The new covenantThe nevv covenant

First;¹ The tree must be good, as you have it in Math. 7. 16. 17. that is, a man then is said to be a good man, when there is a good sap in him, when there is some thing in him that is good, when there are some supernatural graces wrought in him,² he that is not empty of these, he is a good §1man: as it is said of Barnabas, he was a good man; and how was that proved? he was full of faith, and the holy Ghost. See then whether thou hast an empty heart or no. You say a thing is good for nothing, when it is empty of that excellency, that should be in it; when Wine hath not that in it, that belongs to wine, you say it is naught; and so we say of all things else; When a man therefore hath not that in him that belongs to a man, that is, to a man, as he was created in innocency, he is wicked and naught, a son of Belial: but when he hath a blessing in him, as grapes have wine in them, when he hath supernatural grace wrought in his heart, when he hath the new Adam putting into his heart, the sap of grace & life, then he is good. Therefore see whether there be somewhat ⟨p. 27⟩put into thee, more then is in thee by nature, see whether thou find the new Adam effectually to communicate new sap to thee, new grace, and new light to thee, as the old Adam hath communicated corruption; See whether thou be made a good tree or no: for it is the tree, that makes the fruit good, and not the fruit, that makes the tree good; So it is the man, that justifieth his work, and not the work, that justifieth the man: and therefore thou must first see, whether thou be in the Covenant, whether thou hast this seal, that thou seest some thing put into thee, which thou hast not by nature. Every man by nature is empty: when grace is put into him, then he is said to be good. As it is good wine, when it is full of spirit, when it hath that in it, that belongs to wine; So he is a good man, that hath that in him, which belongs to him in his regenerate estate.

First;¹