A57966:805
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.
5. The well-head of salvation (for mere free-will and good pleasure in God, instituted this dispensation) must be here: And most eminent freedom of grace made the bargain; so that the Magna Charta, the great Charter of the Gospel, I will have ⟨p. 326⟩mercy on whom I will have mercy, is here eminently, for mercy and free-love began at the head man. For the Covenant of Grace (as notably M. Dickson) is consolidated in Christ our head, 1and he hath the first right as man to say unto the Father, that which is here said, as Intercessor and Mediator for the Elect; he shall cry unto me, thou art my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation. 2As a father binds for his heirs and children: A King subscribes articles of peace and seals them for the land and subjects: The Ambassador for the Prince and State that sent him, makes answer. So Christ acts in the Covenant of Redemption for his heirs, seed, subjects, people; and if the comparison▪ might be made,3 Gospel-free-grace, as Covenant-mercy is more in the Covenant of Redemption, then in the Covenant of Reconciliation, for principally they are here as waters in the fountain. Hence, in this Covenant, is fountain-love, fountain-grace, all the satisfaction that the Lord craves of sinners, begins at this spring, the old and eternal design of love in the heart of God toward his Son, his everlasting delight, the bosom darling and beloved of the Father, is the designed Prince upon whose shoulder is the Government:4 Here was mutual love-delight acted by the Father and Son, Prov. 8.31. My delights were with the sons of men, even before the fountains of waters were created, v. 24. O what everlasting outgoings and issuings of eternal love came from the heart of the Father and the Son in their eternal Covenant-delights towards the sons of men; here was the eternal marriage of the Lamb the Kings eternal Son, and of the not as yet created Bride first written and sealed by the King and his Son, and our not knowing of this, and Gods delighting in us, when we little knew or dreamed of his eternal love, highness, his grace. Should the heart of God be taken, and (to speak so) be sick of love for so many Nothings, whom he was to make heirs? Far more being reconciled and justified we need not fear we shall be saved.