in it, 1. A Man is perlunally bound in it, as Adam The Soul thatfinneth (hall die, Ezek. xviii. 4. 2. It re- quireth perfect Obedience, fo in Deut. xviii. 13. Thou Jbalt be per f eft with the Lord thy *->od. 3. It mull be with all the Heart and Strength, Mark. xii. 30. 4. Jt niUil be perpetual, all the Days of a Man's Life, Deut. v. 29. 5. It is taken on, and to be performed in a Man's own Strength, under the Pain of a Curfe, and eternal Death. This is not the Covenant which is David's Re- fuge in my Text : Of it now it cannot be faid, as Heze- hah faid of the Promifes, By thefe 'Things Men five, and in thefe is the Life of Mens Souls, Ifa. xxxviii. I 6. Nay, this Law now worketh Wrah, and is found unto Death, Rom. iv. 15. and vii. 10. Yet the Law if. holy, and the Commandment is holy, and jujl and good, Rom. vii. 12. The other Covenant is the Gofpel Covenant, called the Gofpel, Rom. I. 16. The Covenant of Grace, called /£* Grace cf God which bringeth Salvation, Tit. ii. II. The Covenant of Peace, Jfa. liv. 10. and Ezek. xxxvii. 26. The Wo; d of Reconciliation, 2 Cor. v. 19. Ch rift's Teftament, his New Tellament in his Blood, Luke xxii. 20. The Condition of this Covenant is Believing, John iii. 16. It is of this Covenant that the Text is meant ; An everla- fling Covenant, well ordered in all Things and jure ; which was nude with David as a Type of Chrilt, and yet made with Chriit before it was made with David; for he was t'rte Root as well as the Offspring of David, Rev. xxii. 1 6. Thefe two Covenants were typified by Sarah and Agar, Gal. iv. 22,» 23, 24. the one gendreth unto Bondage, tne other to Liberty. More particalarly, let us confider thefe two
Cove-
On the Gospel Covenant. 31
Covenants in thefe Things wherein they agree, and then in thefe Things wherein they differ.
As to the fir ft y they agree in feveral Things, 1. Tn the fame Author; the fame Lord Jehovah made both: This is againft an old Herefy of the Manickees, who made two Beginnings, one good, another evil ; this iait they made the Author of the firft Covenant, and the firft of the fecond. Now there cannot be two Beginnings more than two Gods: And the Covenant of Works was good, and the Law is ftiil holy and good. 2. The Par- ties are the fame, God and Man*. 3. The high and laft End of both is the fame, the glorifying of God. 4. The Reward is and was for Subilance the fame, eternal Bief- fednefs. 5. Both conditional; Conditions were and are required in them. Life was never promifed, fo as that Men mould live at Pleafure : No Covenant leaveth either of the Parties free. 6. Both did require a per feci Righ- tcoufnefs, Rem. iii. 31. with 1 Cor. vi. 9. where all un- righteous Perfons are excluded Heaven. Man is requi- red in both to be perfeel; compare Gen. xvii. 1, with Deut. xviii. 13. 7. Both were made unchangeable in this, they mull be fulfilled; cpmpare Jer. xxxiii. 20. with Matth. v. 17. and they" are damned that fulfil it not, Rom. viii. 3. 8. Both bind under a Curfe, Deut+ xxvii. 26. 1 Cor. xvi. 22.
Ufe 1. There is need that all (ludy to know thefe Co- venants; and under which of them they are; for though they agree in many Things, yet the one of them now is Only unto Life, having in it that Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Chriit Jefus, Rom. viii. 2. the other is unto Death.
JJfe 2. Matter of Rejoicing to thofe who have not now to come to Mount Sinai, which genderetn unco Bondage, but are come unto MouBt Zion; as is txpref- fed in Hcb. xii. 22. to that EUate wherein the Spirits oi jufl Men are made perfeel, ver. 23. that is, to this new and better Covenant, wherein there is perfeel Righteouf- I indeed that Righteoufnefs of God, Rom. in. ii, 22.
Come we now to confider the Differences of the two Covenants, 1. They differ in the Condition vvhic^
rcq..
SERMON I.
require ; the one requireth Doing, Gal. iii. 12. the other Believing, Ads xvi. 31. yet Faith is commanded in the Law, (1.) As to the Act 6i 'Fruiting and Dependence on God: The Light of Nature doth teach all Creatures this Dependence, PfaL cxlv. 1 5. The Eyes of all <wait up- on thee. (2 ) As to the Act of Perfuafion, that God will be plea led if his Will be done. (3.) As to the A 61 of AfTurance of the pro mi leu Life, upon the Performance of the Condition. But Faith of a Redeemer and of his Love, was neither revealed, nor required in the Cove- nant of Works. Faith as a Piece of Holinefs was requi- red in the Covenant of Works, not as an Inftrument re- ceiving and applying Chrilt for Rightejufneb : Yea, though Works be required in the Goipel, as in Mai. v. 16. that our Light mould fhine before Men, and in Tit. ii. 12. that we fhould live foberl,, righteouJly\ and gidfy, in this prejent World: but Works are not required in the Gofpel for Righteoufnefs, as in Deut. vi. 25. but for e- videncing the Truth and Reality of Believing, Jam. ii. Ijr, 18. they are not required to be performed in our own Strength, but through Chrift ftrengthening us, PhiL iv. 13. Nor in the fan*? Order as in the Covenant of Works; there they were' to be fijft performed, then the Promile to be looked for ; but in the Covenant of Grace, Believing muit go firft, and good Works follow after; the Obedience is of Faith, Rom. xvi. 26. And they who firft believe, muft in the next Place be careful to main- tain good Works, Tit. iii. 8. The frcond Difference in the Covenant of Grace, there is a Mediator, and Jefus is he, Heb. ix. 15. and xii. 24. not fo in the Covenant of Works: As to that Place, in Gal. iii. 19. where the Law is faid to be ordained by Angels in' the Hand of a Me- diator ; by the Mediator was meant Mcfts ; or if Chrilt, then it is to be remembred that the Covenant published on Mount Sinai was not a Covenant of Works, but a Cove- nant of Grace, difpenied in Types and with legal Ter- rors: So the Law was made a Schoolmafter to lead us to Chrift, Gal. iii. 24. and that Book of the Covenant had ' the Blood of the Covenant with it in a Sign, Excd. xxiv. as (0 that which is faid in Htb. viii. 7, 8. that the
Covenant
On the Gospel Covenant. 33
Covenant on Mount Sinai is faid not to be fauldefs; it is meant, not every Way fo clear and perfect as the fecond and better Covenant. Third Difference, in the one, Man is left to -his own Strength, in the other, Help is laid for him upon one that is mighty, Pfal. Ixxxix. 19. Fourth Difference, In the one, the Reward would have been given of Works, but in this other, the Reward is given of mere Grace, Rom. iv. 4. Fifth Difference, Jn the one, ihould have been but a Righteouf.efs inherent, and of a Mao ; bin in the other, is the Righteoufneis of God, and that imputed. Sixth Difference, The Covenant of Works was to be bro- ken, but this Covenant of Grace is to Hand for ever.
Ufe 1. The Mifery of thofe who are not yet entered in this new and better Covenant: It may be known from that \^hich hath been faid of the Differences; they are left qjfc themfelves, they have no Mediator nor Helper, they ara|pnder the Curfe, and muft both count and pay to the utmoit Farthing.
Ufe 1. Encouragement to thofe that are within this fecond Covenant: They are under the better Covenant, and they have every Way tr.e belt Advantage, as will be feen in the Progrefs. ChrihVs imputed Righteoulnefs is a fair and white Covering ; his Fulnefs is a rich Trea- fure; he is made Wifdom, Righteoufneh,Sanclificationand Redemption, 1 Cor. i. 3c. He is made all Things to the Believer.
Here the Queftion may be moved, feeing the two Co- venants are fo different, can any be under them both? Anjkv. By no Means; for they who are under Grace are not under the Law, Rom. vi. 14. It is further urged, if Believers be not under the Law but under Grace, what have they then to do with the Law, what Need have they to regard Works, or to care how they live ? Chrift is made San&ihxation unto them : Thus doth the Libertine and Antimmian fay.
To thefe I anfwer ; and fo to the Queition, 1. Believ- ers are not fo under the Law, as the Hand writing or Or- dinances againft them ; fo it is nailed to the Crols of Chrift, Col. ii. 24. 2. Not under the Law, fo as to count with it to the utmoit Farthing; a willing Mir. C *nd
34 SERMON!
and, according to that which a Man hath, is accepted in the Golpel Obedience, 2 CV. viii. 12. 3. They are not under the Curfe of the Law: Chriit was made a Curfe for them, to deliver them from that Curfe, Gal. iii. 10, 13. 4. They are not under it, as a Covenant to get Righteoufnefs thereby, but as a holy Commandment and Rule of Obedience ; for it is an everlailing Rule of Righ- teoufnefs: It is yet the Rule to the new Creature, Gal. vi. 15, 16. as well as it was to Adum in the State of In- nocency : Believers are ftill under Law to Chriil, 1 Cor. ix. 21. under him, as King and Lawgiver, Jam. iv. 12. For the Proof of this, that under the Gofpel, we are obliged to the Obedience of the Law, as it is a Com- mandment: Confider, (1.) That in Mattb.xv. 17. Cbrift came not to deftroy the Law, but to fulfil it. (2) In his Conflict with Satan, he made ufe of the Law, Iflatth. iv. 7, — 10. {3 ) He did keep the fame Rule in Obedience, which he prefcribed to others ; fo the Exhortation to Ho- linefs is propounded in thele Terms, that the fame Mind mould be in Believers which was in Chriit., Phil. ii. £. If it be laid for our Juitification, I anfwer, not only fo, but for Example alfo, Johnx'm. 14, 15. 1 Pet. ii. 2r, 22, 23. both in Doing and Suffering. (4.) Under the Law, is one Thing ; Conformity to it is another : Not to itudy this lait, were to go crofs to the Light of Nature. (5.) Paul doth profefb himfelf to be under Law to Chriit, 1 Cor. ix. 21. even his inner Man to be under it, Rom, vii. 22, — 25. (6.) To take away the Law were to un- king Chrilt; no Law no King, Luke xix. 14. (7.) The keeping of the Law is preferred to all external Preroga tives : Circumcifion is nothing, and Uncircumcifion ii nothing, but the keeping of the Commandments of God. 1 Cor. vii. 19. (8.) Duties in the New Teftament arc prefled from the Authority of the Law, 1 Cor. ix. 8, 9. and xiv. 34. and in Epb. vi. 2. as a royal Law, Jam. ii 8. (9) Paul by the Spirit calleth the Law ipiritual. Rom. vii. 14. good, holy and juil, in the 12. *ver. of thai fame chap, that it is good if a Man ufe it lawfully, 1 Jim i, S. (10.) It is Antichrifi^s Name, that he is a Jawlef; Man 2 Thejff. ii. 3. No Chriitian then fhouk
pretenc
On the Gospel Covenant. 35*
pretend to be without Law. (n.) Not to be fubjedt to the Law, it goeth under a bad Character in the Phrafe of the Holy Ghoft; it is only the carnal Mind, and Wif- dom of the Flefh, that is not fubjec* to Law; it is En- mity againlt God, Rom. viii. 7. If it be faid, that they walk after the Law, as it is written in the Heart, not as in the Book of Scriptures, I anfwer, if}. The Law writ- :en in the Heart, if not according to that which is writ- :en in the Book, it mult not be looked unto, I/a. viii.- 20. :here is no Light in it. 2d. Chrift maketh no fuch Di- [tinftion : The Law written in the Volume of the Book, ind upon the Heart, are one, Pfal. xl. 7," 8. 3d. What is upon the Heart, can be no perfect Rule: The Heart is cieceitrul, fo hath need of a Touch ftone, Jer. xvii. 9.
Ufe 1. Again it Antinomianiftn and Lihertinijm : It m..y juickly come .0 that, to make Sons of Belial', which is without a Yoke; it were becaufc Grace aboundeth, to make Sin abound much more; contrary to Rem. vi. 1, 2.
U t 2. Let as many a? believe, follow after Holinefs; knowing that the Law now is the Law of Chrift, fo ful- fil it, Gal vi. 2. that it is the perfect Law of Liberty, Jam. i. 25. yet fo as it is Chilli's Yoke, Luc a vwy cuy ifoke.
C 2 S E P
i 3° ; S E R M O N II
O N T H E
GOSPELCOVENANT:
As the Old and New Covenant; how the fame, and how they differ.
2 Samuel xxiii. 5.
Although my Houfc be not fo with God; yet he hath made
rlajhng Covenant y well ordered in all Things
I hre ; for this is all my Salvation, and all my Defire,
although he make it not to grow.
WE have heard of the two Covenants, the Cove- nant of Works, and the Covenant of Grace, and wherein they agree, and how they differ. Now the Covenant of Grace, albeit it be one and the fame it falJeth into or under a twofold Consideration, as the Old, and as the New Covenant, by reafon of the old and new Difpenfationsof the fame. Of thefe two Difpen- iations we read in Jcr. xxxi. 31, — 35. Behold the Day* ccmc, faith the Lord* that 1 11 ill make a New Covenant with the Houfe of Ifrael, and <with the Houfe of J udah, not a. the Covenant that 1 made with their Fa
in the Day that J took them by the Hand, to bring out of the Land of Egypt ', which my Covenant they ugh I was an Hi f band unto them, faith the Lord Covenant that 1 will make with tin ft Days, faith the Lord, I wil pu
On the Gospel Covenant. 37
put my Law) in their inward Parts, and write it in their Hearts, and will be their God, and they jhali be my People ; and they Jball teach no more every Man his Neighbour, and every Man his Brother, faying, know the Lord, for they Jhali all know me, from the leaf} of them to the greatefl of them, faith the Lord, for I will forgive their Iv.iquity, and remember their Sin no more. Of theie two Covenants doth the Apoille reafon, Heb. viii. from <uer. 6. to the End of that chap, citing the fame Scripture.
Of thefe two Covenants, fo called, New and Old, becaufe of the divers Diipenfations, we propound thefe two Things, 1. To clear unto you, how thefe two are but one and the fame Covenant of Grace, 2. How and in what Refpeft they are different Dffpenfations.
