Now, my Brethren, when Man had broken the Law of the first Covenant, his Credit was gone or lost for ever; God would not enter into Covenant any more with him without a Surety, he knowing that Man's Inability and ⟨p. 87⟩Unfaithfulness in his Fallen Estate; therefore was graciously pleased to provide for us, or in our behalf, a Sponsor, or Surety;1 By so much was Jesus made a Surety of a better Covenant: As Christ engaged to God for us, to satisfy for our Sins, and to bring us into a State of Grace, and Peace with God, and preserve us in that State to the end, and to give Security to the Covenant of Peace, which he is a Surety of, he is called a Surety: And as he gives all good things, and Divine Blessings to us, he is called a Testator; for a Testator denotes one dying, making his Last Will and Testament firm, and bequeathing Legacies to his Friends; some I know would not have Christ be a Surety of that Covenant that was made betwixt God the Father and himself, (which they call the Covenant of Redemption) but of the Covenant of Grace made with us, but I know no ground for such a distinction (as I shall hereafter prove;) my Brethren, evident it is, that had not our Mediator engaged in this Covenant of Peace and Redemption for us, there had been no Covenant nor Peace for us at all, because all dependeth on Christ's Suretyship, or on Christ's Obligation to the Father for us; nor did God ever manifest more rich Grace to us, than he did in providing of such a Surety for Man. And hence God saith (speaking of the Covenant of Grace;2) My Mercy will I keep for him for ever, and my Covenant shall stand fast with him: I have laid help upon one that is mighty, 3I have exalted one chosen out of the People; one able to perform and do all his Pleasure, one ⟨p. 88⟩that he can trust, who neither wants Ability nor Faithfulness.
Now, my Brethren, when Man had broken the Law of the first Covenant, his Credit was gone or lost for ever; God would not enter into Covenant any more with him without a Surety, he knowing that Man's Inability and ⟨p. 87⟩Unfaithfulness in his Fallen Estate; therefore was graciously pleased to provide for us, or in our behalf, a Sponsor, or Surety;1 By so much was Jesus made a Surety of a better Covenant: As Christ engaged to God for us, to satisfie for our Sins, and to bring us into a State of Grace, and Peace with God, and preserve us in that State to the end, and to give Security to the Covenant of Peace, which he is a Surety of, he is call'd a Surety: And as he gives all good things, and Divine Blessings to us, he is called a Testator; for a Testator denotes one dying, making his Last Will and Testament firm, and bequeathing Legacies to his Friends; some I know would not have Christ be a Surety of that Covenant that was made betwixt God the Father and himself, (which they call the Covenant of Redemption) but of the Covenant of Grace made with us, but I know no ground for such a distinction (as I shall hereafter prove;) my Brethren, evident it is, that had not our Mediator engaged in this Covenant of Peace and Redemption for us, there had been no Covenant nor Peace for us at all, because all dependeth on Christ's Suretiship, or on Christ's Obligation to the Father for us; nor did God ever manifest more rich Grace to us, than he did in providing of such a Surety for Man. And hence God saith (speaking of the Covenant of Grace;2) My Mercy will I keep for him for ever, and my Covenant shall stand fast with him: I have laid help upon one that is mighty, 3I have exalted one chosen out of the People; one able to perform and do all his Pleasure, one ⟨p. 88⟩that he can trust, who neither wants Ability nor Faithfulness.
- 1Heb. 7.22.
- 2Ps. 89.2•.
- 3Ps. 8•.8•.
