There is a threefold Covenant that passeth between men in civil society in this world. 1 There is a Covenant between Prince and people, 2 Chron. 23.16. 2. Between man and wife, Matth. 2.14. 3 Between friend and friend, thus David and Jonathan made a Covenant together, 1 Sam. 20.16. Now in all these respects God makes a covenant with his people.

1. He makes the covenant of a Kingdom with them that as a King he will rule us and defend us, and we for our part promise to be at his command, and to be obedient subjects to him.

1. He makes the covenant of a Kingdome with them that as a King he will rule us and defend us, and we for our part promise to be at his command, and to be obedient subjects to him.

2. There is a covenant of marriage between God and his people. Jer. 3.14. Turn O back sliding children, for I am married to you, that as a wife promiseth to be for her husband alone, and he for her only; so doth the church promise, that she will be for Christ alone, and he for her, Hos. 3.3.

2. There is a covenant of marriage between God and his people. Jer. 3.14. Turn O back sliding children, for I am marryed to you, that as a wife promiseth to be for her husband alone, and he for her only; so doth the church promise, that she will be for Christ alone, and he for her, Hos. 3.3.

Try therefore if such a covenant have past betwixt you and God, have we for our parts given up our selves to God, be sure God hath prevented us in all this, if there have no such covenant past between you and God, then God is not your God, you have not Christ.

Object: Who is there to be found, that so looks to his own ways, and his households, that he walks so strictly with God as you require?

Object: Who is there to be found, that so looks to his own wayes, and his housholds, that he walks so strictly with God as you require?

Answ. True they that do make a covenant with God often break, even as often as there is a thought, or word, or action that was not from Gods word, or mouth, or counsel, but this is our hope. 1. We have Christ for our surety of this covenant, Heb. 7.22. and he will make up all breaches; when therefore we break covenant with God, let us renew our humiliations, and be ashamed of our breach of covenant and charge our souls for it, and acknowledge, that as we have broken covenant with God, so might God justly break covenant with us, and if we thus return and humble our selves, then God will renew his covenant with us again.

Answ. True they that doe make a covenant with God often break, even as often as there is a thought, or word, or action that was not from Gods word, or mouth, or counsel, but this is our hope. 1. We have Christ for our surety of this covenant, Heb. 7.22. and he will make up all breaches; when therefore we break covenant with God, let us renew our humlliations, and be ashamed of our breach of covenant and charge our souls for it, and acknowledge, that as we have broken covenant with God, so might God justly breake covenant with us, and if we thus return and humble our selves, then God will renew his covenant with us again.

2. We have Christ by way of acceptance, this is expressed, Joh. 1.12. To as many as received him he gave them power to become the sons of God; to receive him, as divers express this place, is to receive him as a Father, as a King, as an Husband, but it may rather be conceived, that to receive Christ, is to receive him into an house or Temple, and this may be gathered from the precedent words, vers. 11. [Greek or Hebrew], is meant his own place or own home, for so it is used, Joh. 19.27. [Greek or Hebrew], he took her into his home, so as many as received him, as many as received him into their hearts, as into a Temple, when we thus receive him, we have him.

2. We have Christ by way of acceptance, this is exprest, Joh. 1.12. To as many as received him he gave them power to become the sons of God; to receive him, as divers expresse this place, is to receive him as a Father, as a King, as an Husband, but it may rather be conceived, that to receive Christ, is to receive him into an house or Temple, and this may be gathered from the precedent words, vers. 11. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, is meant his own place or own home, for so it is used, Joh. 19.27. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, he took her into his home, so as many as received him, as many as received him into their hearts, as into a Temple, when we thus receive him, we have him.

Quest. How do we receive Christ as into a Temple?

Quest. How doe we receive Christ as into a Temple?

Answ. Three ways, 1. When we prepare a way, for him to come into his holy Temple, Mal. 3.1.

Answ. Three wayes, 1. When we prepare a way, for him to come into his holy Temple, Mal. 3.1.

Now what is this preparation? Isa. 40.3, 4.

1. Mountains must be pulled down, that is, the lofty spirits of man must be pulled down, and that is, when we subject our selves at his feet, willing to be disposed and framed which way he pleaseth, and to do what he would have us do; if we would have Christ come into our hearts, he must not find high craggy rocky ways; but all must be laid level and even.

1. Mountains must be puld down, that is, the lofty spirits of man must be puld down, and that is, when we subject our selves at his feet, willing to be disposed and framed which way he pleaseth, and to do what he would have us do; if we would have Christ come into our hearts, he must not find high craggy rocky wayes; but all must be laid level and even.