As to the firji, we lay down this as a certain Truth, that the Covenant of Grace was one .and the fame in Subltance ; that from Adam, and the Promife made to him in Paradife, unto Noah, from Noah to Abraham,, from Abraham to Mofes, from Mofes to David, from Da- *<id to Chrifl, with that Covenant made with Chrifl in Eternity, and declared by him and his Apoilles to the World's End : This fnall appear if we compare I/a. xlii. 6. where Chrifl is given for a Covenant to the People, and for a Light to the Ge?itiles, with Eph, ii, 12, 13. where the fometimes far- oft People are made near by the Biood of Chrift: And the Apoille Paul, in Jcls xxvi. 22. profefTeth he preached no other Thing in preaching the Gofpel, but that which the Prophets and Mofes laid ihould come; and, in Eph. ii. 20.*bcrh Jew and Ge?:tile is built upon the fame Foundation of tne Prophets and Apoitles, Jefus Chrifl himfelf being the chief Corner Stone; and the Apoille John, in his 1 Eftji. i. chap, and i.ver. faith of Chrill and the Gofpel Covenant. Thar which was from the Beginning. For further Proof of this, confide r firfl, How the fame fubftantial Things are common to both, 1. The fame Original and Fountain, God's free Love and Choice, in Dent. vii. 7, 8. with Eph. i. 5. 2. The fame great Promifes ?nd Eleflings, 3od their God^ and ours, Lenjit. xxvi. 12. with 2 Cor. n. 16. Forgivenefs of Sin theirs and ours, Pfat. xxxii. C a 1,— c.
30 O H, IV JV1 V ]N 11.
1,-5. with £c<w. iv. 6. the fame Adoption, Jtr, iii. 19. with Gal. iv. 5. the fame Condition of the Covenant, 1/fK. Faith, /&/£. ii. 4. with Rom. iv. II. where the Kigh- teoufnefs is by Faith : Unbelief did of old cut them off as well as now, Rom. xi. 20. 3. The fame Spirit then and now, the Tame Spirit of Faith, 2 Cor. iv. 13. that of John vii. 39. is either meant of the extraor.. Gifts of the Spirit, or more than ordinal c pou-
red forth. 4. The fame Rule of Life, an . Reward, I/a. xxxiii. 2. with Jam. iv. 12. the giver, and the fame Salvation, Luke ii. 30, 32 el Life was then prom i fed as well as now, an t Salvation, Ifa. xlv. 17. God was their God after | then, as well as now, JMattb. xxii. 32. 2. Conhaer, and it (hall be found that there was the fame CJ then and now; they the Jfrael of God, and lo we, vi. 16. they our Fathers, and we their Children, x. 1. being of the fame Faich, we are the Children of Abraham, Gal. iii. 7. 3. They had the fame I -
ched unto them, which we have pi i:u us,
Heb. iv. 2. 1 Pit. iii. 18, 19, 20. wnere the GoJjX preached by the Spirit of Chriir. in the Days or As to that, in Rom. i. <ver. 2. where the Gofpel i to have been promifed by the Prophets, it is meant, only in Reipect of the more full Declaration of it ; but the Do&rine of free Grace was, as to the Subitance, the fame. 4. It will be found that there was and is but the fame Covenant, from Acls iii. 25. where the Jt dealt with to embi^ce the Gofpel Covenant, by this Ar- gument, becaufe they were the Children of that Cove- nant which God made with Abraham. As to that which may be objecled, from Heb. viii. the new Covenant is only another Covenant, in the Manner of Adminiftra- tion; as we may hear further, when the Difference! come to be opened : Only now we fay, The Old an^ New Covenant are like Rebecca veiled, and the lame unveiled. The former is vuiihed, only in Ret Shadows; it ftandeth in the Subitance : ^re it i:
, that it was broken, as it was broken by Unbelief fo may the New Covenant be broken: So there
Diffcreni
On the (jospel Covenant. 39
Difference as to that, more than in this, that both then and now, many were in it externally only. As to that which fome have dreamed, that the Fathers in the old Difpenfation had a mixed Covenant ; it is manifell, that neither was nor could be. ifl. It is clear, they had no Mixture of the Works of the Law in the Point of Ju- ftification ; for to Abraham Faith was imputed for Righ- teoufnefs, Rom. iv. 9, — 11. id. As the temporary Pro- miles were to them Types of better Things; fo the Land of Promife, a Type of that Reit prepared for the People of God, Htb. iv. 9. 3:/. Temporal Bief&ngs then promised do not prove either another Covenant in Sub- nance, or a mixed Covenant ; becaufe the New Cove- hath temporal Bie (Tings alfo covenanted in it, Mat. vi. 33. and 1 Tim. iv. 8.
LJ' 1. This is againit thofe who put the Fathers, and thole who lived under the old Difpenfation of the Cove- nant, only under a Covenant for temporal Things: The Happineis of the Gentiles will be no other, than to fie dototti with Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of Heaven, Mat. viii. 11. and in 1 Cor. x. 1, 2, 3, 4. they did eat the fame fpiritual Meat, and did all drink the fame fpiritual Drink with us.
2. If the Old Covenant and New be the fame, then the Scriptures of the Old Teilament are not to be rejected, but to be fearched and improved, to the End for which they were written, Rom. xv. 4. for our Learning; confidering how they were alfo written all by the fame Spirit, 2 Tim iii. 15, 16. who is but one and the fame: Confidering alfo, in the third Place, how they are noc only profitable, as other Scriptures, but necefTary for con- vincing of the Jewi\ and laftly, How not only the Do- ctrine of the Gofpel was confirmed from chence by Chrift and his Apollles, but they are a great Part of that Foun- dation, on which Chriitians mult be built to the World's End ; for the Fo indition is of the Prophets, as well as of the Apollles, Eph. ii. 20.
life 3. It is the Wifdom then of Chriitians ; to hoi J faft old Truths, the old Path, and the good for one, Jer. vi. 16. Stumhling from the ancient Paths, C4 to
4o SERMON n.
Ik in Paths, a Way not caft up, is condemned, in 15. In 2 Pet. i. 12. is commended Eliablifh- ment in th< i'ruth ; and in the Rpilt. of J ude%
vir. 3 there is recommended to thefe who have I in the common Salvation, an earneit Contending tot the delivered to the S >ew Opinions do
not nuke new Men, but nounfh old Corruptions.
Let us go now and fearch into the Differences of this old and new Difpenfation ot the Covenant : Though this Old and New Covenant be the fame in Subllanc .
fFerer.ccs: F'vji Difference, '^d by God th . or by the
at the New was begun to be p'lbiifh- ed" by the I coming in the Fie(h ; an
confirmed' by thole that heard nun, Heb. ii. 3. the Me- diator in the GL Difpenfation was by the Man and Ser- . Deut. v. 27. and. lieb. iii. 5. .But in the New, we have our o.'eiTed Lord Mediator, Hcb. ix. 15. and xii. 24 >ue Sc/r over his orivn Houfe% ILb. iii. 6.
>od for the bette. Covenant, in this Re- fpect : We have had the Son eclaring the De-
7. O blels him, tha't we have been refej J imes, and to the Fulnefs of
Time, wherein Chritt bimfelf came to be Meifenger of the Covenant, according as was prophefied, Mai. iii. I. .c been referved to the Times of the 1 a it Dil- lon of the Covenant; after which there will be no neA ' ;. 1 .
fed the Lord to try ft us,
both with the better Difpenfation and Di e had
need neglect not fo great a Salvation,
nd the better Difptnfations we have,
the grea:. our Sin in neglecting tlum.
The nee is, that the old Difpenfation was
more bardenfome than the new: So, 10. calletk^
it a Yoke, which neither they nor their Father? were able to bear: It put choie who lived under it, as Chil-> dren under Tut yea, in Bondage, under ;
ements «. f the World, Ga/' iv. 2, 3. They h id coft-J ly Sacrifices, as is to be ken in the Book of Leviticus ;\
On the Gospel Covenant. 41
1 and tedious Journeys, from the utmoft Parts of the Land, every Male thrice in the Year to Jerufalem, Deut. xvi. 16. They were under Reftraints as to Meats, tied to the Obfervation of Days and Months, Col. ii. 16, 20, 21. But in the New, the Yoke is eafy, and the Burthen light; the Service not fo toilfome, and the Help fuiHcient ; few- er Sacraments, and thefe not coftly ; no Days but the LordVday Sabbath ; and fuch as Providence and our Ne- ceflity (hall call for, no carnal but fpiritual Ordinances.
U/e 1. We ought then fo to notice and acknowledge this our dearly purchafed Liberty, by Handing faft in it, refilling all Temptations which may draw us back again to carnal Ordinances, or to the Ordinances of Men; for if the Lord hath fet us free of his own Law of Ceremo- nies, it were molt abfurd for us to think of being fubjedt to a new ceremonial Law, deviled by Men, remember- ing that Word, in Matth. xv. 9. In <vain do they kvorfhip me, teaching for Do8rir.es the Commandments of Men.
life 2. beeing thus the Lord hath removed the heavy Yoke, and fet us at Liberty, we mould evidence our Li- berty in being a more free-hearted and willing People, in the offering up of fpiritual Sacrifices, as in 1 Pet. ii. 5. and in ver. 16. of that chap. As free, and not ufing cur- Liberty as a Cloak of Malicicufnefs; doing Service to God with Gladnefs and Singlenefs of Heart, as in Acls ii. 46. If we do not fo, we may be charged, as Ephraim was, Hof xi. 3, 4. 1 taught Ephraim to go, taking them by their Arms, but tbey knew not that I healed them, I drew them <with the Cods of a Man, and nxith Bands of Love.
The third Difference, The old Difpenfation was more dark, but the new is more clear : There were the Sha- dows, but here we have the Body, Heb . i. 5. The Light is now as of the Sun, a marvellous Light, 1 Pet. ii. o. The Gofpel is a bright Revelation of the Myftery, which, was kept fecret, Rom. xvi. 25. now revealed to his holy Apoftles and Prophets by the Spirit, Eph. iii. 5. Eternal Life in the old Difpenfation was but rarely hinted, Pfa. Xvi. 11. and xvii. 15. and Dan. xii. 2. It was fhadowed by Reit in Canaan, and eternal Death by Exclufion from thence, Fjal. xcv. 11. Chrift's Perfon and Offices were
not
^2 O i^ IV 1V1 W .N 11.
not To fully fet torch in Prophecies, lfa. ix. 6. and in, : So his i ,-/. xiv. 18.
His Kingdom by D i. 31- H>s
prophetical Office by ut. xviii. 18. J
by the Sprinkling of Biood, Exod. xxiv. 7, 8. Sanctih- cation by many
thefe Points of precious and iv. ill ..re made
fo plain, as they who run may read them: 1. Be< all that which was to be done is finifhed by Ghr> ferirg up himfelf. 2. The Church was the) in Minori-
al. iv. I, 2. but now it is come to more perfe* 1 3. This Honour was referved to Chrilt, as the great Pro- phet, and the Light of the VVorid, John i. 9.
Ufe 1. Take notici vjercy, this unfpeakable
Mercy, which is in the fo clear and oright M .mfcltation of the Gofpel; remembering th it Word in I 7. That many Prophets an us Men have defired fa
jee thofe "Things which ixe fee, and have n w, anj
to hear the Thing: r have heard, and have not
; and that, in Jdbn xiv. 22. how the Lord is pie 1- fed to manifeit himfelf to us and not to the World : Abraham himfelf has no more but a far off Sight, and yet he rejoiced, John viii. 56. The Performance of the greater Promifes all were referved for, our Time; iuch a* that, in lfa. xi. 9. The Earth to be filled ledge of the Lord, as the Waters eo<ver the Sea ; that, il
26. When the Light of the Moon fhali be .. - of the Sun, ana f the Sun /ball be (even fold* as
the Light of fe*ut in the Day that the L
ch cf his l e $ti oke c
•, and that, in Jer. xxxi. 34. when there lhall be lefs need of teaching fundamental Truths; but all jball Lot d from the haft to the g yea 2 Is t fie New Covenant To clearly difpenfed ? ■11 and diilircl Knowledge of C in tb< r, and of all Covenant Truths ; we ihould
not b< n in Underlranding, 1 C
■ 1 and fro nvith ever) cf Doe? tine ; which is forbidden in Eph. iv. 14. If we do not itudy to be rooted and fettled in the Kaowledge of
Truth,
On the Gospel Covenant. 43
Truth, we will be reckoned an ongft cl-ofe that love Darknefs rather than Light, John iii. 19. Ignorant and unfettled Souls are in a very dangerous Eicate, the God o; this World hath blinded them, 2 Cor. iv. 4. The un- learned and unliable ivreft the Scriptures to their own De- :izny 2 Pet. iii. 16.
3. The greater the Light, and the brighter the Manifeitation be, it calieth /or more exadt Walking as ildren of Light, and of the Day, 1 TbeJJ. v. 5, 6. ; xiii. 1 3.
nee, There is a more effeclual Working in the New th n was in the Old : There was .kneis in the O'J ; it made nothing perfeel, Meb. vii. iS, 19. but the bringing in of" a bet:er Hope doth, ibid. lure of the Spirit then which is new, ■1 vii. 39. Jefs of the Spirit of Adoption, of that Spi- rit of Sons, Gal. iv. 6, 7. a lure of Faith alfo then than now, Gal. iii. 23. and iefs of Comfort and Joy, xvi. 24.
:here is no Ground of pleading Excufe, from the Saints Fallings and in the old Difpen-
n of the Covenant.
2. We flbbuld leek to be more filled with the Spi- rit, as in Eph* v. 18. 2 Tim. i. 7. that Spirit of Power, Love, and of a found Mind, to open your Mouths wide, t he may fill you with Grace more abundantly, as is promifed, Pjal. Ixxxi. 10. that you may be the more a- bundantly fruitful : To tl lorn much is gz<ven of him much U be nqu'ued, Luke xii 48. More efpecially exprefs the Power, 1 //. In fubduing Corruptions, zd. In bearing Afflictions, yi. in Growth to a perfect Man, to the Meafure of tne Stature, of the Fuinefs of Chriit, Bpb. iv. 13.
T; e fifth Difference, The Old Difpenfatio*i was only to one People ; the New is unco all. He is not now the
d of the Jews only, but of the Gentt iii. 29. For the Space of near two Thoui s the'
was only jn Jfrael: The Lord did not enlarge ihe J ent and itretch out the Cords at rlrit, 1. Etc of his good Pleafure, Matth. xi. 26. 2. To make his
Gr.ce
44 SERMON III.
Grace the more glorious, Rom. xi. 32. and Chrift the more eminent, Jfa. Jxvi. 1 9.
