The display of glorious grace, or, The covenant of peace opened in fourteen sermons…

Name: The display of glorious grace, or, The covenant of peace opened in fourteen sermons…
Author: Benjamin Keach

The display of glorious grace, or, The covenant of peace opened in fourteen sermons lately preached, in which the errors of the present day about reconciliation and justification are detected / by Benjamin Keach.

Benjamin Keach 1640–1704London: printed by S. Bridge, 1698

[1], xvi, 304 p. : port. · 82k words · Wing K58 · ESTC R19782

:1041p. 252–253¶10

X. God's Gospel Covenant-People are an United People,¹ being constituted or incorporated into a Church State, according to the ⟨p. 253⟩Institution of Christ in the New Testament,² being separated from the World in Worship, ³and all Evil Traditions, Customs, ⁴&c. Worshipping God in Spirit and in Truth, ⁵giving themselves up one to another;⁶ keeping all the Ordinances of Christ as they were once delivered to the Saints, ⁷owning the Holy Scriptures to be the only Rule of their Faith and Practice, ⁸having regular and ordained Officers, viz. both Pastors and Deacons, and walking in Love,⁹ and watching over one another as becometh Saints.¹⁰

X. God's Gospel Covenant-People are an United People,¹ being constituted or incorporated into a Church State, according to the ⟨p. 253⟩Institution of Christ in the New Testament,² being separated from the World in Worship, ³and all Evil Traditions, Customs, ⁴&c. Worshiping God in Spirit and in Truth, ⁵giving themselves up one to another;⁶ keeping all the Ordinances of Christ as they were once delivered to the Saints, ⁷owning the Holy Scriptures to be the only Rule of their Faith and Practice, ⁸having regular and ordained Officers, viz. both Pastors and Deacons, and walking in Love,⁹ and watching over one another as becometh Saints.¹⁰

:1042p. 253–254¶11

XI. Lastly, The peculiar People of God, love all the Children of God, even such that differ from them in some things that are Circumstantials, they love as Christ loves;¹ As they love him that begat, so they love them also (and all them) that are begotten of him: ²If God was your Father, you would love me, for I proceeded forth, and came from God (saith our Saviour) he that loves the Father, will love the Child so far as he resembleth the Father:³ By this shall all Men know ye are my Disciples if you love one another—He that loveth not his Brother, abideth in Death: And this is a sign that they are passed from Death to Life.⁴ Brethren, this Love is not in Word and in Tongue, but in Deed and in Truth also: How doth it appear you love your Wife, your Children? Even so let it appear you love all the People of God, i. e. let nothing be too dear to part with for their sakes, speak well of them, and do much for them, and bear them always upon your Hearts, when you are at the Throne ⟨p. 254⟩of Grace: If you would approve your selves to be God's People, this being so, what shall we think then of him that hates any one of the Children of God, or bears Malice in his Heart against him, and reproaches him.

:1043p. 254

¹Thirdly, I shall show you what a great Blessing and Privilege this is.

¹Thirdly, I shall shew you what a great Blessing and Priviledge this is.

1What a great Blessing it is to be God's People.

:1044p. 254¶1

1. Can there be a greater Privilege than to be made God's own peculiar People? For hereby God is their Father,¹ and they his Children. (1.) He loves them as his Children. (2.) He Feeds them as his Children. (3.) He Clothes them as his Children. (4.) He Teaches them as his Children. (5.) He Pities them as his Children, Isa. 63.9, 10. (6.) He Guides, Leads, and Protecteth them as his Children. (7.) He Chastens them in Love as his Children, Heb. 12 5, 6, 7. (8.) And lays up for them also as his own Children; If Children then Heirs, ²Heirs of God, and joint Heirs with Christ—

1. Can there be a greater Priviledge than to be made God's own peculiar People? For hereby God is their Father,¹ and they his Children. (1.) He loves them as his Children. (2.) He Feeds them as his Children. (3.) He Cloaths them as his Children. (4.) He Teaches them as his Children. (5.) He Pities them as his Children, Isa. 63.9, 10. (6.) He Guides, Leads, and Protecteth them as his Children. (7.) He Chastens them in Love as his Children, Heb. 12 5, 6, 7. (8.) And lays up for them also as his own Children; If Children then Heirs, ²Heirs of God, and joynt Heirs with Christ—

:1045p. 254

O! what an Honour is it to be the Sons and Daughters of God? 2 Cor. 6.16. Of the Great God, the King of Heaven and Earth? Nay, to be Begotten and Born of him, Joh. 1.12, 13.

:1046p. 254¶2

2. They have the Privilege to dwell in his House; nay, to dwell with God, and to walk with God, and to have Communion with him, 1 Joh. 3. Moreover,

2. They have the Priviledge to dwell in his House; nay, to dwell with God, and to walk with God, and to have Communion with him, 1 Joh. 3. Moreover,

:1047p. 254¶3

3. Their Enemies are God's Enemies, and their Friends are God's Friends, the Angels that are God's Servants, are their Servants, and are sent to Minister unto them, ¹&c.

1Heb. 1.14.

:1048p. 254–255¶4

4. They are Espoused by Jesus Christ; they ⟨p. 255⟩are the Jewels of his Heart, Mal. 3.17. or his chiefest Treasure.

:1049p. 255¶5

5. God will never leave them, nor forsake them. And,

:1050p. 255¶6

6. All things shall work together for their good.¹

1Rom. 8.28.

:1051p. 255¶7

7. And he will Crown them at last with Glory and Immortality.

:1052p. 255

Question. What Assurance hath God given that they shall be his People for ever?

:1053p. 255¶1

1 Answ. Because his Love is Eternal, or Unchangeable,¹ his Love is their Security; nothing can separate them from the Love of God which is in Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Answ. Because his Love is Eternal, or Unchangable,¹ his Love is their Security; nothing can separate them from the Love of God which is in Jesus Christ our Lord.