A59035:1289
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. One is goodness; this is the good which I need. 2. A second is fullness; here is all the good which I need. 3. A third is freeness; all this good is to be had freely. 4. A fourth is certainty; I shall not fail of any part of this good; why these are apt to work on the heart, and to draw it, and to fix it: and all these God puts into the Covenant which he makes with his people: it is good, it is full, it is free, and it is certain; I will do you good, saith God, and I will do you all good, and I will do it freely, and I will do it assuredly; why then to whom should we go? thou hast all the words of eternal life; on whom should we trust but on thy self alone, O Lord, who art so full a goodness, and so sweet a graciousness, and so unquestionable a faithfulness and truth!
1. One is goodnesse; this is the good which I need. 2. A second is fulnesse; here is all the good which I need. 3. A third is freenesse; all this good is to be had freely. 4. A fourth is certainty; I shall not faile of any part of this good; why these are apt to work on the heart, and to draw it, and to fix it: and all these God puts into the Covenant which he makes with his people: it is good, it is full, it is free, and it is certain; I will do you good, saith God, and I will do you all good, and I will do it freely, and I will do it assuredly; why then to whom should we go? thou hast all the words of eternal life; on whom should we trust but on thy self alone, O Lord, who art so full a goodnesse, and so sweet a graciousnesse, and so unquestionable a faithfulnesse and truth!
6. This Covenant which God makes with his people is sure, because none of 1the people of God shall ever have cause (just cause) to complain of him, or to blame him; David in a distempered fit mutters out (Psal. 77. 8.) Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? But he corrects himself for this in verse 10. I said, This is my infirmity, &c. But if indeed God should not make good his Covenant, if that should fail, if it were unsure, then many bills of complaint would come in against him; Lord, thou didst hold out a word of promise, and commandedst me to rest on it, and saidst, Thou wouldst not fail me; and lo I have quit all other confidences, and cast all my hopes upon thy Word (which thou saidst was sure and faithful) and yet thou hast deceived and wronged me; O no, none shall ever be able thus to complain of God, or to charge him, being truth and faithfulness it self.