Ufe 1. We may not for this be high-minded; remem- bering that of Rom. xi. 18. we may not boaft againft the Branches, fometimes as evil as any, 1 Cor. vi. 11.
Ufe 2. Give up yourfelyes to Gofpel Grace, Jit. iit 11, 12. or fee the Hazard, Vengeance in Aiming Fire againft them that obey not the Gofpel, 2 Jhijf.\.%. and then be thankful, and glorify this Word of the Gofpel, as they did, in A/Is xiii. 48.
The Jixth Difference, The one was for a Time, until the Time of Reformation, Heb. ix. iq. the other is e- verlafting, Rev. xiv. 6. and the Ordinances of it ever- lafting, Mattb. xxviii. 19, 20. 1 Cor. xi. 26.
Ufe 1. 'Againft thofe who dream of another Gofpel-way, and that above Ordinances: Let them remember, how, after the Coming down of the Holy Ghoft, Ordinances were continued ; and confider that Threatning, Gal. i. 8. againft them- that would bring another Gofpel. Ordinan- ces will be ever needful, while we are here a People of fo much Infirmity, and fo many Necefiities: Needful alfo for the Performance of that great Duty, the honouring of the Son, John v. 23.
SERMON
( 45 )
■'■■■■ ■■- I II I . I -.
SERMON III.
ON THE
GOSPEL COVENANT:
How the Covenant is made, and of the Author of the fame.
i Samuel xxiii. 5*. Although my Houfc be not fo with God; yet he hath made with me an everlajling Covenant, well ordered in all Things and fure ; for this is all my Salvation, and all my Defire, although he make it not to grow.
HAVING fpoken of the Covenant in general, of the two Covenants alfo, both of Works and Grace, and of this lail, both as Old and New ; I come now to the II. Head propounded, that the Covenant is not now to be made, but is already made, ended and concluded : He hath made with me an ever la ft hg Covenant ; That which I mail fay to this, I fhall deliver it in two Doclrines.
Doct. r. All the Good which Believers do receive '., it is all conveyed to them by Covenant.
So God made his Covenant with Noab, Gen. vi. 18. and remembered him, Gen. viii. 1. He eftablifhed a Co- nant with I/rael, to heard their Groaning, and redeem- ed them, Exod. vi. 4, 5, 6. He redeemed them alfo from the Babylonijb Captivity, out of the Pit wherein w-s no Water, by the Blood of the Covenant, Zech. ix. 11. And all that Good which is in the Goipei Redemption,
is
4<5 S E R M O N III.
is in Performance of the Promife and Remembrance of the holy Covenant, in Luke i. 72. The Reafons why th« Lord would deal thus with Men, to give all Things idler and greater co them by Covenant, were, 1 might be the better known, efpecially in his Faithful- nefs : It is a Part of his Name in Re-v. xix. 11. Il- ls faithful and true, who in Righteoufnefs makctii Now, it is belt known in keeping of Covenant: So in Deut. vii. 9. Know the Lord thy God, he is God, the faith- ful God, iv ho kcepeth Covenant ; fo, in Rom. xv. 8. Cnnft was a Minifter of Circumcifion for the Truth of God, to Confirm the Promifes made to the Fathers. 2. To feparate his People for himfelf : He doth fet apirt his People for himfelf, Pfal. iv. 3. He became the Lord their God by Covenant, and fo did feparate tht m from other People, Lev. xx. 24. He^made them fo, a peculiar Treafure to himfelf, Exzd. xix. 5 A People near him, Pfal. cxlviii. 14 3. He doth thus bring tiiem under a Bond, the Bond of a Covenant, Ezek. xx. 37. to enfure and keep them firmly adhering to himfelf, and to make them abide with him, Hof iii. 3. for he knows how un- ftedfaft, and bent to Backfliding we are, Hof. xi. 7. 4. To minifter to all that take hold on his Covenant the ftronger Confolation, Heb. vi. 17, 18. by two immutable 'Things in vuhich it is impojjible that God fhould lie. 5. That it might be much every Way to the Glory of God, 1 Chron. xvii. 24. David prayeth^ that it may be elta- blilhed; that the Lord of Holh be the God of / even a God to lfrael, for this End, tnat his Name may be magnified for ever : And, in 2 Cor. i. 20. All the Pro- mijes are Tea and Amen in Chrifi Jefus, to the Glory of God by us. 6. He will have his People to be in Covenant with him, that he may put high Honour on them : So-, in Deut. iv. 7. No Nation fo great as his People, by hav- ing God fo nigh unto them : And, in Deut. xxvi. 18, 19. the Lord, by avouching them to be his covenanted Peo- ple, made them high above all Nations which he had made, in Praife, and in Name, and in Honour. 7. That fo he might honour the Son, who is the Mediator and Mefienger of the Covenant: The Father hath a great
Defiffu
On the Gospel Covenant. 47
£)efign in the Covenant, for the honouring of the Son, John v. 23. 8. So to loofe and difengage us from all other Covenants, whether made with oid Lovers, Hjf. ii. 5, 19, 20. or with Heil and Dtath, Ifai.xxviu. 18.
XJfe I. Magnify Mercy in this, that the Lord hath been pleafed to communicate every good Thing to us, in this gracious Way of a Covenant: Salvation, and all that which leadeth unto it, is by Covenant; the Lord might have cafl fome Kindnefs to us, in Way of common Pro- vidence, as to other Creatures; but "he would not do fo, but give his People every Thing by a fpeciai Covenant : In this a fourfold Mercy, each of them more wonderful than another, (i.) The Condefcendence of Love. (2.) The fexuring an Intertft in God to poor wretched Sin- ners. (3.) Abundant Confolation. (4.) The Freenefs of the Grace by which all is difpenfed.
life 2. Is all difpenfed by Covenant ? We muil fee to this, that we be in Covenant: If we would have any Thing difpenfed, we mult confent to the Bargain, where- in, (1.) The Lord bccometh our God. (2.) He giveth Chrift, and then, (3.) With him all Things freely, Rom. viii. 32.
Ufe 3. Labour to be fenfible of our Loofenefs and Un- fledfaltnefs : The Lord faw a Neceflity of binding us in the ftraiteit Bcrnd with him, (1.) Wre have need to be drawn, John vi. 44. and, (2.) To be bound by ftraitefl Bonds, Jer. xiii. I, — 11.
U/e 4. Is all good to be communicated to a Believer by Covenant? Ex peel all good only in that Way, in the Way of the Promife: Call for every good in that Way, from the Lord, upon the Bo:;d which he hath given thee; and then itudy to know this Covenant aright, and to walk worthy of it: They that fear the Lord, the Lord will mew them his Covenant, Pfal. xxv. 14. All the Paths of the Lord will be Mercy and Truth to them that keep his Covenant, ver. 10. of that Pfalm. David prayed by the Covenant, that the Lord would have Re- fpecl unto it, when the dark Places of the Earth are full of the Habitations of Cruelty, Pfal. Ixxiv. 20. To clofe tkis, all you that have clofed in Covenant with God, and
know
48 SERMON III.
know that all your good cometh unto you by a Covenant of Grace, Let your Cmverfation be as becometh the G of pel of our Lord Jefus Chri/I, according to Phil. i. 27.
Doct. 2. From this Head: 7 hi s Coven ant ', by which every good is conveyed unto us, it is a Covenant already made, agreed upon, concluded and ended in Eternity, in the well-ordered Decree.
The Word is fettled in Heaven, Pfal. cxix.fc89- Arid it fball be as the Dass of Heaven, Pfal. Ixxxix. 28, 29. But as it is revealed to Man, it is To made, that it is eltablifh- ed, Gen. x/'ii. 7. and it is confirmed, Dan. ix. 26, 27. It is not now to be made, but to be declared, Pfal. ii. 7. to be remembered, Pfal. iii. 7. and to be kept, Neb. i. 5. The great Grant of Heaven and Happinefs is drawn up and written, yea, and pailed the Seals too. That it is not now to be made, I do demonilrate thus, 1. It is in the Text, an everlafting Covenant ; and, in Pfal. ciii. 17, 18. from everlatting to everlalting is that Mercy, which is held forth and offered therein. 2. It was made with Chrift in Eternity, as may be gathered from Prov. viii. 22, 23. where Chrift, under the Name of Wifdom, is brought in faying, The Lard poffeffed me in the Beginning of bis Ways, before his Works of old : I was fet up from everla/iing : And from Mic. v. 2. where Chrift is defcri- bed to be the Ruler, whofe Goings forth were of old, even from everlafling: And the Father faith of him, long before he came in the Fleih, that he had given him for a Covenant, Ifai. xlii. 6. 3. He who was and is the true and faithful Witnefs, faid fo much on the Crofs, It is f- tiifbed : All is now done and ended, John xix. 30. The Forerunner is already entred into Heaven for us, Heb. vi. 20. O ! this blefled Bargain is fo made, that it could not | have been better made : Men neither mould nor cad ei^ ther add unto it, or take any Thing from it. It is fo \ made, as it cannot be ranverfed again.
Ufe 1. Hence Comfort and Stay to fainting and per- plexed Souls; there is a precious Cordial in this, the Covenant is not now to be made, it is well made, and made ready alio, (1.) It is a Cordial for thole who tra- vel with the Senfe of Unworthmcfs : The Covenant is
made*
On the Gospel Covenant. 49
made, and when it was made, it was made without Re- fpect either to Worthinefs or Unworthinefs. (2.) For thofe who are forely ihaken with frequent Doubtings and Unbelief: The Covenant is made, may heai thofe Di- flempers: It is made in Faithfuinefs ; and he that made it will not fuffer his Faithfulnefs to fail, Pfal. Ixxxix. 33. If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful, he cannot de- ny himfelf,#2 Tim. ii. 13. (3.) Againft Backflidings : The Covenant was a Bond made; p.tfl lofing or loofing, before that we could forfeit it ; yea, there is an ever finding Article of this Covenant, for healing of Back- flidings, Hof. xiv. 4. (|.) As of Comfort, fo of Caution to every Chriftian: The Covenant was made without them, yet not ii> every Refpect to be made good without them.
V/e 2. Seeing the Covenant is fo made, as it cannot
be made void in itfelf, every one mould look well to it,
that it be not made void as to them; or that by their
Carriage they declare it was never made with or for them.
Now, there are feveral Ways, whereby People make this
Covenant as not made, or made void to them. ijl. If
they do not willingly receive it, and write their Name
down in it: As many as receive it, they have a rich and
fair Privilege and Power, even to become the Sons of God,
John i. 12. id. Much more if they reject it: It was a
dreadful Guilt of the Pbarifces, in Luke vii. 30. They
rejected the Counfel of God againft themfelves. 3^. All
they who undervalue it, who eltecm it not of worth, how
can they have Ufe of it? Who fee not' a Treafure in it/
will never dig for it ; fo it cannot be but void to them.
$th. They that reft not fatisfied with it as it is made, but
ire picking Quarrels with it, upon Search it will be
found, that all the Errors and Herefres of this Time are
b many Quarrellings with and Contradictions to th'i
tenant, as it is made, and well made; but they would
lave it made otherwife. But who are they that find
7ault, as the Apoitle chaflengeth all Difputer;
O. IV bo art thou that replieji again jl God, take
pon them to amend any Thing of this witty L
0 much to ihe II. Head, That the Covenant li
D
;i
5o SERMON III.
The II I. Head propounded to be fpoken to, was, The Author of this gracious Covenant : David faith, he hath made a Covenant: The God of lfrael, the Rock of lf- rael, in ver. 3. and in this, 5. iter. Although my H
with God, yet he, that is, God, hath made the Co- nt. Doct. I. That God is the Author of this bleffed Cove- nant.
It is of divine Extraction, and doth not favour of the Earth at all: It is a divine Plot ; there was never any like unto it -, all the three rerfons of the blefiTed Trinity were about the making of it : They all held the Counlel in Eternity, in eternal Wifdom, did draw up the Agree- ment in the Draughts 6f everlalting Love, and did de- fign the flowing forth of everlafling Mercy and infinite Goodnefs:. The Father fo loved the World, that he de- creed to fend the Son: The Son fo loved the Father and loll Man, that he agreed to be fent : The Love of the eternal Spirit was fuch, that he engaged to anoint and abundantly to furnifh him that was fent : The Father pre- pared a Body for the Son; the Son put on that Body, and took it in, into the Unity of his Perfon, the fame Per- fon with his Godhead ; and the Spirit did pour upon him the Oil of Gladnefs above his Fellows. The Fatner faid, \e9 O Sword, againft the b*an that is my Fellrw: The Son faith, Behold 1 come, I delight to d) thy Will', and the Spirit did write this Law within his Heart. O My- itery of Mylleries! This is a molt divine Myltery, how- ever we cannot wade through this Deep, this is a Truth paffrd and beyond all queilion, that the God of ail Grace is the Author of this Covenant of Grace: He made it at firii, or rather revealed it, as it was made in Eternity, it one Promife, that is, The Seed 0/ the Woman Jhall thy Head, that is, thy Head, O Satan, who hided If in the Serpent, Gen. iii. 15. Who but God could have made it fo, that the Seed of the weak and now van- oman fhouid overcome fo mighty and fo craf- )ev\\ ? Who but God, upon the Breach of one Co venant, would have made another witl broken Man, anc ovenant, which never Ihould be broken? Whc
On the Gospel Covenant. 51
but God would have prevented his backward and broken Enemy, with the Offer of fo Uefied a Bargain ? He made the Covenant with Noab% Qtn. vi. iS. with xikrabam^ Gen. xvii: I. with Ifaae, uer. 2!. of that chap. with J a- cd, Gen. xxv. 10. and with Dawid and Sole vxxix.
