A59035:113
The bowels of tender mercy sealed in the everlasting covenant wherein is set forth…
The bowels of tender mercy sealed in the everlasting covenant wherein is set forth the nature, conditions and excellencies of it, and how a sinner should do to enter into it, and the danger of refusing this covenant-relation : also the treasures of grace, blessings, comforts, promises and privileges that are comprised in the covenant of Gods free and rich mercy made in Jesus Christ with believers / by that faithful and reverend divine, Mr Obadiah Sedgwick ... ; perfected and intended for the press, therefore corrected and lately revised by himself, and published by his own manuscript ...The bowels of tender mercy sealed in the everlasting covenant wherein is set forth the nature, conditions and excellencies of it, and how a sinner should do to enter into it, and the danger of refusing this covenant-relation : also the treasures of grace, blessings, comforts, promises and priviledges that are comprized in the covenant of Gods free and rich mercy made in Jesus Christ with believers / by that faithful and reverend divine, Mr Obadiah Sedgwick ... ; perfected and intended for the press, therefore corrected and lately revised by himself, and published by his own manuscript ...
London: printed by Edward Mottershed for Adoniram Byfield, 1661
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.
1. Faith was required in the Covenant of works, as Faith may be taken, either for a dependence on God the only Author of being and blessing, or for an expectation of that good of life, which God promised with a reliance upon God for it; or for a persuasion of Gods love to him, and acceptance of his obedience whilst continuing upright with God. As to these considerations of faith, Adam (who lived under the Covenant of works) had faith, and did exercise it: for he was bound to acknowledge God as the only fountain of his good, and to depend upon him as so: And he was bound to believe the possession of that life which God promised to him, whilst he should continue perfectly obedient: and likewise he was bound to be persuaded of the love of God unto him in that course of obedience, and also the acceptance of his obediential services unto God.
1. Faith was required in the Covenant of works, as Faith may be taken, either for a dependance on God the only Authour of being and blessing, or for an expectation of that good of life, which God promised with a reliance upon God for it; or for a perswasion of Gods love to him, and acceptance of his obedience whil'st continuing upright with God. As to these considerations of faith, Adam (who lived under the Covenant of works) had faith, and did exercise it: for he was bound to acknowledge God as the only fountaine of his good, and to depend upon him as so: And he was bound to believe the possession of that life which God promised to him, whil'st he should continue perfectly obedient: and likewise he was bound to be perswaded of the love of God unto him in that course of obedience, and also the acceptance of his obediential services unto God.
2. But that faith which respected the Covenant of works, was different from that faith which respects the Covenant of grace, and is now required. For, 1. 1That faith was such as looked on a promise of life made by God to a perfect creature, and as so continuing; but that faith which respects the Covenant of grace, looks upon the promise of God in Christ, made in respect to us sinners, and lost in our selves.