A57966:130
The covenant of life opened, or, A treatise of the covenant of grace
The covenant of life opened, or, A treatise of the covenant of grace containing something of the nature of the covenant of works, the sovereignty of God, the extent of the death of Christ ... the covenant of grace ... of surety or redemption between the by Samuel Rutherford ...The covenant of life opened, or, A treatise of the covenant of grace containing something of the nature of the covenant of works, the soveraignty of God, the extent of the death of Christ ... the covenant of grace ... of surety or redemption between the by Samuel Rutherford ...
Edinburgh: printed by Andro Anderson for Robert Brown, 1655
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.
It were safest to draw holy practises by way of use from this.1
- 1Grace and the measure of it is to be humbly looked on.
In all pactions between the Lord and man, even in a Law-Covenant there is some out-breakings of Grace. Its true, there was no Gospel-Grace, that is a fruit of Christs merit in this Covenant. But yet if grace be taken for undeserved goodness: There are these respects of grace. 1. That God might have given to Adam something inferior to the glorious Image of God, that consists in true righteousness, knowledge of God, and holiness, Gen 1.26. Eph. 4.24. Col. 3.10. It was a rich enough stock, this holy Image to be so badly guided. And who looks spiritually to their receipts? Its either too much of grace and holiness that another hath, and too little that I have, so arises virtual sighing and grudging at the dispensation. Or 2. a swelling that it is so much, as if it were not receiving. I am holier then thou, Isa. 65.5. a miskenning of him that makes me to differ, 1 Cor. 4.7. A blacking of others, Luk. 18.11. A secret quarrelling at God as too strict and hard in his reckoning, Mat. 25.24. And what pride is this, because I am a mere patient under gifted holiness, to usurp it as mine own? As if a horse should kick and fling, because he wears a borrowed saddle of silk for a day.
In all pactions between the Lord and man, even in a Law-Conant there is some out-breakings of Grace. Its true, there was no Gospel-Grace, that is a fruit of Christs merite in this Covenant. But yet if grace be taken for undeserved goodnesse: There are these respects of grace. 1. That God might have given to Adam something inferiour to the glorious Image of God, that consists in true righteousnesse, knowledge of God, and holinesse, Gen 1.26.