A66098:102
Covenant-keeping the way to blessedness, or, A brief discourse wherein is shown the connection…Covenant-keeping the way to blessedness, or, A brief discourse wherein is shewn the connexion…
Covenant-keeping the way to blessedness, or, A brief discourse wherein is shown the connection which there is between the promise, on God's part; and duty, on our part, in the covenant of grace as it was delivered in several sermons, preached in order to solemn renewing of covenant. By Samuel Willard teacher of a church in Boston in New-England.Covenant-keeping the way to blessedness, or, A brief discourse wherein is shewn the connexion which there is between the promise, on God's part; and duty, on our part, in the covenant of grace as it was delivered in several sermons, preached in order to solemn renewing of covenant. By Samuel Willard teacher of a church in Boston in New-England.
printed by James Glen for Samuel Sewall, 1682
Discourse › Pages 1-60: Covenant-Keeping the way to Blessedness.
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.
4. Hence the only enquiry here to be made, is, in what quality or consideration Gospel-Obedience stands related to the Gospel-Covenant? There are some (yea, many) that determine that Faith is the only Gospel condition, and Obedience is a Gospel-command, and the ground of this conclusion seems to be, partly because by believing we are brought into a State of Grace, & assured of Salvation, and Obedience follows afterwards: partly because if Obedience be admitted as a New-Covenant-condition, we shall necessarily be reduced to a Covenant of Works. Others there be that look upon Obedience to be not only a part of, but a condition in the New-Covenant, and that unto which the conditional Promise stands related as well as unto Faith, and that there is no danger by so saying and believing, of returning to the Old and Antiquated Covenant of Works. I persuade my self that there is here no real difference or contrary mind in the substance of what is believed, but that one thing is really intended, which may be reconciled in these propositions.
4. Hence the only enquiry here to be made, is, in what quality or consideration Gospel-Obedience stands related to the Gospel-Covenant? There are some (yea, many) that determine that Faith is the only Gospelcondition, and Obedience is a Gospel-command, and the ground of this conclusion seemes to be, partly because by believing we are brought into a State of Grace, & assured of Salvation, and Obedience follows afterwards: partly because if Obedience be admitted as a New-Covenant-condition, we shall necessarily be reduced to a Covenant of Works. Others there be that look upon Obedience to be not only a part of, but a condition in the New-Covenant, and that unto which the conditionall Promise stands related as well as unto Faith, and that there is no danger by so saying and believing, of returning to the Old and Antiquated Covenant of Works. I perswade my self that there is here no real difference or contrary mind in the substance of what is believed, but that one thing is really intended, which may be reconciled in these propositions.
1. We are here to carry in mind the fore-mentioned distinction, viz. that the conditions propounded in the Gospel are not Antecedent and Meritorious, or so propounded as to be the procuring cause of God's Love and Favour, or of the reward propounded in the Covenant,