A47542:914
A golden mine opened, or, The glory of God's rich grace displayed in the mediator to believers, and his direful wrath against impenitent sinners containing the substance of near forty sermons upon several subjects / by Benjamin Keach.
London: printed by the author, 1694
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
6thly. The Covenant is firm and sure, and doth secure all Christ's Sheep unto Eternal Life, appears further, because it is confirmed by the highest Witnesses in Heaven and Earth. (1.) The Father, (2.) the Son, (3.) the Holy Spirit, and all those wonderful Miracles that were wrought: this was one End of that mighty Testimony, viz. That all the Father hath given to Christ, or all that believe in him, may assuredly know they shall not perish, but have Everlasting Life.
7thly. This Covenant makes all the Blessings thereof sure to all Believers, because it is confirmed and ratified by the Blood of the Testator Jesus Christ: That Covenant that is confirmed and ratified by Christ's Blood, must needs be sure to all the Seed, and secure all Blessings in it to them. We have also as a Sign and Token of this Confirmation of the New Covenant, the Ordinance of the Lord's Supper; This is the Blood of the New Covenant that is shed for you, to make Peace for you, to procure Justification, Reconciliation, pardon of Sin, and Eternal Life for you: it is sealed to you by the Spirit through my Blood; take, eat this, and drink this in token of it, as an Assurance of it.
7thly. This Covenant makes all the Blessings thereof sure to all Believers, because it is confirmed and ratified by the Blood of the Testator Jesus Christ: That Covenant that is confirm'd and ratified by Christ's Blood, must needs be sure to all the Seed, and secure all Blessings in it to them. We have also as a Sign and Token of this Confirmation of the New Covenant, the Ordinance of the Lord's Supper; This is the Blood of the New Covenant that is shed for you, to make Peace for you, to procure Justification, Reconciliation, pardon of Sin, and Eternal Life for you: it is sealed to you by the Spirit through my Blood; take, eat this, and drink this in token of it, as an Assurance of it.
8thly. The Covenant of Grace doth secure the standing of Christ's Sheep, or preserve all Believers to Everlasting Life, because of the Promise and Oath of God. We have,
(1.) The Promise of God to Christ; He shall see his Seed. And 1again, His Seed shall endure for ever. How can that be, if any one that is begotten by Christ's Word and Spirit may perish?
(2.) The Promises also are as made to us in Christ. This was Abraham's Title to the Blessings of the Covenant: To Abraham 1and to his Seed were the Promises made; that is, to Christ and to all Believers in Christ. For all the Promises of God in Jesus Christ, are not 2Yea and Nay, but Yea and Amen, to the Glory of God the Father: From the Father through the Merits of Christ, and the Application of the Holy Spirit. Nay, God that cannot lie, promised them to us in Christ before all Worlds: See Paul, In hope of Eternal 3Life, which God that cannot lie, promised before the World began. If Believers do perish, what will become of the Promises of God, nay, of the Oath of God? For when God made Promise to Abraham, 4because he could swear by no greater, he swore by himself, &c. Wherein God willing more abundantly to show unto the Heirs of Promise the immutability of his Counsel, confirmed it by an Oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have strong Consolation, who have fled for Refuge to lay hold on the Hope set before us. This Promise and Oath of God, doth respect the Salvation of all the Elect, or all that are Believers, who are the Heirs of the Promises. O let any take heed how they affirm, that any one of these may perish, since God's Oath is passed that they shall not; and 'tis to this end that all of them might have strong Consolation.
(2.) The Promises also are as made to us in Christ. This was Abraham's Title to the Blessings of the Covenant: To Abraham 1and to his Seed were the Promises made; that is, to Christ and to all Believers in Christ. For all the Promises of God in Jesus Christ, are not 2Yea and Nay, but Yea and Amen, to the Glory of God the Father: From the Father through the Merits of Christ, and the Application of the Holy Spirit. Nay, God that cannot lie, promised them to us in Christ before all Worlds: See Paul, In hope of Eternal
9thly. I might proceed to show you that the Covenant of Grace does preserve all the Sheep of Christ to Eternal Life, and shows us, ⟨p. 210⟩that it is impossible that any of them should so fall away, as eternally to perish, because they in this Covenant have received the 1Earnest of the Inheritance, and by the same Spirit it is sealed to them also. But I shall pass by that, having elsewhere spoken fully to it.
