3. Because without a real, personal entering into Covenant, the Covenant doth us no good unless every one of us do choose God, for our God and Lord, and particularly own him. Every man must give his hand to the Lord, and personally engage for himself. 'Tis not enough that Christ engage for us in being our surety, but we must take a bond upon our selves: Something Christ did for us and in our name, he interposed as the surety of a better Testament, Heb. 7.22. Something must be done personally by us before we can have benefit by it. You must give up your selves ⟨p. 217⟩to the Lord. It is not enough that the Church engage for us, but every man must engage his own heart to draw nigh to God, Jer. 30.21. Who is he that engageth his heart to d••• •igh to me. 'Tis not enough that our Parents did engage for us; Deut. 29.10.11, 12. They d•d in the name of their little ones avouch God •o be their God; as we devote, dedicate and engage our Children to God in Baptism: But no man can savingly transact this work for another. We ratify the Covenant in our own persons, 2 Cor. 9.13. by a professed subjection to the gospel of Christ. This is a work cannot be done by a Proxy, or Assigns; unless we personally enter into Covenant with God for our selves, our dedication by our Parents will not profit us, we shall be as Children of the Ethiopians unto God, Amos 9.7. though Children of the Covenant, all this will not serve; these are visible external privileges. But there is something required of our Persons; every one must say for himself, My Lord, and my God. And this must not only be done in words, and by some visible external Rites, that may signify so much: As for instance coming to the Lords Supper; that is the New Testament in Christs Blood; Luk. 22.2•. 'Tis interpretativè, a sealing the New ⟨p. 218⟩Covenant, between Christ and us: God giveth, and you take the Elements as a pledge and Token that God and you are agreed. That he will give you himself, his Christ and all his Benefits; and you will walk before him in newness of life: Now to rest in the Ceremony, and neglect the Substance, is but a mockery of God: As many rend the Bond, yet prize the Seal; care much for the Sacrament, that never care for the Duty it bindeth them unto. If your hearts be hearty and well with God, you come now personally •o enter into Covenant with him:
3. Bacause without a real, personal entring into Covenant, the Covenant doth us no good unless every one of us do choose God, for our God and Lord, and particulary own him. Every man must give his hand to the Lord, and personally ingage for himself. 'Tis not enough that Christ ingage for us in being our surety, but we must take a bond upon our selves: Something Christ did for us and in our name, he interposed as the surety of a better Testament, Heb. 7.22. Something must be done personally by us before we can have benefit by it. You must give up your selves ⟨p. 217⟩to the Lord. It is not enough that the Church ingage for us, but every man must engage his own heart to draw nigh to God, Ier. 30.21. Who is he that ingageth his heart to d••• •igh to me. 'Tis not enough that our Parents did engag• for us; Deut. 29.10.11, 12. They d•d in the name of their little ones avouch God •o be their God; as we dovote, dedicate and ingage our Children to God in Baptisme: But no man can savingly transact this work for another. We ratifie the Covenant in our own persons, 2 Cor. 9.13. by a professed subjection to the gospel of Christ. This is a work cannot be done by a Proxy, or Assignes; unless we personally enter into Covenant with God for our selves, our dedication by our Parents will not profit us, we shall be as Children of the Aethiopians unto God, Amos 9.7. though Children of the Covenant, all this will not serve; these are visible external priviledges. But there is something required of our Persons; every one must say for himself, My Lord, and my God. And this must not onely be done in words, and by some visible external Rites, that may signifie so much: As for instance coming to the Lords Supper; that is the New Testament in Christs Blood; Luk. 22.2•. 'Tis interpretativè, a sealing the New ⟨p. 218⟩