3- 3 5 j 3 6- aRd it is he who maketh the new Covenant with . xxxi. 31. and, Ez.t h z6- Now, that
Cod is tne Author, and only Author of rhis Cove appeareth thus, 1. It is of Things which Fieih and Blood -h. xvx. 17. 2. We were, and by re ftill are, Enemies in <yur Mind, £V. i. 21. and would never thought of Reconciliation and Means of 3. God, as his Name is, fo is he. He is firft and Jail, Ren;, i. II. He loveth firit, 1 ^^ iv. io. and ,t, John xv. 16. 4. There is fuch a Depth . Jom in the Contrivance, that ro creared Skill could ever have reached it; Angels ftoopi.ig down defire fo look into it, 2 Pet. i. 12. 5. The Bond of the Co- venant is fuch, as none could bring a Soul under, but God alone: It is the Bond of the Spirit, Epb. iv. 3. and then a Bond upon the Spirit and Confcience or* I 6. God was fo offended, that the Offence was in fome fort infiniTe, again ft an infinite Majefty : And who could have found out the Meiin of Satisfaction, if himielf had toot done it? So, in Job xxiii. 34. he faith to his Meflen- gers, the Interpreters, deliver fuch a Soul from going down to the Pit, for I have found a Ranfom.
Ufi 1. If God alone made the Covenant, and he was the flrft Mover in it, and the whole Devifer of ir, then, ift. The Covenant is free; it v/as and is of free Favour: Man's Moyen or Merit, neither any Thing that could be forefeen in Man, can challenge any Part of a procuring Caul'e in it: He that doth all Things of and ior hi I did this great Thing : So alfo,
U/e 2. If God unchangeable be the Author of this Covenant, then it is unchangeable: There is no Variable* lefs in God, no more than in that his eterr. 1, nor
n that which is gone out of his Mouth ; n al-
er it, Pfal. Ixxxix. 34. The Principles on \ r'verlaftmg Covenant is founded, are immutable Thi D x
5z SERMO N III.
3. If God be the Author of the Covenant of Grace* it may Hay the Heart of the doubting Chriitian ; who, becaufe both of Sin and l<rowardne(s, thinketh with himfdf, that he can never have any Part in that precious Covenant, becaufe of utter both Unworthinefs and Unwillingnels fo to take hold on it, as to fubmit to the Terms of it: Let fuch confider, that as the Lord did move firil in and for a Covenant with Man, it bred in his Breaft, fo they may expect he will through it: He will caufc them draw near whom he choofeth ; and, who ,hoofe him he hath firfl chofen them ; and further, let them look in what State, wretched Sinners when he^en- tereth into Covenant with them, were.
4. Wonder and praife for this, that the Lord Je- hovah made the Covenant, the Party offended, fo great a Party, that flood in no need of Man : It is he that de- vifed the Covenant of Peace, and fueth for Peace ; and when one Covenant is broken, he maketh a better: Go to him with all the broken Covenant Work, he can beA amend it.
SERM
On the Gospel Govenant. 5*
SERMON IV.
O N T H E
GOSPEL COVENANT:
Of the Parties in the Covfn ant : And, ,i; of Christ the chief Party, Believers a Party with Him.
2 Samuel xxiii. 5.
Although my Houfe be not Jo ivith God; yet he i
with me an everlajling Covenant, well orde
!ure ; for this is all my Salvation, and all my D although he make it not to grow.
I Proceed now to fpeak of the Parties engaged, and of all that have Interelt in this Covenant: And the fnir. Party engaging with God, and engaged unto him i : Covenant, is Chrift the eternal Son of God : This Cove- nant for the Redemption of loll Man did begin vvil Beginning, betwixt the Father and him: So in 1/h. *!ii. 6. The Father faith to the Son, / have calid t Right toufn eft, and will hold thine Hand, thee, and gin;e thee for a Covenant of the People. Father by Covenant hath fet him as King, as his Inpon Zion, his holy Hill, and hath covenanted to give mm the Heathen for his inheritance, and I of the
jEarth for his PoiTeflion, Ffal. ii. 6, 8. Chriit is the prin- :ipal Seed, with whom the Father entereth in Covenant,
i. ver. 13, 14, 16, ij. That this may i >ear, confider, 1. Chriit hath the Prerogative of the mit D 3 burn,
54 S E R M O N IV.
bom, Htb. i. 5. and .x. 26, 27. And the Cover
nam was and is chiefly with the firil-born. 2. The Cure Mercies or .re his, and with him, ASls xiii. 34
35. and thefe are the Covenant Mercies I/a. lv. 3 3. As the hrit ,£/*/« was the chief Party in trfe Covenant orfcs, i: was made with him frit, and in him with his Seed, Rom. v. 12. To with the lafl Adam, (o called,
1 Cor. xv. with him, and in him with all hi? fpiritu*! Seed. 4. All that w r can be re
in a Covt \: the Father a
Sen. in Ifu. liii. 10, |i. t
an Offering for Sin, and the Fata
he ill a i 1 fee his See J, and the Travel of hi and that the Pleaiure of the Lord ih ul profper
. have 1 r, ou
with the^Sacrifice of he boreth I
jt is r : . He prepare; h a Body far
;n anfwere
ibt to do t . G d. 5. All the Pro nufes arf The Lor. lis God, and then our C > >d , \.
nd then, cur Father: So ne teacheth us, in Jc xx. 17. All the Promifes are Yea and Amen 1
2 Cor. i. 20. And chief Promifes are only no fuch as that, Pfui. ex. 2. Phil. i\. 9, 10, 11. H
lers, firft to nim, and tlien to us, ace .:ljre, that of his Fulnefs we may receive, 16. The Mother Promife, Chat God will be his G made to him, P/'al. lxxxix. 26. and J ■
to u-
his Undertaking, full made to him, / in him the Redemption and For^iveneis o( £;./.'. i. 17. The fame may be laid o\ fes of Dominion and Victory, P xvi. 11. of Kingdom and Glory, Phil. n. 9, i( : Luk .\id of the bleflld Refurrc
th John xi.
. .ring of this Mat:er, it i criptures, that there were ar.d are ftanding^^B . betwixt th(
On the Gospel Covenant. 55
ther giveth fo many to the Son, and he draweth them . tLat they may come, and the Son maketh them welcome, and in no wife will call them out, y^/vi.37,44. The Fa- ther giveth them to the Son, and the Son giveth to them his Words, John xvii. 6, 8. The Son never parts with them until he raife them up at the Jail Day, John vi. 39, 40. But come we to the Articles of Agreement hetwixc the Father and the Son, in the Covenant of Redemption : More particularly, the 1. Chrift is appointed unto this Work, anointed to it, Ifa. Ixi. 1. fent and fealed unto it, John vi. 27. ordained unto it before the Foundation of the World, 1 Pet. i. 20. and he did accept and engage, Heb. r. 4, 5. anp! x. 7. 2. A fpecial ConunirTion from God to r.im, to execute and bear a threefold Oftke, in order to this Work ; that of a Prophet, J+lm xii. 49. or a Prieil, John x. 18. and of a King, Pfol. li. 6. And he fubmiuetii to all that which is laid on him, and un- dertaketh all: The Lord opened his E not
JJious, neither turned he away back, but gave hi* k to the Sm;ters, {ffc. I/a. 1. 5, 6. He laid down his Life freely, when none couid take it from him, John x. 17, 18. Being found in fajbion as a Man, he humbled him- feif\ a fid became obedient unto Death , even the Death of the Cift Phil. \\. 8. 3. I< of great Promifes made to the Sou. \ft. Of the Spirit for Furniture and fufiicienc'Qua- vtions, I/a. xi. 1, 2. zd. For all neceilary Help, Ifa. . 4, 6. 3</. For good Succefs and Speed, Ifa, Iv. 5. 4th. Particularly, that he fhould be an all-conquer 1 King, Pjal. ex. t, 2. and Mic. iv. 3. $th. The Promife that both he and thofe given him mould be glorifu xvii. 5, 24. thefe Prayers are according to Prom: e 4. Article is of Covenant relations, eltablifhcd be- twixt God the Father and the 9on. ill. God not only eiL tially, or rather personally, is a Father, but by Cover a Father to Chrift, Eph. i. 3. idly, He is in fame Seofc :he Covenant, Ifa. xlix. 8. Mic. v. 5. He itandeth tor God to Man, and for M;;n to God, an Umpire betwi.ee bo:h. 1. He is the Meifenger of the Covenant, 1. 2. He is the Witnefi in it, given for a Wuhl lv. 4. The faithful awi irue Witncfs, Re<u. rie
D 4
S6 SERMON IV.
tvitnelTeth to all the Truths of Scripture, particularly t& theie Truths which he fealcd with his Blood, to his the Son of Gcd, and King of his Church. 3. He it the Surety, tie Surety or the better Covenant, vii. 22. He is Surety for God, and for that Kingdom
1 it is his Pleasure to give to Believers, Lukexw. 32. and he is Surety for us to the Father, (1.) To p our Debt. (2.) To anfvver for our Behaviour. (3.) So to give us new Hearts, and to write his Law in
xxxvi. 20. with Jtr. xxxi. 33. to caufe us walk in the Lords Statutes, £ -. and to put bis
in our Hearts that we (hall not depirt from him, xxxii. 40. (4.) He is Mediator, Heb. xii. 24. that can lay Hands upon both ; in fume fort, he can engage both ; he is the Fellow of God, Zecb. xiii. 7. and Man' or Kinfman, Job xix. 25. He is the great Kecc who bringeth the Lord down to a Treaty, and Man up to the Terms of it ; and in that Work he is a Serv both, lfu?x\iu 1. and lii. 13. and .. 28. (5.)
He is a Tellator, Heb. ix. 16, 17. No Biood cou.c firm the Covenant but his, Heb. x. 4. compared wit xiii. 20. (6 ) He is a common and puoiic;*: Peri. a Reprefentative of many, and, in lome Senfe, ail the Pai ty ; for fee how he cotneth in, Heb. ii. 13. Bi and the Children njuhicb God bath given me : where he i% he will have his Servant to be alio, Jo He is the princely Leader and Commander of his 1'
v. 4. (8.) It cannot be told in how many Cove- nant-relations Chrift ltandeth for God and for his Peopic, the Light of the World, the Life of Men, the Rcm
', the Sun of Righteoufnefs, the Head, the Hui- Father and Brother, £sV. Ufe I. Is Ci.rilt the great Party in the Covenant, and the great Undertaker; put him to do what he hath un- lay help on him, as the Father hath laid it, ix 19. Lay all on him, and employ him in all tenant relations, under which he ltandeth both to God and us.
2. la Chrift Undertaker and Surety ; put him not
.me in his Engagement, either by not receiving, or .
On the Gospel Covenant. 57
refufing his MefTage, or not admitting of his Treaty; who do fo, make him no true Witnef3, and the Gofpel no real Thing; but eiteem of it, as in 2 Pet. i. 16. a cunningly devifed Fable: But the Truth is, the greateft Things that ever were, or fhall be, are all in this his Gofpel Covenant : The Glory of Juftice and Mercy, Hell and Heaven, all the good Things in Time, and all the great Things of Eternity.
Uje 3. Eiteem highly of this Treaty of Peace, above all the Treaties which ever were, that could neither be begun or perfe&ed but by fuch and fo great a Mediator. O ! the Redemption of Souls is precious, and it had ceaied for ever, had lie not undertaken it, PjaL xlix. 8.
Ufe 4. Comfort : The Bargain tranfafted betwixt the Father and the Son, it is not of Yefterday, but ar. e nity Bufiqefs: So, the Changes of Time will make no Alteration in it: And further, however Matters i\ and betwixt tiie Believer and God, to his Apprehenfion ; if he plead Right and Intereft in Chriit, all will be well ; for the Covenant betwixt the Father and Chriit cannot DC broken; and Chriit taketh in all his Party with him.
But now, though Chriit be the principal Party, and Chriit myitical the whole Party ; yet the Elecl alio are, in molt proper Senfe, a Party irf the Covenant, and are both feen and engaged as fuch, how foon they come to believe: They were g;ven to Chriit in Eternity, but are not actually entered into Covenant, fuch as are come to Years, until ti.ey believe: As to Infants Covenant Inte- reit, we intend to i'peak afterwards. Our Point now to be opened unto you>Js, not only Chriit is a Party in the Covenant, but his People alfo. 1 he Lord made this Co- venant, in the old Difpenfation thereof, with his People, Deut. iv. 23. The People are warned not to forget the Covenant which he made with them ; and his Peopie are faid to enter in Covenant with him, Dcut. xxix. 10, 12. and, in Pfal. 1. 5. the Lord doth call his People :.-.. him, as thcfe who have made a Covenant with him by Sacrifice: He covenanteth, in the vifible Cow
at make vjfible Profeflion ; but, with his chok a more particular Way. Now, that this Covenant is
1
58 SERMON IV.
made not only with Chriil, but with his People alfo, ap peareth from thefe Grounds, i. The Covenant made with Chriil was froii : The Grace given by tliat in
Jefus Ciirilt, was before the World be n. i. 9.
But there i* a Covenant made in Time, of which it is faid, ye Jland this Day, l)eut. xxix. 10. 2. ChrifJ is a Teftator in the Covenant; fo ihtre mull be a Party in the Covenant, to which the I ch ne d
queath by his De.ith is left, Heb. ix. 16. 3. The Cove nant is made with fuch as ihirll and have no Money, ]fa. Iv.w. 1, 2, 3. Thefe n
Chriil ; for he had a Price in his H c dowr.
in the Bargain, when he boug pith a Price,
1 Cor. vii. 23. 4. The Covenant of Grace is mad;; With the fame Party, with whom tJ mt of Wo;
made; the firit was ma.de wit > was the fecond
compare Gen. ii. 16, 17. with Gen. iii. 15. And it couic be no other ways ; when ic of Peace, it muf
be v\ith one that was at Enmity. 5. It is .. ade witr thoic that receive the Seals of it ; are Believ
ers, Rom. iv. 1 !. they are Seals of the Righteoufnefs o Faith,. 6. We are bour; Qaut ; t: ere fori
it was nude with us, Pfal. xxv. 10. So breaking of Co venant is charged upen the People of Ccd as their Sn Lenj. xxvi. 15. 7. if i: . .th us
then no promife were mace o as ; fo Unbelief in us wen no Sin ; but Unbelief is charged a^ a Sin on tho;. delpifcd the pleafant Land : Jt is laid, they believed no his Word, Pfal. CVf. 24. anJ, in Rom. xi. 20. ic us, that becaufe of Unbelief they w< n off.
From Gal. iii. 16. The C not to thi s of many, but as of one ;
thy Seed, v.
