A66098:104
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.
2. That which makes a Command in a Covenant become a Condition, is when it is tied (especially when it is both Negatively and Affirmatively tied) to a conditional Promise, It is true, that a command positively given in way of mere sovereignty is no condition, but when there is a command given, and he that gives it, so obligeth himself with it to him to whom it is given, as to engage that if he truly and faithfully perform it, he shall be thus and so benefited by it; and also to threaten, that if he fall short, he shall thus suffer: the command is now so qualified as properly to bear the notion of a condition, because the Promise and threatening are positively related to it, and must accordingly take place.
2. That which makes a Command in a Covenant become a Condition, is when it is tyed (especially when it is both Negatively and Affirmatively tyed) to a conditionall Promise, It is true, that a command positively given in way of meer soveraignty is no condition, but when there is a command given, and he that gives it, so obligeth himself with it to him to whom it is given, as to engage that if he truly and faithfully perform it, he shall be thus and so benefited by it; and also to threaten, that if he fall short, he shall thus suffer: the command is now so qualified as properly to bear the notion of a condition, because the Promise and threatning are positively related to it, and must accordingly take place.
3. God having pleased to deal with Man, in the Gospel, in a way of Grace. Hence, though He do command him as a Sovereign, yet he mixeth Grace in all His Commands, so that there is no command which is enjoined us in the Gospel which brings not its benefit ⟨p. 34⟩along with it. Or there is no command in the Gospel which comes to us under the Title of mere Sovereignty, but also carries with it the sweetness of a Promise, as well as the rigour of a threatening. We may observe that the quality of a condition is not only put upon Faith, as,