9thly. I might proceed to shew you that the Covenant of Grace does preserve all the Sheep of Christ to Eternal Life, and shews us, ⟨p. 210⟩that it is impossible that any of them should so fall away, as eternally to perish, because they in this Covenant have received the 1Earnest of the Inheritance, and by the same Spirit it is sealed to them also. But I shall pass by that, having elsewhere spoken fully to it.
10thly, and Lastly, This Covenant prevents the Saints final falling, because it is an absolute Covenant which can never be broken, but stands as firm as their Eternal Rock. See what the Prophet speaks, 'tis as absolute as the Covenant God made with Noah: For this is as the Water of Noah unto me; for as I have sworn the 1Waters of Noah shall no more go over the Earth, so I have sworn that I will not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. For the Mountains shall depart, and the Hills be removed, but my loving Kindness shall not depart from thee, neither [mark it] the Covenant of my Peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath Mercy on thee. And now this Covenant is made with every Sheep and Lamb of Jesus Christ, as it appears by what the same Prophet speaks, Incline your Ear, and come unto me; hear, and your Souls shall live; and I will make an 2Everlasting Covenant with you, even the sure Mercies of David: that is, then you shall be brought actually into the Bonds of this Covenant, which is the Work of the Spirit; for who else can make the Dead to hear and live? So this Covenant secures you to Eternal Life.
Let me sum up the whole of this Argument. (1.) If the New Covenant be a Covenant of Grace, and not of 1Works; if it be not according to the first Covenant that was made with Adam, but of a quite contrary Nature. (2.) If it be made with Christ for all his Elect, and in him with them, before the World began. (3.) If Christ is the Surety of the Covenant, and hath engaged or obliged himself in this Covenant to the Father, to perform all the federal Conditions proposed to him, and undertaken by him on their behalf, namely to work out perfect Righteousness according as the Law requires, (of all that can be justified with God) and to die in their room, to satisfy for their Breach of the Law, and to quicken, renew, sanctify and preserve them all unto Eternal Life. (4.) If it be an everlasting Covenant, well ordered in all things, and sure, for the Salvation of all that are given unto him, it being made upon the unchangeable Decree and Counsel of God. (5.) If the Execution of all things that are required of Believers, ⟨p. 211⟩in order to their Interest in this Covenant, and their perseverance to the End, be put into the Hands of the Holy Ghost to work in them, and for them. (6.) If the Covenant is confirmed by such infallible Witness; if it be ratified and confirmed by the Blood of Christ. (7.) If it is also confirmed by God's Promise and Holy Oath. (8.) If the Earnest of Salvation is given to them. (9.) And they are sealed unto the Day of Redemption by the Holy Spirit. (10.) And if 'tis an absolute Covenant like that of Noah: Then they all, and every one of them, shall certainly be saved, and none of them can fall away so as eternally to perish. But all this is true, and evidently so, therefore they shall all be saved.
Let me sum up the whole of this Argument. (1.) If the New Covenant be a Covenant of Grace, and not of 1Works; if it be not according to the first Covenant that was made with Adam, but of a quite contrary Nature. (2.) If it be made with Christ for all his Elect, and in him with them, before the World began. (3.) If Christ is the Surety of the Covenant, and hath ingaged or obliged himself in this Covenant to the Father, to perform all the federal Conditions proposed to him, and undertaken by him on their behalf, namely to work out perfect Righteousness according as the Law requires, (of all that can be justified with God) and to die in their room, to satisfy for their Breach of the Law, and to quicken, renew, sanctify and preserve them all unto Eternal Life. (4.) If it be an everlasting Covenant, well ordered in all things, and sure, for the Salvation of all that are given unto him, it being made upon the unchangeable Decree and Counsel of God. (5.) If the Execution of all things that are required of Believers,
No more at this Time.
1BRETHREN, I am upon the Proof and Demonstration of the Doctrine which I raised from our Text, (viz.) That none of the Sheep of Christ, or Saints of God, can so fall away as eternally to perish.
