1. Gods covenant with man instructeth us in two especial points.
1. In Gods condescension to man.
2. In the sure prop that man hath to rest on God for happiness.
1. Gods condescension to man is manifested four ways.1
1. In that God being the most high supreme Sovereign over all, vouchsafeth to enter into covenant with his servants. To suffer such a relation as confederates and covenanters betwixt so high a Sovereign and so mean servants, is a great condescension, Deut. 26. 17, 18.
2. In that God being a Lord hath power to command what he pleaseth, so as he need not covenant, or capitulate with them, saying, do this and I will do that: yet doth he enter into covenant. This manifesteth a great condescension, Ma•. 20. 14, 15.
3. In that being most free, and wholly depending upon himself, he need not bind himself to any (for who shall say unto him what dost thou? Job 9. 12. and 34. 19. Dan. 4. 35.) yet by covenant he binds himself to man.
4. In that God being the Lord God of truth (Psal. 31. 5.) he binds himself to perform his promise, as if there might be some fear of his falling therein, Heb. 6. 17, 18.
2. The sure prop that man hath to rest on God for happiness by reason of his covenant2 is manifested two ways.
1. In that God who is good and doth good (Psal. 119. 68.) doth covenant to make man happy. God is as a deep, full, open, overflowing, everflowing fountain: so as that might seem sufficient to make us go to him for every thing that may tend to blessedness. But the covenant which God maketh to bring us unto happiness, doth much more embolden us to go to him, and make us confident of receiving from him, what he hath covenanted to give.
2. By covenant God hath caused a special relation to pass betwixt him and us. He and we are confederates. This is a sure prop.
As God is faithful in himself; so his covenant is most sure. It is a covenant of salt for ever, Numb. 18. 19. Gods confederates may thereupon have strong consolation and confidence, Deut. 7. 9. Heb. 6. 18.
2. The covenant of God with man doth direct us in four special points.3
1. To know what God expects of us: namely, whatsoever is in the covenant to4 be performed on our part: which we must be careful to observe as we do desire to receive any benefit from the covenant.
2. To understand what we may expect from God: namely, whatsoever on5 Gods part is covenanted.
1. GOds covenant with man instructeth us in two especiall points.
1. In Gods condescention to man.
2. In the sure prop that man hath to rest on God for happinesse.
1. Gods condescention to man is manifested four wayes.1
1. In that God being the most high supreme Soveraign over all, vouchsafeth to enter into covenant with his servants. To suffer such a relation as confederates and covenanters betwixt so high a Soveraign and so mean servants, is a great condescention, Deut. 26. 17, 18.
2. In that God being a Lord hath power to command what he pleaseth, so as he need not covenant, or capitulate with them, saying, do this and I will do that: yet doth he enter into covenant. This manifesteth a great condescention, Ma•. 20. 14, 15.
3. In that being most free, and wholly depending upon himself, he need not bind himself to any (for who shall say unto him what dost thou? Iob 9. 12. and 34. 19. Dan. 4. 35.) yet by covenant he binds himself to man.
4. In that God being the Lord God of truth (Psal. 31. 5.) he binds himself to perform his promise, as if there might be some fear of his falling therein, Heb. 6. 17, 18.
2. The sure prop that man hath to rest on God for happinesse by reason of his covenant2 is manifested two wayes.
1. In that God who is good and doth good (Psal. 119. 68.) doth covenant to make man happy. God is as a deep, full, open, overflowing, everflowing fountain: so as that might seem sufficient to make us go to him for every thing that may tend to blessednesse. But the covenant which God maketh to bring us unto happinesse, doth much more imbolden us to go to him, and make us confident of receiving from him, what he hath covenanted to give.
2. By covenant God hath caused a speciall relation to passe betwixt him and us. He and we are confederates. This is a sure prop.
As God is faithfull in himself; so his covenant is most sure. It is a covenant of salt for ever, Numb. 18. 19. Gods confederates may thereupon have strong consolation and confidence,
- 1Gods condescension to man in covenanting with him.Gods condescention to man in covenanting with him.
- 2Gods covenant a prop to faith.
- 3Gods Covenant shows.Gods Covenant shewes.
- 41. What God expects of us.
- 52. What we may expect from God.
