A treatise of faith divided into two parts. The first showing the nature, the…A treatise of faith diuided into two parts. The first shewing the nature, the…

Hereunto may be added those passages which testify, that the love which God beareth to his people is an everlasting love, and the covenant which he hath made with them effectually and shall be kept assuredly, is an everlasting covenant.¹ The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment: but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, ²saith the Lord thy Redeemer. For this is as the waters of Noah unto ⟨p. 281⟩me for as I have sworn, that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn, that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. Behold, the days come saith the Lord, that I will make a new Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:³ Not according to the Covenant that I made with their Fathers in the day that I took them by the hand, to bring them out of the land of Egypt, which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them. But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my Law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. And I will give them one heart, ⁴and one way, that they may fear me for ever, ⁵for the good of them, and of their children after them. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them to do them good: but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. ⁶In which covenant or Testament God freely promiseth to give what he requireth of his people, and to effect in them what he calleth for at their hands. If the benefits given be compared amongst themselves, one is as it were a condition to another: but they be all effects in respect of the grace and free favour of God certainly conferring them upon whom he will. Righteousness and life are promised upon condition of faith: but the condition of the covenant is promised in the covenant it self. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you,