The last time I spoke to the fourth Argument, which was taken from the Nature of the Covenant of Grace.
I shall proceed to the next Argument.
Fifthly, They who are the Sheep of Christ, Believers in Christ, 1or his Elect Ones, cannot finally fall away, because they are the Children of God, begotten of God, and born of God.
Two things I shall do in prosecuting this Argument. First, Prove that all Believers are begotten and born of God. Secondly, Show you how it doth appear from hence that they can never finally fall away, and eternally perish.
Two things I shall do in prosecuting this Argument. First, Prove that all Believers are begotten and born of God. Secondly, Shew you how it doth appear from hence that they can never finally fall away, and eternally perish.
First, That they are begotten of God, appears from several Scriptures; Of his own Will beg at he us with the Word of Truth, &c. 1Merely by his own Grace, as the original Cause; with the Word by the Spirit, as the instrumental Means. Spiritual Generation is the Work of God, the Product of the Will of God, and not of the Will of Man: Which were born not of Blood, nor of the Will of the 2Flesh, nor of the Will of Man, but of God. Not of Blood, as in natural Generation, or not of the Blood of Abraham; Grace and Regeneration being not the Product of the State or Faith of believing Parents: This was the carnal Boast of the Jews, We have Abraham to our Father. Not of the Power of Man's Will, that cannot 3produce the New Creature in himself, nor in a Child or Brother: If it was in the Power of a godly Man or godly Minister to convert or to regenerate his Child, his Wife, or his Brother, would he let them perish? But alas, alas, this is out of Man's reach, out of his Power, he cannot renew himself: A Child may as easily beget it self in the Womb before it self was, as a Man can form Christ in his own Soul, or regenerate himself; 'tis God that doth it, the Holy Spirit begets us: Except a Man be born of Water and of the 4Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God; and every one that loveth him 5that begetteth, loveth him also that is begotten of him. Whosoever hath that efficacious Soul, uniting Soul, transforming Soul, renewing Sin killing Grace of Faith, is born of God. 'Tis not a bare believing Jesus is the Christ, no, but such a Faith that works by Love, or the Faith of God's Elect; For ye are all the Children of God by Faith in Jesus Christ. Faith, saving Faith, the Faith of the Operation 6of God, produceth this glorious Effect, through the Spirit, in the Soul. From all which Scriptures it evidently appears, that all Believers, all the Saints are the Children of God, begotten, and born of God.
First, That they are begotten of God, appears from several Scriptures; Of his own Will beg at he us with the Word of Truth, &c. 1Meerly by his own Grace, as the original Cause; with the Word by the Spirit, as the instrumental Means. Spiritual Generation is the Work of God, the Product of the Will of God, and not of the Will of Man: Which were born not of Blood, nor of the Will of the 2Flesh, nor of the Will of Man, but of God. Not of Blood, as in natural Generation, or not of the Blood of Abraham; Grace and Regeneration being not the Product of the State or Faith of believing Parents: This was the carnal Boast of the Jews, We have Abraham to our Father. Not of the Power of Man's Will, that cannot 3produce the New Creature in himself, nor in a Child or Brother: If it was in the Power of a godly Man or godly Minister to convert or to regenerate his Child, his Wife, or his Brother, would he let them perish? But alas, alas, this is out of Man's reach, out of his Power, he cannot renew himself: A Child may as easily beget it self in the Womb before it self was, as a Man can form Christ in his own Soul, or regenerate himself; 'tis God that doth it, the Holy Spirit begets us: Except a Man be born of Water and of the 4Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God; and every one that loveth him 5that begetteth, loveth him also that is begotten of him. Whosoever hath that efficacious Soul, uniting Soul, transforming Soul, renewing Sinkilling Grace of Faith, is born of God. 'Tis not a bare believing Jesus is the Christ, no, but such a Faith that works by Love, or the Faith of God's Elect; For ye are all the Children of God by Faith in Jesus Christ. Faith, saving Faith, the Faith of the Operation 6of God, produceth this glorious Effect, through the Spirit, in the Soul. From all which Scriptures it evidently appears, that all Believers, all the Saints are the Children of God, begotten, and born of God.
