A57966:356
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.
Quest. 4. Whether or not are believers the parties of the Covenant of Grace. Ans. These are parties to whom the Covenant-promise is made, not these who already have the benefit promised in the Covenant, but believers must have a new heart, and consequently faith already, therefore they cannot be parties with whom the Covenant is made.1 As because the Image of God is not promised to Adam in the Covenant of Works, but presupposed to be in him by order of nature, before God make with him the Covenant of Works, else he could not be able to keep that Covenant, which we cannot say, for God created him right and holy, Gen. 1.26, 27. Eccles. 7.29. Eph. 4.24. Col. 3.10. Therefore Adam in his pure naturals, as not yet endued with the Image of God, cannot be the party with whom the Covenant of Works is made, for then the Image of God▪ must either be a reward, which Adam by his pure naturals and strength thereof must purchase by working, which the Scripture and nature of the Covenant cannot admit, or then the Image of God must be promised to Adam in the Covenant of Works, which is no less absurd. And if faith be promised in the Gospel, the Covenant of Grace must be made with some Israel and Judah as predestinated to life eternal and yet wanting a new heart: For God cannot Covenant•ways promise a new heart to such as have it, but to such as have a stony heart and believe not, Ezek. 36.26. Deut. 30.6. Ezek▪ 11.19. nor can he promise faith to such as have faith this way.
Quest. 4. Whether or not are beleevers the parties of the Covenant of Grace. Ans. These are parties to whom the Covenant-promise is made, not these who already have the benefit promised in the Covenant, but beleevers must have a new heart, and consequently faith already, therefore they cannot be parties with whom the Covenant is made.