Seeds, doth only exclude th can;ai, not th< Sted, Rot \ 3. not th
Children of the Promifc are c -cd. 2/. In that very Scripture th
\m% fo not with Ciirilt only ed, ILb. ii. 13. in an* her with hi a.
a
On the Gospel Covenant. 59
Ufe 1. This may raife in the World, efpecially beget in us, great Wonder and Admiration, that the King of Glory mould ever have made with as, who dwell in Houfes of Clay, iuch a Covenant, with bafe and guilty us, fo unwortny and unprofitable Wretches as we are. There was great Love in Jonathan to David, I Sam. xx. 17. and in David to Jonathan, 1 Sam. i. 26. winch laid the Fecundation of" a Covenant betwixt them. But great- er Love in this Covenant: David looked on it as a Pre- ;t too high for him, to be a Kind's Son m Law, t How much hrgher ii it to be made of God, and joint Heirs with Chriii ? As in Rem. 7. to be made Kings and Pn rod, Rev. u
5, 6. that when we are :noit vile, the Lord fhojld (pread irt of his Covenant over us, and cover our i\a- Is, Jo as we become his, Exck. xvi.^8. and he ouxs.
tscendence of Love An that! Poor to be made a Bride, the Lamb's, Wire f Rev. x Abraham was itrange;\ ith tr,eie Things wh<
Lord I q iiim concerning them, in Gen. xvii. 3.
Ik fill on in which his Carriage theie
Things might be expr< <Xcd, 1 . ng Aftonifbi
2.- Mucn pf Seif-abalement. _reat Thankful-
nefs. 4. His Subrnifiion and ; i himielr to be
at the Lord's Diipoial : So rred up to great
Wondering, in the Confi.
in 2 Sam. v ii. 18, 19, 20. ) Lv>d God, and
is my Hmfe that ? And
.as, yet a final I Thi^r I God; but
Ifo of thy : to come: And is / :? &c.
.: we cou'd fit down and wou.de Digni-
ty and fair c by this * ( \ )
Going to the Throne, Heb. x. 22. (2 ) Infirinints born witn, Numb, xxiii. 21. (3 ) Di as are followed \
: rotection, Pfal. xci. in all , 1 to God, with
( v) ^ '
, De-
6o SERMON IV.
vils, and to the lift Enemy D . xvi. 20. Pfa.
xxvii. 1. and, 1 Cor. xv. 55, ^6.
Ufe 2. All who define Salvation, and have not yet come under the Bond of this Covenant, let them haite to do it: Be no more Stranger ;hcre be too ma-
ny of that Sort, wL break
thefe Bands af under t and cap 'V Cords j .
And they be but few, if any, that can fay wi:h the Church, as in Pfa!. xliv. - upon us, yet
have <ivc not forgo! ten thee, ' i//ly in
thy Covenant ; However, now, let all «vho love Bieifed- nefs, yield themfelves, and give the Hand, as the Word is, in 2 Chrov. xxx. 8. Give themfelves up to God in a Covenant. (1.) J'~dge yourfelves, with the Prodigal, in Luke xv. 19. unworthy of ec the leait Room in
the Lord's Houfe. {2 ) Break Covenant with old Lulls and Lovers ; for no Man can fenue two Maflers, Matth. vi. 24. Old Things ?r: 'ay* #"d all Things become
new, 2 Cir. v. 17. (3 ) Yieid to the Terms of the Co- venant: We mull take Laws, not give them; deny our- selves and take up our Crofs daily, Luke ix. 23. (4 } We muft make this Covenant bv Sacrifice, and tne Sacrifice is Chrilt, Pfal 1. 5. with Ht&.ix. 16. (5.) We mult come u\ and enter cheerfully, liflening to the free Offer, Jfa. lv. 23. and be quickened with that good Entertain- ment promifed, in John vi. 37. and never go out again ; for it is a Marriage Covenant, and the Be:rothing is for ever, Hof. ii. 19.
Ufe 3. Keep this Covenant; fo (hall you be a peculiar Treafure unto God, Exod. xi>:. 5. In other Thin iee to Covenant Rights, much more in this: For keep- ing it, (1.) Know it well. (2.) Improve it in all Plead- ings; in the Cafe of Diftrefs and Danger, Gen. xxxii. 8, 9. 2 Cbron. xx. 6, 7. (3.) In the Cafe of Repentance, i. 6. (4) Of Defertion, Pful xxii. 1. and, (5.) Even in the Gale of Soul Defection, Jer* iii. 3, 4. (6 ) AggravateSin by it ; and when tempted, ufe it as a Curb; Breach of Covenant the worli of Adulteries, Ezek. xvi. 38. (7.) J£tnploy the Cautioner; deiire him, with He-
zekiah,
On the Gospel Covenant. 61
xekiab, If a. xxxviii. 14. to undertake ; and, with David, in PjaL cxix. 2 2; to he Surety for thee.
JJfe 4. Comfort and AfTurance : He who hath thus ta- ken us in, will not turn us out: Free Love did take us in, and Faithfulnefs will keep us in, 1 Cor. i. 8, 9. Tho' Things of this Covenant be great, above our Worth, yet feeing they are promifed, they are not fo great as to be above our Hope.
SERMON V.
O N T H E
GOSPEL CO VENA NT:
How it is particular with some, and not generally, with all.
2 S a M uel xxiii. 5-. 'Although my Houfe be not fo with God", yet he hath with me an everlaflingCoveiiant, well ordered in all Things and Jure ; for this is all my Salvationy and all ?ny Defire, although he make it net to gr:
TH A T I may yet more fuUy open and declare the Party with whom this Covenant is made, David in the Text faith, *Ihe Lord hath made He
looketh upon it as a fpecial Favour, that the Lord had made the Covenant with him ; importing that he had no-, dealt fo with^every one. The Point is, the Covenant of Grace is not made generally with all and every one, nor indefinitely with any, but it is a particular Covenant,
made
made with fome. It was made with Abraham and his made with Zs'on, and thofe td be born in fa v was
called and r silica by : u art
miney I unes written in
tlieth his own Sheep by N t. 3- He hath fome, whom he from Eternity lov- ed i ouilis, whom he hated, Rem. ix. i amb hath a ln>-.k of Life, in v. Inch all then were and arc written, rhat are given him or the Pal xiii
lay, i . Tl>at God hath an univerfal and like Goodwill to all at there was an univerfal At-
tonement mude for all. 3. An universal Covenant made 4. Once an univerfal Reconciliation of all. 11 have fufficient Means and Power to re; accepr Chrift offered in the Gufpel. 6. They dilunguifh betwixt Chriit's purchafing of Redemption, and the Ap- plication ol ; (o as they make that more large, and of greater Extent than this. They make his Pur- chafe to be of a poflible Salvation only of all ,• which might well ftand with the perilling of all : VVe hold the contrary in all thefe; and particularly, that the proper* Party in the Covenant of Grace, is not generally all, nor indefinitely any, but fome particular Perfons, on whom the Lord hath been pleafed to (hew fome fpecial Love ; and wiiom particularly he hath committed to the Son, that he might fave them.
And we prove this our AfFertion by thefe Reafons, ift. The Party covenanting with God, are eyprefly faid to be given to Chrift, as they are diftinguifhed from others; they are thofe whom the Father hath given him, John vi. 37. given them out of the World, John xvii. 6. to whom he giveth the Words which the Father gave unto him, and they receive them, and know fureiy that Chriit is the Saviour, fent and come forth from God, <ver. for whom he prayeth, and not for others, <w. 9. that fhall not be loft, but be with Chrift for ever, beholding his Glory, <vrr. 12, 24. Chrift is trufted with them, with particular Sheep, who infallibly fhall believe, Job
x. 11
On the Gospel Covenant. 63
.11. And the Caufe of their not believing is particu- arly exprefTed, for chat they were none of his Sheep, >cr. zG. 2d. They whom Chriit h.iteth, as he did Ejau9 ^lom ix. II, 12. Thefe whom he <w ill not know, Matth. vii. ,ofe whom he will lepirate from the Sheep, and et at the left Hand as Goats one Day, Mattb. xxv. 32. With thofe God or Chrift did never enter in Covenant; oil he knoweth his own, Jeb* x. 1 1, 14. He ioveth ther*,, J ' jhn Xiii. I. and will not lofe them, 'John vi. 37, 39. yi. Many do never fo much as hear or the Covenant of Lrrace, and it were nor fuitable to the Wifdom and Ju- [lice of God, to purchafe a Redemption for ali, and >et to fufFcr many Thoufands to die ignorant of it. 4th. Such an Opinion doth indeed. make void and null, yea, ind thick dead ali the Covenant-relations of Chnft: 1c would be a ftrange thing, a King, and no Subjects; an Hufbind, and no Wife; a VVitnefs, and no AHurance; a Shepi erd, and no Sheep; a ^Waiter, and no Scholars; a Teftator and Teirament, confirmed with the Biood of God, and nene to receive the Legacy ; an Advocate, and none to plead for to any Purpoie, Cffr. This were, be- fide other Abfurdities, to fallen upon Chriil a blind Bar- gain. 5/tf. Jt were againft all Reafon and Juitire that the Ranfom fhould be payed, and the Capnve not loofed; it is againft both Law and Gotpei:' When tne Sum of Money is given for the Ranfom of Life, Exod. xxi. 30. the Pcrfon is to go free: The ranfomed of the Lord mult be let go, that tney may return, and come to Zion with iSongs, If a. xxxv. 10. They that are redeemed with the precious Blood of Chriit, 1 Pet. i. 18, 19. they are re- deemed, fo that they have their Faith and Hope in God, wr. 21. of that chap. 6tb. This Opinion of the Arme- nians is contrary to the lind of Chr fit's Death, anc cacy of the fame by his Biood confirming the He is not only made Wifoom and Rig San&ification and compleat Redemption, 1 Qr. i. 30 gave him del f for the Church, that he might (41 leanfe it, with the Warning of Water by t that he might prefen: it to lumfelf a glonou
.ving Spot or Wrinkle, or any fuch Thing, 1
64 S E R M O N V.
Ihould be holy and without Blemifh, Epb. v. 25, :. The Redemption which is through his Biood bringeth Forgivenefs of Sins, Col. I. 14. and, in Tit. u. 14. / gave himfelf for us, tbat be might redeem us from all Iniquity, and purify unto himjelf a peculiar People, zea- lous of giod Works. -]th. Thefe only are redeemed, who were typified by IfraePs Redemption; and they in Ifa. li. 11. are only they who (hall come to Zion with Ting- ing, and everlaiting Joy upon their Head. Stb. All they whom Chriil redeemeth, he redeemeth from S:n and a vain Converfation, 1 Pet. i. 18. that they being dead to Sin might live unto Righteoufnefs, 1 Pet. n. 24. And he redeemeth them from an evil World alfo, GaL i. 4. gib. The very Words, Reconciliation, Redempti- on, and Surety, do fpeak aloud againir, and condemn this their Opinion ; for none of thofe who are reconciled, re deemed, and for whom Chriil ftandeth Surety, can pe. ri(h. They cannot then fay that the Reconciliation was univerfal. lotb. The whole Difpenfation of Grace is to particular Perfons ; fo the Covenant of Grace cannot be but to particular and definite Perfons: If Election, effe- ctual Calling, Juftification, Adoption, San&ification, auo! Glorification, be all of particular and certain Perfons, how can Redemption be general and indefinite ?
U/e 1. Againit the Arminian Error of univerfal Re- demption, which is grounded upon the milinterpreted Words, All, and, the World. For clearing the Miitakes which Men raife to themfelves from thefe Words, confi- der, (1.) It is acknowledged that there is an infinite Worth in the Blood of Chrift, infinitely more than of Gold and Silver, or fuch corruptible Things ; it is very precious, 1 Pet. i. 18. His Blood is in fome Refpedl the Blood of God, ASs xx. 28. The Blood of him who was and is God blelfed for ever: It was worthy to be a Price for all and every one, if it had been made fo ; and upon this Ground the Gofpel is preached to every Creature, Mark xv\. 16. (2.) The Arrogance and Pre- emption of the Jews, who pleaded a fole Intereft iii the Mefliah, gave Occafion to thofe general Expreflions, not to Jews only, but to all others whom he Ihould call.
fe-1
On the Gospel Covenant. 6c-
{3,} It would be carefully diuinguilned, betwixt Man's Duty and God's Purpofe: Exhortations, Commandment* • Threatnings, do (peak our Duty, and the neceffary Con- nexion betwixt Faith and Obedience, with Salvation, and
ail ; YPf/,0V,Xof the fame- (-»•) This Particle, All, and the Word, World, are taken divers Ways in Scriptures. The World is gone af:er him, in John *ii 19. is meant of none but the Generality of the P of Judea In Luke xvii. 27. dcftrbyed them all, i meant of all and every one, for eight Perfons were fa- red; the World and whole World is fometimes put for the Centre, only, 1 John li. 2. fometimes, for the wick- ed only ; Be not conformed to this World. Rom xii 2 The whole World lieth in Wickednefs, 1. John v. 10. Sometimes for the MeJTtah his World, John fii. ,6. An! 1 (Til do th fignify all Sorts of Men : Of hi, Fulnefs have (all) <& receded; it is we of all Sorts, John i. 16. (r ) If we compare Prophecies and Predictions with the fulfilling of <nem, we (hall find that by the general Expreflion (AM none were meant or intended but the Elect : So in Joel I. 28 / -will pour out my Spirit on all FleJI, ; in Ads »., T 18. It is but upon Men of divers Tongues and Languages
Z ™9',.OnlKr0f -hUCchap- {6) Th« Scripture fpeaketh he moral Obligation of all that live under the Gofpe! bnd according to the Judgment of Chanty, as Paul do^ -ray for dlPhi. i. 4. and perfuadeth himfelf of the :Jea.on of the Thgalonians, , Theff. i. 4. and in 2 • »3- So is that Word to be expounded, in 2 Pet »me are faid in that Place to have denied the Lord that ought them when they were only, in the Judgment of
£ Vi^M* bC °Vhe Number cf £hc " Wd 'nes. (7.) Ail Men are bound to believe the infailibl- oonexion of he^ two> v.z Qf Faitfc an/s ; 'b-
cording to the Tenor and Channel in which the V il runneth, JaJXVl. %l. Believe on , he lord J efu.O.
oveth of this Connexion, which doth occanon many >mes fuch general Expreffions. (8.) The MivtuTe Tf J good and bad, Ele£ and Reprobate i, 7fuffiS»r round for the general Propofal unto all '
66 S E R M O N V.
As to particular Scriptures, on which they build their Opinion, I (hall name but fome few ; in difcufling where- of, their other Arguments may be the more eafily an (we red.
