Paradise opened, or, The secrets, mysteries, and rarities of divine love, of infinite wisdom,…Paradice opened, or, The secreets, mysteries, and rarities of divine love, of infinite wisdom,…

Fourthly, premise this with me, that a right notion of the Covenant, according to the Originals of the Old and New Testament, will conduce much to a right understanding of God's Covenant. The derivation of the Hebrew word, and of the Greek, may give us great light and is of special use, to show the nature of the Covenant which they principally signify, and what special things are therein required: The Hebrew word, [Greek or Hebrew] Berith, a Covenant, is by learned men, derived from several roots: First, some derive it from [Greek or Hebrew], Barar, to purify, make clear, and to purge out dross, chaff, and all uncleanness; and to select, and choose out, and separate the pure from the impure, the gold and silver from the dross, and the pure wheat from the chaff. The reasons of this derivation ⟨p. 4⟩are these two: 1. Because, by Covenants open and clear amity is confirmed, and faithfulness is plainly and clearly declared and ratified without deceit or sophistication betwixt covenanters: And things are made plain and clear betwixt them, in every point and article: 2. Because God, in the Covenant of works, did choose out man especially, with whom he made the Covenant; and because, in the Covenant of grace, he chooseth out of the multitude his Elect, even his Church and faithful people, whom he did separate by predestination and election from all Eternity, to be an holy people to himself in Christ, Eph. 1. 4. 2. Some derive it from [Greek or Hebrew], And verily, the Lord, when he makes a Covenant with any, he doth separate them from others, he looks on them, and takes them, and owns them for his peculiar people, 1 Pet. 2. 9. for his peculiar treasure, Exod. 19. 5. and agrees with them, as the chosen and choicest of all others,: The first staff in Zach. 11. 10. is called Beauty, and this was the Covenant; and certainly it must be a high honour for a people to be in Covenant with God; for by this means, God becomes ours, and we are made nigh unto him, Jer. 31. 38, 40, 41. He is ours, and we are his, in a very peculiar way of relation: and by this means, God opens his love, and all his treasures of grace unto us: In his Covenant he tells us of his special care, love, kindness, and great intentions of good to us; and by this means his faithfulness comes to be obliged to make good all his Covenant relations and engagements to us,