The covenant of life opened, or, A treatise of the covenant of grace

And therefore these connexions nihil ponunt absoluti, they place nothing absolutely to persons,¹ but only to things, to wit, 1. that it is the duty and obligation of all Angels and men to perform absolute obedience to the Law, as they would be justified and saved by the Law, and its the duty of all men in the Visible Church to believe in Christ. if they would be justified and saved in Christ. 2. That there is a wise connection between means and end, obedience legal and life, faith and life, according to the approving will of God, and yet neither means nor end may ever come to pass or fall out, and neither means nor end may ever be decreed of God to fall out: Yea God may decree absolutely that none of the extremes shall exist as God decrees (if Zedekiah shall yield to the King of Babylon, Jerusalem shall not be burnt) and yet according to his decree or will of purpose the Lord hath decreed that the yielding of Zedekiah, and the safety of the idolatrous City should not come to pass, but the contrary. So God decrees, if Judas repent and believe, he shall be saved according to the will of precept, and yet according to the Lords will of purpose, neither did the Lord decree or intend the repenting and saving believing ⟨p. 245⟩of Judas nor was grace to believe and repent purchased by the death of Christ to Judas (by these Authors) though they boast of the amplitude of Christs death, nor did the Lord by that will of purpose ever decree or intend the salvation of Judas.

And therefore these connexions nihil ponunt absoluti, they place nothing absolutely to persons,¹ but only to things, to wit, 1. that it is the duetie and obligation of all Angels and men to perform absolute obedience to the Law, as they would be justified and saved by the Law, and its the duty of all men in the Visible Church to beleeve in Christ. if they would be justified and saved in Christ. 2. That there is a wise connexion between means and end, obedience legall and life, faith and life, according to the approving will of God, and yet neither means nor end may ever come to passe or fall out, and neither means nor end may ever be decreed of God to fall out: Yea God may decree absolutely that none of the extreams shall exist as God decrees (if Zedekiah shall yeeld to the King of Babylon, Jerusalem shall not be burnt) and yet according to his decree or will of purpose the Lord hath decreed that the yeelding of Zedekiah, and the safety of the idolatrous Citie should not come to passe, but the contrair. So God decrees, if Judas repent and beleeve, he shall be saved according to the will of precept, and yet according to the Lords will of purpose, neither did the Lord decree or intend the repenting and saving beleeving