The Firft is that in John iii. 16. God fo loved the World: The World, fay they, is all the World; bat we fay, it is only the iVIeiliah his World ; and that Love is no general or conditional Love. i. It is a non-fuch Love, John xv. 13. 2. There is no Love of Chrift in Scripture, but that which is effectual : In Ho/ ii. 19. it betrotheih for ever; it is a Love which maketh them whom he loveth more than Conquerors, Rom. viii. 37. fuch as wafheth and cleanfeth his Church, fo that he prefenteth it a glorious Church, Eph. v. 25, 26, 27. Such a Love as giveth everlafting Confolation, and good Hope through Grace, 2 Tbef. ii. 16. Such a Love as maketh them all whom he loveth, Kings and Priefts, Rev. i. 5, 6.
As to that, taken from v. chap, of the Romans, I an- fwer, in that chap, it is fometimes (all) and by it is meant, all Believers; and fometimes many are the all: Many is put for all ; Death patted on all Men by the firft Adam, ver. 12. And yet through the Offence of one, in ver. 15. it is only faid that many are dead: And though in <ver. 18. it be faid, that the free Gift came upon all Men to Ju-> Jlifi cation of Life; yet it is meant only of thofe who re- ceive the Abundance of Grace, and Gift of Righteoufnefs, <v?r. 17. And they who are called (all Men) in <ver. 18 are called only many, in ver. 19. 2. From the whole Parallel, of the fecond Adam with the firft, it cannot be denied, but the Righteoufnefs of the fecond Adam muf be as effectual unto that to which it is appointed, as thi1 Sin of the firft Adam was to its End ; and feeing Chrift' Righteoufnefs is not of Effect to all and every one, vf may certainly conclude it was not intended for all.
As to that, in 1 Cor. xv. 22. As in Adam all die, f Chrijl /ball all be made alive ; thefe all are fuch as havj iiot their Faifh in vain, ver. 17. and who fhall not rift, ver. 18. So not all and everyone; for they a 1 v. who \\Ave. not their Hone in this Life alone.
iv f
On the Gospel Covenant. 6j
As to that Scripture, i John ii. i. the whole World, is
, meant of fuch a World as have Chrifl an Advocate; and
fo an IntercefTor for them in Heaven ; and they for whom
he is Ir/terceffor, He favetb to the uttermofi, Heb. vii. 25.
As to that of 1 Tim. iv. 10. where it is faid, that the jiving God is the Saviour of all Men, efpecially of them that believe; the Anfwer is, the Place is not meant of Chrifl the Mediator; but of God in external Providen- ces and Salvations; unto which Believers have the better Right and Ground of Expectation.
To conclude this, as (all) is often put for many ; fo' fometimes many is put for all the Eleft, Mattb. xx. 28. where we have it told us, that Chriit came ineo the World to give his Life a Ranfom for many.
Ufe 2. Seeing the Covenant is a particular Covenant,' we mould try whether our Names be particularly within it; whether our Names are to be read within it. O! it is a happy Thing to be fo particularly within it : Happy is that People whofe God is the Lord, Pfa. cxliv. 15. Such Jhall dwell on high, their Place of Defence /ball ' be the Munition of Rocks, Bread /ball be given them, and their Waters /ball be fure, Ifa. xxxiii. 1 6. Many never try whether they be under the old Hufbar.d, the Law, or efpoufed to the new, to Jefus Chrilt, who are got within this particular Covenant: They have good Ground and fair Advantages of pleading ; fo, as in Jer. xiv. 20, 21, 22. We acknowledge, O Lord, our Wickednefs, and the Ini- quity of our Fathers, for ave have finned again/} thee ; do not abhor us, for thy Name^s Sake, do not difgrace the Throne f thy Glory ; remember, break not thy Covenant fwith us, Sec. £nd, as in Ifa. Ixiv. 8, 9. But now, O Lord, thou art our father, <we are the Clay and thou our Potter, and ive all %re the Work of thy Hand: Be not wroth very fore, O Lord% uither remember Iniquity for ever ; behold, fee, we befeech hee, we are all thy People; they have one on whom they pay hang their VefTels of greater and fmaller Quantity, ^ Nail in a Jure Place, Ifa. xxii. 23. Try now whether 'ou be within this particular Covenant, by tfcefe Marks. Tirfl fure Mark is, U in the Faith, then are we within he Covenant; and this may be known, that we are in E z the
the Faith, as in 2 Cor. xiii. >. i. If we have believed ion is not in ourielves, and have been content to have Ri^titeoufncts from another, a gifted and impu- ted Righteouine.fs, not being iike thefe, Rom. x. 3, 4. who would nut be fubjed to the Rigiiteoufnefs of (Jod. t. U after fome fore Ljw work we came at Jail to be- lieve Salvation to be poflible, and that God had provided the Way. 3. That this Way was by Jefus Chrilt, and there was no other Name under Heaven to be faved by, but his A&siv. 12. 4. If thou haft* come to Jefus, to reft upon him, as a iufficient Saviour. 5. U thou be- iieveil the Efficacy of ChnrTs Blood for thy particular Redemption. 6. Thou mayit try thy being within this ular Covenant by Faith, if thy Faith be purifying thy Heart, Ads xix. 9. and working by Love, Gal. v. 5. cond Aire Mark that we are within this particular Covenant; if we be careful to keep Covenant with him, who is ever mindful of his Covenant, made with his Peo- ple, Pfal. ciii. 17, 18. with Pfal. iii. 5, 9. A third, \i our Covenants with. Sin be broken, the Bill of Di- vorcement be given to our Idols; if we have renounced all the hidden Things of Difhoneity, 2 Cor. iv. 2. A fourth, If we have chofen him, in our Opinion, as high above all, the chiefelt of Ten Thoufand ; counting all Things but Dung, compared to him, Phil. iii. 8. and then choTen him as our Beloved ; to give him the Flower of ail our belt Affections : He is the only One whom our Soul ioveth, Can. i. 7. And chofen him as Lord alfo, to obey him in all his Ways, as in P/al. cxix. 106. fworn ourfeJves particularly to him and his Ways. A fifth, if we be much in making Die of him as a Mediator; afk- :ng and pleading for that which we want in his Name; and that by Covenant.
Ujc 3. They who after Search fhall find themfelves to
be within this particular Covenant, they have Reafon to
ice much, and to be very thankful to the Lord, that
he hath maoe a Difference betwixt them and many of
the Worlu her know him not, or have but verjr
t with nim ; yea, put ^Difference
nd many, who otherwise were of better;
Quality
On the Gospel C - nt. 69
Quality and Qualifications: Chriii did give Thanks for this, in behalf of his Difcipies, Matt:, xi. 25, 26. / thank thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, becatife thou haft hid the fe Things from the Wife and pmdiv.i baft revealed them unto Babes ; . Father, hecauft it
fh feemed good in thy Sight: And lliould we. net then give Thanks for ourfelvt
S E R M O : VI
ON T H B
G OSPELC O V E N A X T
And of Children a Party v,
Parents in the Coy?
rre ; for this is
it not t: g
IT7E have fhewed you, how Chrift i-s a prir W Party in the Covenant, and how Believers alio e a proper Party in the Covenant ; foi vd Place, tha: we fpeak of the C )w they are a Purt^
:, and their Jntereft in the fame, b 1 particular Covenant, and the 1 tenant.
70 btJIMUN VI,
DoCT. I. Infants, at \eaft fome of them, not only may be, but are within //" t of Grace and Redemption ;
they, as fitch, are amongfl thofi that were from all Eterni- ty ginjix :
en in Jeroboam's Child there was fome good Thing found towards the Lord, * Kings xiv. 13. Of Jeremiah the Lord f itn, chap. i. 5. of that Book, Before J
.' in the Belly, .1 knew thee, and before thou came ft forth of the Womb, 1 fanclified thee : And our blefled Lord faith of little Ones, in Matth. xviii. 10. that their Angels do alwiys behold the Face of his Father in Heaven; and, in Luke i. 15. it is faid of John the Baptiit, that he jb?uld be filed with the Holy Ghoft, even from his I ' Womb; and, in Rom. ix. II. the Lord faith of Jacob, before he was born, that he loved him, <ver. 13. Now, that young Children may be, and fome of them are, within the Covenant of Redemption, may further appear from thefe Reafons, 1. Mercy is promifed to CI in Oppofition to the vifiting their Sins; Mercy to fands of them that love him, Exod. xx. 6. 2. The Seed of the righteous are pronounced blefTed, Pfal. xxxvii. 26 No mourning for the dead, without Hope; not for dying Chiidien then, 1 Thejff. iv. 13. David faid of his dying Child, 1 fhall go to him: It is like he had Hope of his eternal well-being ; and it were hard on the one Part, to condemn all thefe Children whom Herod cauied to be kiTeJ. Matth, ii. 17. Rachel weeping for thefe Children, and not comforted, is comforted and command- e to refrain from weeding, in Jer. xxxi. 15, 16. which pphed as well in Matth. to the bringing back at leaft of fome of them by a blefled Refurre&ion, as o; the Children from Captivity in Jer. 4. The Lord com th his Love often to that Love which Parents bea. to Chiidren, Pfal ciii. 13. And to that tender Lovi which a Mo' her beartth to heT lucking Child, If 15. So it is like that fome Children come under his ipe cial Love. See alfo how he fets himfelf forth as a irj dandling the Child on her Knee, Jfa.lxvi 12, 13. A\ 1 Hen which gathereth her Chickens under her Wings, Mm xxiii. 37. 5.; He commandetl* that Children be : c:>
t
On the Gospel Covenant. 71
cd in his Name; compare Matth. xviii. 5. with Mark ix. 41. 6. He faith, of fuch is the Kingdom of God; which Kingdom, in Mark x. 14. though it be meant of the vifible Kingdom in the vifible Chuich, yet Chnit's taking them in his Arms, and bietfing them, in <ver, 16. of that chap, doth give good Ground to think that they did belong to the invifible Kingdom aifo. 7. There are Promises of Salvation made to whole Hou!esy as to Za- cbeus his Houfe, Luke xix. 9. And to the Jaylor his Houfe, in dels xvi. 34. And there is no Reafon why Children fhouid be excluded from thefe Promifes, when often they are the greater Part of the Houfe. 8. While the Covenant is made with Man and his Seed, under tnat Expreluon, and not under the ExprefEon of Sons and Daughters, both in Gen. iii. 15. and xvii. 7. it were ir- rational to exclude little Children from being a Part of that Seed.
U/e 1. From this, there is Ground of Comfort to be- lieving Parents, concerning their Children dying Infants; though they may not dive into the Deeps of Election, yet or>ce they have it clear from Scriptures, that Children may be, and not a few are, of the Election ; and then they have Grounds of better Hope concerning their Children fo dying, than Unbelievers have; the Cove- nant being made in a more fpecial Way with them and their Seed.
U/e 2. If fome Infants may be, have been, and are of the invifible Body, then it mull be a Sin to exclude and cut them off from the viiibie Communion with the Body ; the Door of the vifible Church and Kingdom be- ing wider than that of the invifible. Qkjeti. It cannot be known who are thefe individual Tnfants: It isanfwer- ed, that no more can Men at Age be certainly known : It becometh us to hold the Promifes, and to edhere to the Tenor of the Covenant ; and the Lord will gire as much Clearnefs in that Secret, as he leeth good and neccflary ; and in Experience it hath been found, that rare Evioen- ces of the Grace of God have appeared in L efpecially at Death, before they have come to th which commonly are accounted and called of E &4
SERMON VI.
'>oct. 2. From the other Branch ; Infants, if any look j gently into the Scriptures, will una undoubtedly to be wider the external and infible Gof v/, fo a Pa -y will clearly be found
>bers of the vifble Church, The Covenant with his People, as even to the external Difpenfatiun of it, not only of the Spirit within, but the rds put in the Mouth ; it is promifed that they fhall mi depart out'of the Mouth of the rlrft Preachers or Pa- . nor out of the Mouth of their Seed, or their Seeds Hk. si. The perpetual Covenant in ♦.hat Mace, as it could not be without their Seed, fo it bclongeth I ua as well as to themfelves: Now,
(his Pr©trii en to the Gentiles alio and their Seed ;
-ntre is no D ffcrence :.o.v betwixt Jew and I ;
[ cfbt iv .'/sever calleth on the Name of tie , R:m. x. II, 12 There is now neither '■ Uncircumcijion, Barbarian, nor free ; but Chrifl is all and in all9 Col. lii. II. Tiie Biefling of Abraham is clearly ours, if ue compare 'yen. xvii. 7, 19. with Gal. in. 14, 17. And it itirmed to u* in Chriil, fo as it cannot be difanulled, xv. 8. 2 Cor. i. 20. The Covenant made with ahamt was made with Refpecl to his fpiritual Seed, Gen. xvii. 4, 5. compared with Rom. iv. 16, 17. , More particularly, tiom this, that the Covenant was made with David SlvA his Houfe, we prove thdt Infants were ever, at d ftill are, within the external vifible Covenant; and id . to this, we would remember, 1. That the Scrip- tures are not alike full and clear in every Point or* Tiuth. ta of Doctrine may be difficile to be under- „ and yet true: So much is faid of the e Order of Melchizedeck, v. 11, 12, 15, 14. and oi Things in PauPs
Pet. iii. 16. 3. In queftior.ed Cafes it is bell and that is followed with leaft, lice < v of God, and the Believer's
JnterelL 4. C< arly drawn from Scnpturel
1 be recko and one fingle Tcilimony
On the Gospel Covenant. 73
c. The Queftion is not fo considerable, about the Age at which Perfons are to be baptized, as is of this, the Church Memberfhip of Infants, whether they have an Intereit in the vifible or external Covenant, or not ?
