The Causes and Reasons of the immutability of the new Covenant, are
1. The unchangeable purpose of God, which is a sure and steadfast foundation. 2 Tim. 2.19. Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth who are his. The first act of Gods love to the creature is that by which he chooseth such a one to be his, and is therefore called the foundation of God, as being that on which he lays the super-structure ⟨p. 76⟩of all other Mercies. And this stand sure, there can be no vacillancy or slipperiness in such a foundation: for he knows who are his; he knows them as his Creatures, and as his new Creatures in Covenant with him; as his by Election, and his by Covenant, Transaction and Compact. The purpose of his Grace before time, gave being to the Covenant of Grace in time, and is the foundation of it.
2. The Free Grace of God in Christ, is that which gives immutability to this Covenant. It is not built upon Works, but Grace: Therefore it is of faith, 1that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed. This Covenant is not founded as the first was, upon the variable and inconstant obedience of man, but upon Grace which is a steady and firm foundation.
3. The suretyship of Christ gives everlasting stability to this Covenant. Heb. 7.22. He was made the surety of a better Testament, or ⟨p. 77⟩Covenant:2 for [Greek or Hebrew], signifies both, he struck hands, or engaged himself for the whole Covenant, and every condition in it, and that both on Gods part and ours; to undergo all our punishments, to pay all our debts, and to work in us all that God required of us in the Covenant of Grace: and all this under the penalty that lay upon us to have undergone. And this not as other Sureties, who enter into one and the same Bond with the principal, so that the Creditor may come upon which he will; but he lays all upon Christ, and relies wholly upon him for satisfaction, knowing he was able to perform it; and so under the Type of Gods Covenant with David, Christ is brought in, Psal. 89.19. Thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help on one who is mighty. Q. d. I know thy ability, my Son, thou art able to pay me, and therefore lay all upon thee.
The Causes and Reasons of the immutability of the new Covenant, are
1. The unchangeable purpose of God, which is a sure and stedfast foundation. 2 Tim. 2.19. Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth who are his. The first act of Gods love to the creature is that by which he chuseth such a one to be his, and is therefore called the foundation of God, as being that on which he lays the super-structure ⟨p. 76⟩of all other Mercies. And this stand sure, there can be no vacillancy or slipperiness in such a foundation: for he knows who are his; he knows them as his Creatures, and as his new Creatures in Covenant with him; as his by Election, and his by Covenant, Transaction and Compact. The purpose of his Grace before time, gave being to the Covenant of Grace in time, and is the foundation of it.
2. The Free Grace of God in Christ, is that which gives immutability to this Covenant. It is not built upon Works, but Grace: Therefore it is of faith, 1that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed. This Covenant is not founded as the first was, upon the variable and inconstant obedience of man, but upon Grace which is a steady and firm foundation.
3. The suretiship of Christ gives everlasting stability to this Covenant. Heb. 7.22. He was made the surety of a better Testament, or ⟨p. 77⟩Covenant:2 for 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, signifies both, he struck hands, or engaged himself for the whole Covenant, and every condition in it, and that both on Gods part and ours; to undergo all our punishments, to pay all our debts, and to work in us all that God required of us in the Covenant of Grace: and all this under the penalty that lay upon us to have undergone. And this not as other Sureties, who enter into one and the same Bond with the principal, so that the Creditor may come upon which he will; but he lays all upon Christ, and relies wholly upon him for satisfaction, knowing he was able to perform it; and so under the Type of Gods Covenant with David, Christ is brought in, Psal. 89.19. Thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help on one who is mighty. Q. d. I know thy ability, my Son, thou art able to pay me, and therefore lay all upon thee.
- 1Rom. 4.16.
- 2[Greek or Hebrew] ab. [Greek or Hebrew] pro mittere qua si [Greek or Hebrew], in manibus.〈non-Latin alphabet〉 ab. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 pro mittere qua si 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, in manibus.
