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

Thus.

Answ. First, Every Godly Gracious man, is in Covenant with God by Jesus Christ; and that Covenant, is a Covenant of Grace, which is the great Charter, the Magna-Charta, of all his spiritual Privileges, and Immunities. Now, in this great Charter, the Lord doth proclaim this, That sincerity shall go for perfection; That a little done for God, in the time of temptation, shall be counted much. In this great Charter, the Lord doth proclaim unto all his people, That he doth rather regard the bent of the heart, than the enlargement of the heart: That he doth rather regard the will to do, than the doing. In this great Charter, the Covenant of free Grace, the Lord proclaims unto all his people, That if they do fail in prayer, and other duties, (for I speak not of prayer only, though I instance in that) He will not cast them off, but he will rather be moved to pity them; for the Covenant that the Lord makes with his people, is as the Covenant that a man makes with his wife, I will betroth thee unto me, for ever, saith the Lord.¹ Now, a man will not put away his wife for every failing, neither will the Lord put a way his people, nor cast them off (because he is betrothed to them) though they do fail in duties. Again; in this great Charter, and Covenant of Grace, the Lord doth proclaim unto all his Children, That what they want in performance, he will make up in indulgence. He proclaims this unto them, That he will require no more, than he gives; he will give what he requires, and he will accept what he gives. Now therefore, am I in that Covenant of Grace? and are there many failings in all my duties? yet if this be true, That the Lord is more moved by my failings to pity me, than to cast me off, then I have no reason for to be discouraged: And thus it is with every child of God, he is in this Covenant of Grace, and so the Privileges, and Immunities of all this great Charter, belongs unto him.

Answ. First, Every Godly Gracious man, is in Covenant with God by Jesus Christ; and that Covenant, is a Covenant of Grace, which is the great Charter, the Magna-Charta, of al his spiritual Privilidges, and Immunities. Now, in this great Charter, the Lord doth proclaim this, That sincerity shal go for perfection; That a little done for God, in the time of temptation, shal be counted much. In this great Charter, the Lord doth proclaim unto al his people, That he doth rather regard the bent of the heart, than the inlargment of the heart: That he dorh rather regard the wil to do, than the doing. In this great Charter, the Covenant of free Grace, the Lord proclaims unto al his people, That if they do fail in prayer, and other duties, (for I speak not of prayer only, though I instance in that) He wil not cast them off, but he wil rather be moved to pity them; for the Covenant that the Lord makes with his people, is as the Covenant that a man makes with his wife, I wil betroth thee unto me, for ever, saith the Lord.