Thefe Things being premifed, our AfTertion is, that Infants are within the Covenant, and Members of the vifible Church ; and we prove it thus, 1/?, They are in the Scriptures called, and pafs under the Name of Difci- ples: So we read, in Acls xv. when the Queition is about Circumciiion, <ver. i. this Yoke may not be laid on the Difciples, wr. 10. thefe were young Ones of eight Days old. in Le<v. xxv. 41, 42. the Man and his Children, they are called the Lord'* Servants; and they are Sub- jects too ; they cannot be excluded from being a Part of thefe Kingdoms of the World that fhali become, and in a great Part have become Chriit's, Rev. xi. i£. The Lord iloth not only reckon Children under thefe Relations, but can make them capable of the fame, zdiy, It Infants were once Members of the vifible Church, tney mull be *ver fuch : That they were once fo, is clear,- from Deut. .. <uer. 10, 11, 12. where little Ones are numbered ngft the Pany covenanting with God ; and, in 1 Cor. \ 1, 2, 3. the fame Baptifm and Communion fpiritual then, wiuch we have now. The Church of the 1 not taken down in the ElTemials of a Church ; fuch as Church Memberihip is, Rom. xi. 17, 19, 22, 24. Church Membership doth not belong to the Covenant of Works, which knoweth no Mercy to Sinners; nor to the ceremonial Law ; it was before Circumciiion, which is but a Seal of that Covenant which maketh one a Mem- ber of trie Church. 3 <//>-, Were Infants no Church Mem- bers now, then the Children of the Jews now mould be fliort of thefe Privileges which they had in the old Dif- penfation of the Covenant; for, in Gen. xvii. 12, 1 }. the Child of eight Days old was reckoned within the Cove- nant, and received the Sacrament and Seal of Circumci- fion . juld be a great Scar unto them from turn-
ii CJ Jtuns; but the Lord hath put no fuch Bar in li - r '• v : ' , To be a Member of the Church, is uo carnal but fpiritual Privilcdge, Rom. iii .1, 2. It hath
much
74 SERMON VI.
much Advantage every Way, the Adoption and the Glo- ry doth pertain to that, Rom. ix. 4. and to be without the Pale of the Church, is a molt dreadful Cafe : It is to be without God, and without Hope, in Eph. iv. n, w. 26. 5 '£/)', When Infants in the oki Teftament had their uuqueltionable Right to Church Memberfhjp, it was upon tne Account of the Covenant of Grace ; the Circunicifion of the Heart was even then promifed, Deut. xx'x. b. aftd in <vtri 11, 12, 13, 14. compared with Rom. x. 5, — 10. doth clearly ihew that it wa;i the fame Covenant then and now: And, in Rom. iv. 11. Circumciiion is a Seal of the fame Righteouinefs by Faith, which is now preached in the Gofpei. 6:b/y, Mercy is entailed by a moral perpetual Law, to Thousands of them that love God : So then, Children cannoc be exclu- ded from that Mercy, which is expreiled to be more large than his Severity : In his Severity of Jultice he would have every Male killed, Numb. xxxi. 17. but, in Pfalm cxii. 2. ^he Generation of the upright Jball be bleffed* jtb/y, Either it muft be faid that Infants belong to the World, and to Satan's vifible Kingdom, or to Chrilfs} Kingdom ; there is not a third State : Satan is the Prince of this World, Johnxu. 31. the wicked are there; but Chnft hath chofen his own out of the World, John xv.» 19. who are not wirhin, they are lb without, as Go<} judgeth them, 1 Cor. v. 12, 13. Ail that are converted,, they are turned from the Ponxer cf Satan unto God, Ad} xxvi. 18. All who are tranfhted, are tranjlated from tbq Power of Darkn.fs into the Kingdom of the dear Son of Godl Col. i. 1 3. 8:/A, The old and new Covenant are eflen* tially the fame; fo the efiential Privileges mull be th* fame. There is nothing that can now be pleaded againffl Children, as to their Incapacity of the Meaning of Bapl tifm, which might not have been pleaded againit them as to tneir Incapacity of Circumcifion, and the fpiritual Meaning thereof, gtb/y, The denying of Church Mem- berfhip now to Infanrs, were not only to put a Stumbling] Block in the Way of the Jeivs, but of unconverted Gem tilts alio ; when it (ha.ll be told them, that though the^ themfclvts be taken in into Covenant, their Chiidrel
mill
On the GospeL Covenant. 75
mud be looked upon flill as Pagans. lothly, They cannot be denied to be Church Members, to whom the Prorai- fes belong ; but the Promifts Belong to the Children of Believers : So doth Peter preach, Acts ii- 39. The Promife is unto you and your Children; and upon this he groundeth rheir being baptized ; compare <ver. 38. with 39. 1 itbjy, If the Children be holy, then are they within the Cove- nant; but it is fo, in 1 Cor. vii. 14. they are federally holy. It is objected, it is meant there a legitimate Seed : It is anfwered, 1. A holy Seed is never fo taken in Scrip- tures: It cannot be proved that it is fo taken, in Mai. ii. 1 5. 2. It is in the Place held forth as a fpecial Privilege ; but that were but a common Privilege. 3. If the Holi- neis were meant there only as to a legitimate Seed, then amongit Unbelievers there were no legitimate Seed. izthly, Chrift was angry at thofe that kept back little Ones from him : So no queftion, he pleadeth a Covenant Intereft in them, in Matth. xix. 14. Jefus faid, fuffer little Children, and forbid them not to come unto me, for of Jueb is the Kingdom of Heaven ; and, in ver. 15. He laid bis Hands on them; and, in Mark ix. 36, 37. Having ta- ken a little Child and fet him in the midfl of them, be laid, vubofever /ball receive one of jueb Children in my Name, receive! b me: There he profelTeth great Refpedl to Chil- dren; and, in Mark x. 13. when the Difciples rebuked thofe that brought young Children to Chriit, to be touch- ed by him, it is faid, in ver. 14. that when Jefus faw it, he was much difpleafed, and faid unto them, Suffer little Children to come to me, and forbid them not, for of fuch is the Kingdom of God : So it is alfo reported, in Luke xviii. 15, 16. and he addeth, in ver. 17. That vjkofcever jhall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little Child, fiall in no vuife enter therein: From thefe Things it may be gather- ed, \fl. Seeing he took .them in his Arms, and would have them received in his Name, and did account the receiving of them a receiving of himfelf ; and he would have all that received the Kingdom of God, receiving it as little Children, being docibie and humble; who can think but Chriit allowed them a Place in his Hou/e and viable Kingdom ? It is ihamelefs Boldnefs, to aflert that
Chnii
/
76 SERMON VI.
Chriit took Children in his Arms, and did all the things mentioned, only to make Lmblems of them. 2J. If my will reafon, that all that which is faid, doth only evince that they belong to C brill's invifible Kingdom, to that which is above . >yeth nothing as to their Church
Membership in Chrift's viiible Kingdom, it is anfwered, {1.) If the Kingdom of Heaven doth belong to them, much more aie they to be allowed a Place in tiie viiible Kingdom of Omit. (2.) Theft" very being known to belong to cne invifible Kingdom, doth in itfelf give Right, and make them Members of the viiible Kingdom. {5.) Chriil reproveth the Difciples forbkiJing them to come to him iore, it v. \ J is a Duty now, to
admit them. If it h m not been a Truth revealed, that they did belong to Chnit ingdom, it had not been
the Difciples Duty to admit them ; nor had tbey been re- buked for the Neglect of that Duty ; and it is not to'be. fuppofed that he would have rebuked them, for that which they were not bound to know, %ri%. that they were Members of his invifible Kingdom, and belonged . to h'is fecrec Election, before all J ime. 1 Lord never took a Privilege from his Church, cy from his beloved People, unlefs he put fome better in the Place of it : Now, if cannot be denied but the Church Memberfhip of Infant?, in the old Difpenfation of the Covenant, was a fpee o fmall Mercy;
and it cannot be fhewed what is g'ven to the Children of Believers under the Gofpel, in the Place of it : Chrift was Head of his Church in the old Dilpenfation, as well as in the new ; an ceconomical as well as a fpiritual Head ; and in both Refpe&s, he had the Members both of his viiible and myitrcal Body : So, if this Infant Church Mem- berfhip hath no better thing which can be inltructed to be come into the Place of it, it may be concluded that it is not abrogated, but doth, rtill continue. \+tblyt They • who were Members of the Jciuijb viiible Church, were Members alio of the catholick vifibie Church: In were Members of the one ; fo then they were Members alfo of the other : Now, what did ever belong to the Members of the catholick I hutch, a> fuch, doth
belong
On the Gospel Covenant. 77
belong to them in all Ages ; To in this Age alfo : For the catholick vifible Church is the fame in all Ages, the fame as to its Eflentials ; for by one Spirit we are all baptized into one Body ; as faith the Apoftle, 1 Cor. xii. 13. whe- ther we be yews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free, and h are been all made to drink in one Spirit; and, in ver. 20. There are many Member S\ but one Bod,. I The Commandment for Education of their Children doth bind Parents now, as well as of old; compare Gen. xviii. 19. with Eph* vi. 4. where they,. are forbidden to provoke their Children, but to bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord : Now, whether we look to the Commandment given to the Fathers, it is not without the Promife; and C fubmitting
themfelves to that Commandment, are thereby entitled to the Promife; and fubjecling themfelves to the Disci- pline of the Houfe, they do thereby declare them to be of the Houfhold, fo to have the external CI Memberfhip. \6tbly9 To conclude this Point, o: Certainty of Infants Church Memberfhip, and Interest in the Gofpel Covenant, now in the Days of the Gof- pel : The Church Privileges now were narrower than in the old Difpenfation of the Covenant ; which is contrary to the Nature of the Gofpel Difpenfation, and to the Tenor of the Prophecies of the laft Days
3 E R-
C 78 )
SERMON VII
ON T HE
GOSPEL COVENANT:
Wherein, by Way of Inference and Ufe, fhort Vindication and Plea for Infant Baptism.
2 Samuel xxiii. 5:.
Although my Houfe be not fo with Cod\ yet he hath made
with me an everlafting Covenant, well ordered in all Thing.
and fit re ; for this is all my Salvation, and all my Dejire\
although he make it not to grow.
HA V I N G at fome length, in our laft Sermon, proved unto you, that Infants are Members o: the Church, under the new as well as under the old Dif- penfation of the Covenant ; and fo, that they have Inte- reft in the Covenant, as a Party together with their Pa rents, 1 go now to the Application and Ufe of this greai Point.
Ufe 1. If Infants, as hath been proved, have a Cove nant Right to Church Memberfhip, then have they Right to be entered and pofleffed of this Privilege ; and fo, a Right to Baptifm; for under the Gofpel there i no other lifting, initiating, and engaging Sign appointei of God; the Anabaptijls themfelves cannot refufe, i Children by Covenant be Members of the vifible Church but they mud be received and declared to be fuch ; an< there is no other Way of declaring this, but by Baptifm
Th
On the Gospel Govenant. 79
rhe Covenant in the old Teftament and new is the ame ; Children have (he fame Relation to the Covenant ow, which they had then ; why then mould they no; >e efteeemed to have the fame Relation to the Seal of he Covenant ?
It is objected, 1. From Rom. ix. S. They which arc he Children of the Flefh, thefe are not the Children of jod; but the Children of the Promife are counted for he Seed ; and, Epb. ii. 3. by Nature all are the Children >f Wrath. An) wo. ift. It is not by Nature that infants ire Church Members, but as Children of the Promife. id. The Objection from thefe Places, if it had any Ground, were as ftrong againft thofe that are come to Age, as well as againil Infants.
It is objected, 2. That Children are not capable of tfie Ends of Baptifm, fuch as Repentance and Remiffion jf Sins, which is by Faith. Anfw. ift. They are capa- ble of the lifting Sign. zd. Capable of being engaged by the Parent who had Power fo to do. $d. Capable at' much as due Child circumcifed was of Circumcifion. wfr. Capable of the Signification, afterwards: It was Sa- tisfaction to Peter, in John xiii, 7. What I do thou know eft tot now, but thou Jbalt know hereafter ; A Right lealed of. mi Inheritance to a Child, though it be not of prefent Ufe to him,' yet it is for his Advantage that his Name i>e in it ; fo in Baptifm there is the Right to the Inheri- tance fealed ; the Parent hath the prefent Comfort, the Child mall have it afterward; in the mean Time, hi* Name is as it were in the Writ : Though the Child: en' which were brought to Chriil underftood not what good there was in Chriit's laying his Hands on them and blef- Gng them, yet none will think it was ufelefs to bring them to Chrift for that End; yea, he can iandlify from the Womb, hath Ways of teaching little Ones, which we know not.
It is objected, 3. Baptifm is a Sacrament, wherein the Party baptized cometh to be engaged to the Lord ; the Infant cannot engage himfelf, and the Parent cannot engage for another; every one mud anfwer for his own Soul ; The Soul that fi>.*.rth /bail die, not the Child for
the
8o S E R M O N VII.
the Father, nor the Father for the Child, Ezek. xviii. ii 3, 4. Anfiv. ifi, Circumcifion was an engaging Sacra- ment alio ; the Child now can do n# much in being bap- tized, as to Self and Soul-engaging, as the Child of old could do when circumcii'ed. id. The Parent may very lawfully engage his Child to God ; he hath Power to do it, 1. From the Light of Nature he hath fuch Interctt in and Power over the Child, that he can make Covenants for them, efpecially when it is for their good and after- Advantage: He can engage the Child to Men that are lawful Superiors; how much more to God as only fu- preme, and that for their ipiritual and eternal Good ? 2. The Parents Power over the Child is clear from Scrip- ture Light, (1.) Take an Inftance of Parents Power over their Children, in the Matter of Vows, Numb. xxx. 5. if the Father difallow, none of the Vows or Bonds where- with the Soul is bound (hall (land. (2.) And more par- ticularly, to this Purpofe of engaging their Children in Covenant with God, fee Deut. xxix. 10, 1 1, 12, 13. you find there Parents engaging for their little Ones.
It is objected, 4. That Parents cannot either them- felves perform their Chiidrens Duty, nor can they make' their Children perform the Duty themfelves: Who can1 make a Soul engaged to take the Lord for their God ? I
Jt is anfwered, ifl. The Promife and Engagement in in the Infants Name, which he is bound to perform when he cometh to Age: Parents are to employ and ufe the Power and Authority of a Parent, and all their bed Endeavours, by teaching and nurturing, tffr. id. Parents do promife in the Child's Name, that he (hall do, under Pain of forfeiting the Mercy which is promifed ; i'o nei- ther is the Miniiter nor Parent binding the Vow upon the Child, binding him to Perjury, while both do but engage him to his Duty.
It is objected, 5. If a Child may receive the Sacra- ment of Baprifm, why not the Sacrament of the Lord't Supper r Is not the one as neceflary as the other ? And may not Chrift fecretly convey Grace by the one, as well as bv the other ?
