A66098:112
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.
Quest. But it may then be enquired whither Obedience be not rather a Promise made to Faith, than a Condition required of us in the New-Covenant? Since Christ hath Promised in the Gospel, that he that believes shall be saved, and if so, then (by necessary consequence) he that Promiseth the end, Promiseth also the means, i. e. All that which is requisite to bring us to Salvation, and there Obedience may properly take its place.
Quest. But it may then be enquired whither Obedience be not rather a Promise made to Faith, than a Condition required of us in the New-Covenant? Since Christ hath Promised in the Gospell, that he that believes shall be saved, and if so, then (by necessary consequence) he that Promiseth the end, Promiseth also the means, i. e. All that which is requisite to bring us to Salvation, and there Obedience may properly take its place.
Ans. In satisfaction to this inquiry these things are well to be weighed.
1. We must distinguish between a Promise made by God as one Party in the Covenant, and one made by Christ, standing in the place of a Mediator interposing between both Parties: t Jesus Christ 1stands as a Mediating, Surety on both sides: He makes Promises to His Father, that all that He requires of us shall be done: And He makes Promises likewise unto us, that all our Works shall be wrought in us and for us: He is a Surety for both Conditions, and consequents of the Covenant; now the Surety represents the Person for whom He is such, and therefore the Person is in Him engaged; for in that respect He stands on that Party, there being but two in a Covenant: If then a Surety Promise for us that we shall do thus or so, and that withal Promise to us that He will do the same thing in and for us if we will rely on Him for it; this doth not change the Nature of it from being a debt on our Parts; for though Christ hath promised us that He will do it in us, yet God still look sthat it shall be done by us.