Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of…

1. It is well ordered in respect of the Root out of which it grew: This (say Divines) was the Infinite Sovereignty, and Wisdom, and Mercy of God. 1. It was founded in Gods Sovereignty; he had a right to do what he would with his fallen Creatures: he might damn or save whom he pleased: Hath not the Potter Power over the Clay, ¹of the same lump to make one Vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 2. It was founded in wisdom: The Covenant of Grace was a result of Council; it was no rash act, but a deliberate act with infinite wisdom: God being the Sovereign of all his Creatures, and seeing mankind in a perishing condition, he determined within himself deliberately to make such a Covenant of Peace, first with Christ, and then with all the Elect in Christ. 3. It was founded in Mercy, (i e.) in the goodness of God flowing out freely to one in misery: for mercy, we say, is made up of these two Acts. 1. There must be an Object of Misery. 2. There must be a free efflux of goodness on that Object. Now the Covenant of Grace was founded on these; as, 1. There was an Object of Misery, lost man, wretched man, undone by sin: and, 2. There was an efflux of Gods Goodness, his very bowels moved within him, and they could not hold: I have loved thee, with an everlasting love (saith God) therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee. ²Surely this was well ordered; a perplexed soul may have his spirit up in arms against the Covenant of Grace, O, cries the Soul, in its sad condition, I am miserable, I shall not live, but die, my sins will damn me, I am lost for ever. Why, but see how the Covenant is ordered in respect of the root or rise: it stands like a well marshalled Army to receive, and to repel those doubts: as, 1. God acted in a way of Sovereignty, and cannot God save thee if he will? 2. God acted in a way of Wisdom, and though thou seest no way but one with thee, Death and Damnation; yet cannot infinite wisdom contrive another way? 3. God acted in a way of Mercy, and O thou afflicted tossed with tempests, ³and not comforted, is not infinite Mercy above all thy Misery? Why see, see poor soul how the Covenant repels all thy oppositions in respect of its rise.