2. Every valley shall be filled, that is, every base earthly heart shall be lifted up to the high ways of the Lord, to mind life and heavenly things, raised up above earthliness and low things of the world, Psal. 24.7. to 10. Lift up your heads O ye Gates, and be ye lifted up ye everlasting doors, that the King of glory may come in; Christ will not descend into pits, but if your hearts be set on heavenly things, on Gods favour and his heavenly Kingdom, then you are fit for Christ, 2. A mans heart may be too low through despair, many a poor soul, after his high thoughts are pulled down, he sinks down so low into despair, that he thinks no promise or mercy belongs to him; Why, this heart is too low for Christ, therefore it behoves a christian to believe there is an hope in Israel concerning this; Christ hath had mercy on as bad as me, and therefore we will lay our mouths in the dust, till he shall have mercy on us; and if he offer grace, we are willing to receive it,

2. Every valley shall be filled, that is, every base eatthly heart shall be lifted up to the high wayes of the Lord, to mind life and heavenly things, raised up above earthlinesse and low things of the world, Psal. 24.7. to 10. Lift up your heads O ye Gates, and be ye lifted up ye everlasting doores, that the King of glory may come in; Christ will not descend into pits, but if your hearts be set on heavenly things, on Gods favour and his heavenly Kingdome, then you are fit for Christ, 2. A mans heart may be too low through despair, many a poor soul, after his high thoughts are puld down, he sinks down so low into despair, that he thinks no promise or mercy belongs to him; Why, this heart is too low for Christ, therefore it behoves a christian to beleeve there is an hope in Israel concerning this; Christ hath had mercy on as bad as me, and therefore we will lay our mouths in the dust, till he shall have mercy on us; and if he offer grace, we are willing to receive it,

3. Crooked things must be made straight; there are in our hearts many turnings in and out, these must be made straight, it's when we look with a single eye, and are willing to be guided by a straight rule, and aim singly at Gods ends, such an heart is fit for Christ, when it's cleansed from all hypocrisy. 2. There is another crookedness of our hearts, when we shift off and cover sin, Psal. 125.5. but to prevent it, Christ will, have us deal plainly, discover our sins openly before God, and then is Christ ready to come suddenly into his Temple.

3. Crooked things must be made straight; there are in our hearts many turnings in and out, these must be made straight, it's when we look with a single eye, and are willing to be guided by a straight rule, and aim singly at Gods ends, such an heart is fit for Christ, when it's cleansed from all hypocrisie. 2. There is another crookednesse of our hearts, when we shift off and cover sin, Psal. 125.5. but to prevent it, Christ will, have us deale plainly, discover our sins openly before God, and then is Christ ready to come suddainly into his Temple.

4. Rough places must be made smooth, many a mans heart is rough and harsh, and bitter; why, God will have this frame of heart laid down, all bitterness and wrath put away, and the heart made loving and meek; the Lamb Christ will not rest in Lyons dens, therefore rhe Apostle bids us lay aside all wrath and malice; when our rough hearts are made smooth end amiable; why, then undoubtedly Christ will come into his Temple. 2. When Christ is come into our hearts, if we would look to keep him there, we must look to it, that there be no common and unclean thing found there, 2 Cor. 6.16, 17, 18. This Temple is an holy place, therefore put away not only unclean, but common things; all your affairs must be dedicated to the Lord, all your wealth and store, all your household and children must be consecrate to the Lord, Christ loves to lye clean, he dislikes even bodily slovenliness, much more spiritual defilements. 3. To receive Christ into his Temple, is to look well to the charge of Gods holy offerings; God would have every man in particular to take the charge of his holy things on himself, and not put it off to others; let every one keep his charge, every one offer up his daily sacrifice, and his service for the Sabbath; all Gods offerings must be looked to, and if we do thus, God will rest in his holy Temple for ever, Exod. 15.2. consider therefore whether you have thus received Christ, have you found your proud hearts humbled, your base earthly hearts lifted up to Gods ways, all crooked by-paths of hypocrisy and shifting put away; do you find your rough spirits made smooth and amiable? Why, if it be so, then Christ is come, and when he is come, do you strive to keep your hearts clean, and undefiled, and dedicate your selves and yours to God, you keep the charge of Gods holy offerings, and set up his Ordinances amongst you; why, then we have received Christ: è contra, if we find it not thus, we have no Christ, and so no life. Hitherto we have heard what it is to have Christ; the second thing to be inquired after, is, What it is to have the Son, He that hath the Son hath life, it is not enough to have Christ, but if we would have life, we must have Christ as the Son.

4. Rough places must be made smooth, many a mans heart is rough and harsh, and bitter; why, God will have this frame of heart laid down, all bitternesse and wrath put away, and the heart made loving and meek; the Lamb Christ will not rest in Lyons dens, therefore rhe Apostle bids us lay aside all wrath and malice; when our rough hearts are made smooth end amiable; why, then undoubtedly Christ will come into his Temple. 2. When Christ is come into our hearts, if we would look to keep him there, we must look to it, that there be no common and unclean thing found there,

Quest. What then is it to have the Son?