Ver. 30. If his children forsake my Law, &c. a pre-occupation, if an eternal seed be promised to Christ, then although Christ and his Children sin, no matter, the hazard is not great? He Answers, the danger is not to be despised; I will visit the sons, of Solomon and others, 2 Sam. 7.14. with the rod of men: 15. But my mercy (of the Covenant of Redemption, and of Reconciliation) I will not take from him, as I took it from Saul. This is not spoken of Christ, for he cannot sin, but of Christs seed, his spiritual seed, and the business is so contrived, as the seed of Christ and his children shall not sin unpunished: but yet there is a difference between the sins of the reprobate Saul, and such like, and of the spiritual seed of Christ. So he takes his mercy, Covenant-mercy (but offered conditionally) utterly away from reprobates when they sin, but takes not away Covenant-mercy from the seed of Christ: And the reason is, from the nature of the Covenant, v. 34. My Covenant I will not break▪ &c. If then the elect and chosen of Christ should fall away, God should break and alter his Covenant: but impossible is the latter. Hence, 1. the questioning of the stability of our state, being once internally in Covenant with God, is a reproaching of God▪ and to make him a liar. v. 35. Once have I sworn (saith he) by my Holiness, that I will not lie unto David. Though (1.) we seem to reproach our selves in questioning our state, being once in Christ, yet the truth is,1 the plea is against God, and his Truth and Holiness. (2.) Its easier to believe general truths, then to believe particular truths, in which our selves and our own actings are interested: So spiritual ⟨p. 338⟩and wily a snare is unbelief, that when we think we are unbelievingly fearing our own treachery, we are indeed charging treachery and falsehood upon the Holy Lord. (3.) In our sinful plea's with our own state, Ah! I am cast out of his sight, Psal. 31.22. Jona. 2.4. we are overturning the whole Gospel and Covenant of Suretyship and Reconciliation, and we say, God lied to David, and to his Son Christ: contrary to that, Psal. 89.35. Once have I sworn by my Holiness, I will not lie unto David. 36. His seed shall endure for ever, for the Lord once justified thee. (4.) We shall find our selves so selfie in controverting with God in the matter of fact touching our selves:2 am I in Christ?
Ver. 30. If his children forsake my Law, &c. a pre-occupation, if an eternall seed be promised to Christ, then although Christ and his Children sin, no matter, the hazard is not great? He Answers, the danger is not to be despised; I will visite the sons, of Solomon and others, 2 Sam. 7.14. with the rod of men: 15. But my mercy (of the Covenant of Redemption, and of Reconciliation) I will not take from him, as I took it from Saul. This is not spoken of Christ, for he cannot sin, but of Christs seed, his spirituall seed, and the businesse is so contrived, as the seed of Christ and his children shall not sin unpunished: but yet there is a difference between the sins of the reprobate Saul, and such like, and of the spirituall seed of Christ. So he takes his mercy, Covenant-mercy (but offered conditionally) utterly away from reprobats when they sin, but takes not away Covenant-mercy from the seed of Christ: And the reason is, from the nature of the Covenant, v. 34. My Covenant I will not break▪ &c. If then the elect and chosen of Christ should fall away, God should break and alter his Covenant: but impossible is the latter. Hence, 1. the questioning of the stability of our state, being once internally in Covenant with God, is a reproaching of God▪ and to make him a liar. v. 35. Once have I sworn (saith he) by my Holinesse, that I will not lie unto David. Though (1.) we seem to reproach our selves in questioning our state, being once in Christ, yet the truth is,1 the plea is against God, and his Truth and Holinesse. (2.) Its easier to beleeve generall truths, then to beleeve particular truths, in which our selves and our own actings are interested: So spirituall ⟨p. 338⟩and wilie a snare is unbelief, that when we think we are unbelievly fearing our own treachery, we are indeed charging treacherie and falshood upon the Holy Lord. (3.) In our sinfull plea's with our own state, Ah! I am casten out of his sight, Psal. 31.22. Jona. 2.4. we are overturning the whole Gospel and Covenant of Suretyship and Reconciliation, and we say, God lied to David, and to his Son Christ: contrair to that, Psal. 89.35. Once have I sworn by my Holinesse, I will not lie unto David. 36. His seed shall endure for ever, for the Lord once justified thee. (4.) We shall find our selves so selfie in contraverting with God in the matter of fact touching our selves:
- 1The justified mans question of his state rejecteth upon God & his truth.The justified mans question of his state re•ecteth upon God & his truth.
- 2How selfie we are in the unbelieving challenging of our Justification.How selfie we are in the unbeleeving challenging of our Justification.