On the Gospel Covenant. 81
Anfuo. ifi. God hath appointed the one to be received by Infants, not fo the other, zd. Infants are capable of being warned, not fo of eating and drinking, $d. The tffe of Baptifm is once to enter ; an Infant can be entered ; but the Ufe of the other is to remember Chriit's Death: An Infant is not capable of that. q.th. There is. a fpecial Law againft Infants partaking of the one, r Cor.&\. 28. Let a Man examine himflf and fo let him eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup ; there is not fuch a Law or Baf againll their partaking of the other. *
It is objected, 6. If it was the Will of Chrift that Children (hould be baptized, how came he to leave fo great a Point of Truth fo exceedingly dark ? It he had minded any fuch Thing, it is more than probable, that he would have fet it down more clearly in the Scriptures. It is anfwered, ift. It is only dark to thole that cannot or Will not draw Concluiions from clear PremiiTes. Ana- baptifls do fay that all Church-members mould be admit ted by Baptifm : And the Scriptures fay, that all the In- fants of proffcffing Believers are Church- members. Again, all Difciples ought to be baptized ; but Infants are Dif- ciples,. as we cited from Ads xv. 10. It was then out of Controverfy : There was a great Stir and Controverfy amongft the Jezvs turned Chriltians, for the W..nt of Circumcifion, Acls xxi. 21. But if Church- rDembenhip bad been taken from them, we wouid have heard more }f it. zd. Aibeit fome Points of Truth be hard to be inderftood, they are not the lefs true for thac, fuch as, he Doctrine of the blefTed Trinity, and of the Saobath. j</. Church-raemberfhip of Infants was fixed for many ^ges, by a ftanding Ordinance not repealed ; fo it needed lot new Explanations.
It is objected, 7. That grofs Ignorance, and much l,oofeneis and Profanenefs, are the Consequents of Infant Japtifm ; whereas if they were not baptized until they ould render a Confefiion of their Faith themfelvts, and >e of a convincing Carriage to the whole Church, both hefe might be much evited.
It is anfwered, 1//. It was foretold by old Simeon, thac
efus (hould be for the Fall, as well as for the Riling of
F many,
82 S E R f[ O X VTT.
ii. 34. So we fhould think no flrange Thing of it, to fee it To. zd. All this might have been
ed with as great Shew of Reafon againlt Circum- '
cilion. 3 /. What Hurt can there be imagined to be in
to be in ChrilVs School even from our Infancy ?
of Profelvtes, though c i re umci fed, was
lo good as the Cafe ot Children, though they
were not a until they came to be able to engage
5//;. There may be afterward a perional
■\ Children, and folemn too; which may be
p both to Ignorance and Profanenefs : The Scrip
turc j'oth allow that, though no Re-baptization. 6tb.
< private Baptiim (which they allow) will
neither be lo engaging to the Perfon, nor fuch a Curb
10 Profanenefs^ tipecially when Perfons of Age are dip
ped, and fo baptized naked : Thefe are fome or the chief
Exceptions which the Anabaptijh have againit our Infant
Bjptifm. ^
But, that we may more fully vindicate this precious Truth, I fhalJ bung forth iome Arguments againft their Way. (1 ) They cannot produce one Word of Scripture that can clearly prove this Ailertion, that believing Pa rents Ihould delay the Baptifm of their Children until they come to iuch an Age. (2.) The Scripture is' clear for this, that tVJen are 10 be baptized, how loon they be- Difciples, Atattb. xxviii. 19, 20. Go teacb, is go inaLc hem Difciples; and then baptize. In Ads ii. 38,1 41. Tkey that gladh received the Word nxere baptized the\ , in Acts viii. 12, 13, 14, 36. How foom ^cd, that is, profeffed their Believing, theyi baptized, both Men and Women, and SI too, and the Eur.ucb alio, <ver. 37, 38. PauP not delayed, in Aits ix. 18. immediately one Preaching, and the Scales falling from his Eyes, he was baptized: So the Jaylor's Baptifm was not delay- ed, in that i ;me Hour of the Night he and all his were v;iitway, A&s xvi. 33. And who can fay re were no Children there, or that the) come to Age made long Confeffions of theii . not to delay either our own or Children:
Baptifm
On the Gospel Covenant. 83
Baptifm, uotil we be fettled in fome particular Church State: Who are baptized, they are entered Members of the catholick vifible Church, all baptized into one Body, whether J ' enx> or Greeky bond or free, i Cor, xii. 13. (3.) By tiieir Way all comech to' an Uncertainty ; it is not known whe^ Wen (hall be full Difciples, and firft converted, and effeclually called ; and then it cannot be known whether trie Work hath been real; and then it will be long, may be, before the Profeflion be fatisfying . to all the Members of their little Church, and it may not be received until it be fuch as may fatisfy all. (4.) They wrefl that Scripture, in Matth. xxviii. while they fay that none muit be baptized but they who are convert- ed by publick Preaching; for chough the ordinary Mean of 'Conversion of thofe that are c6*me to Age, be the Preaching of the Word ; yet holy Education, and Read- -ipiures, and Praying, are Means fanchfied of God for Converfion ; and Infants are mnde Difciples by a Covenant Right and Interett, before they can either hear or underltand Preaching. (5.) Again it their Dipping we fav, 1. It is a palpable Tranigreffion both of rhe fecond Com .andment, it being an Ordinance without a War- rant ; and fixth and feventh, endangering Health, and difcovering Nakednefs : As to that which they bring for their Ground, ASis viii. that Philip with the Eunuch went down into the Water ; it is'eafily anfwered, they went down from the Chariot into the Valley where the Water was. 2. Enon was but a little Brook, though in John iii. 23. it be faid, theie was much Water: It was Out touch in companfon of other more dry Places. 3. As to that which they ground upon the Word Baptizing, as if it fi^nified Dipping only i the contrary is clear from Scriptures: The Word fignifieth W'afhing, in Mark vii- 4., 8. the Wafhing of Cups, Pots, brazi and
Tables; and the Thing fignified by Baptifm, which is Forgivenefs of Sin, and cieanfing from all Iniquity, it is expreffed in Scriptures by waiting and U moil
frequently. In I/a. xTi'v. 3. we have pouring forth of iter. In Ezek. xxxvi. 25. 1 will [prink And, in \ Cor. vi. 11. Such
F 2 ' h*
ff4 SERMON VII.
{bed. In Tit. iii. 5. we have the ocvt/^ ' . . x. 22. we have the Heart. .7 Confcience : And, in 1 P*/. i. 2. we have the V 2?iW 0/ 7efi*s. 4. Suppofe
Dipping there, it was but occafional, by the Heat, not to be followed in colder Climates. 5. Who will think that one Man, John Baptift, would be able to dip ic Multitudes th it came to him to be baptized ol him in JorJ*n% or that the Apoltles could have dipped the Thoufands whom they converted in one Day ? 6 Chrift hath not appointed the Meafure of Water in Bap more than the Meafure of Bread and Wine at the Communion: Men mull not eat themfelves full, and drink themfelves drunk, to expreis their Faith of the Fulnefs of Chrift: No more mult they drown themfelves in Water, to expreis their Faith of their Burial with Chrift. ft is neither God's Way to contradict his moral Commandments with Ordinances, nor to tie himfelf to work Miracles for Self-prefervation : We (hall not need to reckon forth all the woful Opinions which are involv ed in that Opinion of Anabaptifm^ nor the woful Confe queots which follow on Dipping or Delay of Baptifm bu: this is found a Truth, Error doth never go alone; hardly will there be found any one Anabaptiji% who tainted with no more Error, than the Delaying of the ifm of Children till they come to Age. So much to the Jirft Application and Vindication of Infant Baptifm. 1 have a Covenant Right to Church- membenh;p, and be a Party in the Covenant, jointly with ihen Parents fhould bring up their Chil fur God, and canfecratc them to him. The Lord 1 would do fo, fo teach them as hi I command them, and his Houfhold after him, to i. 19. And the Lord chargeth Sons, and their Sons Sons, Deut. iv 7. ic is laid upon them, that they tly, fet them on, and bear them id pon them, all the Words which the Lord limit be diligent Intruding Ircn in their breeding for Go J, a bringing of
them
On the Gospel Covenant. 85
them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord,
Eph. vi. 4. Doclrines fhould be dropped on them, as the
final! Rain upon the tender Grafs, as in Dent, xxxii. 4.
Parents mull do their Duty, though it be not in Parents
Pains, as to this, more than in the Succefs of the publick
Miniftry, i Cor. iii. 6, 7. Planting and Watering will
not do it, if God give not the Increafe ; yet in doing
the Duty the Bleffing is to be expected. It h the greateit
^Honour of Children, to be brought up for God ; it is
both their Honour, and, many Times, their Happinefs,
that they be not like wild Gourds, as degenerate Plants
of a ftrange Vine, like them in Jer. ii. 21. nor like
AiTes Colts, Afles ufed to the Wilderoefs, -jer. 24. of
that chap. Ah ! what a Torment will it be to Parents,
L at the great Day, or in Hell, to hear cheir Children cur-
liing them for their bad Education? And, on the contra-
j ry, what a Joy and Crown unto them, when they .
be able to Jay in fome Sort to God, Behold J and the
Children whom thou haft given ?ne ; when they can bring
their Children in their Hand to Chriit, as thefe whom
they had confecrated unto him, and brought them up |
from being Children ? Parents fhall do well to engage
their Children early, according to that in Pro*v. xxii. 6.
ylrain up a Child in the Way wherein he fhould go, and
when he is old, he will not depart from it.
;. Children, whom Parents have, according to theirPlace and Power, engaged to the Lord, would ftudy by all Means to improve that Covenant mice by their Parents for their Good : It hath been the Way of the Children of believing Parents in former Time.- : See J a- "s Prayer, in Gen. xxxii. 9. O God of my Father Abra- ham, and God of my Father Ifaac. He raaketh XJCe, for lengthening of his Faith, of the Covenant made with lis Fathers; in which he did p'ead Jntereft ; and the Lord doth allow Cnildren to do io. Hear what A nent the Lord uieth with J acoh, to perfuade him to go lown into Fgypt, Gen. xlvi. 3. J am the God ear not to go dzwn to Egypt. Confider alio that Place in r/a, li. 1, 2. where the Lord'* People are called up, to look nto the Rock whence they were hewen, and to the Hole cf the F 3 Pit
86 S E R M O \" VI II.
Pitv digged \ to Ijdk to Abraham their F
Children thus looking may have a double Claim ; one, by their own Faith, which cleareth up unto them Covenant-Right; another, by and fiom the Cc . made with their Fathers.
To conclude this, let Children of Believers, in n on to this their Covenant inu o that
which was done by Parents in their ;./. Improve
all that which is in the Covenant, for walking z ably and fuitably to that Engagement. 3^. Look \ themfeives, that they for lake r.ot the Covenant cf thcii fathers, as they did, in Deut. xix. 25. So they mighi with Efauy in lib. xii. 16. brinci; a double Curie on themfeives.
SERMON VIII.
ON THE
GOSPEL COVENANT
How the Co t of Grace i
CoNDITl ONAL
2 Samuel \
WE come now to the V. Thing propounds cerning this Covenant, and on of this Covenant : and in fpeakm^ to
On the Gospel Covenant. 87
fpeak to thefe two, 1/?. That it is conditional, id. What ,that Condition is. Firft then, we fay, as the Covenant of Works was conditional, Hjppineis covenanted, upon fome Condition to be performed by Man, viz. Perfect Obedience to the holy Commandement ,* fo the Cove- nant of Grace is conditional : in it the more fure, ^nd great Salvation is promifed, upon Condition of Believe- ing, and Receiving Chrift for Righteoufnefs.
WThile we call the Covenant of Grace conditional, we may not underlland it in the moil Uriel Senfe, Condition, as of Parties alike able to perform the Condition each for their own part; but conditional, fo as the Bargain cannot Hand, unlefs the Condition be performed. It is as if a Parent uiLde the Covenant with the Child, upon the do- ing of fuch a Thing, to gi\e him fuch a Reward, yer the Father performeth the Condition in and by the Child ; yet the Bargain holdeth not unlefs the Condition be perfor- med : Yet fince the Father doth perform the Condition, no Ground of pleading Merit ; all is fsee : So that is true, lit. That the Lord laveth us, not without our feivts; we are to work out our Salvation in Fear and Trembling, Pbil. ii. 12. And yet, id. We are fo faved, as all Boaii- ing is excluded, Rom. iii. 27. The Lord doth both work Faith and all our other W orks in us ; he that ordaineth the peace, I/a. xxvi. 12.
This Gofpei Covenant is fo propounded, as it appear- eth clearly to be thus conditional : fo, in Matt. xi. 28. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden , and 1 will give you Reft ; that which \s promifed is Soul Reil; the Condition" is clear, come all that labour arid are hea- vy laden : coming to Chnfl is the Condition, and fo coming as molt fenfible of our Need of him. In If a. lv i. Ih every one that thirtieth, come ; come and kiiy nx . Money ; and 1 vjill make the eveylajltng Covenant ik: even the fure Mercies of David, ver. 3. There muft not only be a lillening to the Bargain, but a coming to Jefus, the buying up of his Ware, the Receiving, Fating, Drinking, and (o Partaking of his Fuln,eis, in Rev. xxii. 17. Theie is both Coming and Taking called for; and Men muft be willing to the Bargain, and thiriting after ir.
For
S3 SERMON VIII.
For the more full Under/landing of this Point, thef* : 'ninos mull be opened and proved, i//. That the Covenant of Grace is conditional, fo as no Good promif- ed in it can be exp.eled, unlets the Condition be per- formed. 2d. That the Covenant of Grace b^ing thu$ conditional, doth not hinder it from oeing a Covenant of orace. that is, a free Covenant: all is given in it molt freely; Chrift, and with him all things Pom. viii. 32. Whojoever will, may take of the Hater of i Aei . xx;i 17.
As to tnc F fit That the Covenant of Grace is conditi- onal, it is proved thus, \ft. The Lord did never promife Life abfoluiely to any Creature : Some Froruifts are in- ok e abfolute, fuch as that, in I/a. xliii. 25. /, ev- en I am He tl~at blotieth out thy T a"fg> cjjions fo>- mine ouun S.ike, a>:d will not rrmmhc \ a. id that, in Ezek.
21, 2 2 I bad »;ine Holy Name: 1 do not
this for your Sakesy