I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

Seventhly: As Christ did sanctify all things to his Seed, so by his Death, he did confirm the Covenant of Grace: For as the first Adam, did break the old Covenant by his Sin, and Disobedience; so the Second Adam by his Death, and Obedience, did confirm the new; For (saith the Apostle, Heb. 9.16.) Where a Testament is, there must also of necessity be, the Death of the Testator; for a Testament is of force, after men are dead, otherwise it is of no strength at all, whilst the Testator liveth, verse 17. And again, Gal. 3.15. Brethren, I speak after the manner of men, though it be but a mans Covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto; and this I say, that the Covenant that was confirmed before of God in Christ, &c. ver. 17. So that the Covenant of Grace was confirmed by Christ in his Death:¹ Only the Question is, How this Covenant was confirmed by the death of Christ? The Socinians say, That Christs death did confirm the Covenant by way of Testimony, or Declaration of the Truth of the Gospel; the Lord say they hath promised in the Gospel, that all those who repent and believe, shall be justified and saved. Now Christ preaching this Truth, and dying in it, hath confirmed this Truth, and the Gospel; and therefore say they, Christ is called the true, and the faithful Witness. 1. But though Christ by his death, did bear his Testimony to the Truth of the Gospel, yet where do we find in Scripture, that his death did confirm the Covenant by way of Testimony? 2. Where doth it appear that the Covenant which he confirmed by his death, was this, If you repent, and believe, you shall be saved, and justified? The thing is true, and a Gospel Truth, but the Covenant which Christ confirmed, ye read of in Heb. 8. where the Lord doth promise both Faith, and Repentance also. 3. If the death of Christ did confirm the Covenant by way of Testimony, testifying the Truth of the Gospel; then the death of the Martyrs should confirm the Covenant, more than the ⟨p. 117⟩death of Christ: for the Socinians deny the Deity of Christ; and if Christ were only Man, then the death of thousands (some dying more painful deaths than Christ did) should give a greater Testimony to the Truth of the Gospel, and so confirm the Covenant more than the death of Christ: but where do we find in all the Scripture, that the death of the Martyrs is said to confirm the New Covenant?