A practical exposition on the 130th Psalm

1. It is supposed that God had before made another Covenant with mankind. With reference hereunto is this said to be a new one. It is opposed unto another that was before it, and in comparison whereof that is called old, and this said to be new, as the Apostle speaks expressly in the place before mentioned. Now a Covenant between God and man is a thing Great and Marvellous; whether we consider the nature of it, or the Ends of it; In its own nature it is a Convention, Compact and Agreement, for some certain ends and purposes between the Holy Creator and his poor creatures. How infinite, how unspeakable must needs the Grace and Condescension of God in this matter be? For what is poor miserable man, that God should set his heart upon him, that he should as it were give bounds to his Sovereignty over him, and enter into terms of Agreement with him? For whereas before, he was a mere object of his Absolute Dominion, made at his Will, and for his Pleasure, ⟨p. 187⟩and on the same reasons to be crushed at any time into nothing; Now he hath a bottom, and ground given him to stand upon, whereon to expect good things from God, upon the account of his Faithfulness and Righteousness. God, in a Covenant, gives those holy properties of his Nature unto his Creatures: as his hand or arm for him to lay hold upon, and by them to plead and argue with him. And without this a man could have no foundation for any intercourse or Communion with God, or of any expectation from him; nor any direction how to deal with him in any of his concernments. Great and signal then was the condescension in God, to take his poor Creature into Covenant with himself. And especially will this be manifest, if we consider the Ends of it, and why it is that God thus deals with man. Now these are no other than that man might serve him aright, be blessed by him, and be brought unto the everlasting enjoyment of him, all unto his Glory. These are the Ends of every Covenant that God takes us into with himself. And these are the whole of man. No more is required of us in a way of duty; no more can be required by us to make us blessed and happy, but what is contained in them. That we might live to God, be accepted with him, and come to the eternal fruition of him, is the whole of man; All that we were made for, or are capable of; and these are the Ends of every Covenant that God makes with men;

1. It is supposed that God had before made another Covenant with mankind. With reference hereunto is this said to be a new one. It is opposed unto another that was before it, and in comparison whereof that is called old, and this said to be new, as the Apostle speaks expresly in the place before mentioned. Now a Covenant between God and man is a thing Great and Marvellous; whether we consider the nature of it, or the Ends of it; In its own nature it is a Convention, Compact and Agreement, for some certain ends and purposes between the Holy Creator and his poor creatures. How infinite, how unspeakable must needs the Grace and Condescention of God in this matter be? For what is poor miserable man, that God should set his heart upon him, that he should as it were give bounds to his Soveraignty over him, and enter into terms of Agreement with him? For whereas before, he was a meer object of his Absolute Dominion, made at his Will, and for his Pleasure,