The Covenant of Grace

Now let me further say thus much, let us rightly discern what use to make ⟨p. 103⟩of the principal part of the Scriptures, take heed you do not close with promises before we have Jesus Christ in them: especially take heed you make not use of a promise to a gracious qualification, to give you your part in Christ, neither be taken aside to make account that the Lord did give you himself graciously in a conditional promise, for these are aberrations from the Covenant of grace: consider therefore well what the promises be, and what use the Lord would have us to make of them, it is not for a woman to take her husbands inheritance before she take his person; & you know that all the blessings and all the promises are (as it were) the Inheritance of the Lord Jesus, given unto him and to no other but in his name, and therefore there is not any soul under heaven that can challenge his Right in Christ at the first by any promise, till Christ first be given, either in that promise, or in some former: if you know that you are in Christ, you may know that the promises are yours, otherwise you shall not be able to know your right in Christ by your right in the ⟨p. 104⟩promises; and therefore do not turn them upside down beyond the scope and intendment of the promises of the Covenant of grace: we may take occasion by them to admire the goodness and grace of God, as David did, Psal. 31.19. Thus ought we to consider of them, and whither to look that we might enjoy them, and the blessings in them: If you shall say we have been converted, and have had gracious changes wrought in us; be not deceived, such work may reach no farther than conviction, and you may come to turn your backs upon Jesus Christ. Consider therefore did ever the Lord give himself to be one with you; whensoever the Lord doth strike up the bond of Union, it is in a free promise of his grace.

Now let me further say thus much, let us rightly discern what use to make ⟨p. 103⟩of the principall part of the Scriptures, take heed you doe not close with promises before we have Jesus Christ in them: especially take heed you make not use of a promise to a gratious qualification, to give you your part in Christ, neither be taken aside to make account that the Lord did give you himselfe gratiously in a conditionall promise, for these are aberrations from the Covenant of grace: consider therefore well what the promises be, and what use the Lord would have us to make of them, it is not for a woman to take her husbands inheritance before shee take his person; & you know that all the blessings and all the promises are (as it were) the Inheritance of the Lord Jesus, given unto him and to no other but in his name, and therefore there is not any soule under heaven that can challenge his Right in Christ at the first by any promise, till Christ first be given, either in that promise, or in some former: if you know that you are in Christ, you may know that the promises are yours, otherwise you shall not be able to know your right in Christ by your right in the