A66098:179
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
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.
5. If we consider the great helps which the Covenant affords us for the fulfilling of these easy Terms. It must be acknowledged, that, as easy as they are, it exceeds the power of fallen Man by himself to perform them, by reason of the depravedness of his will and sinful enmity of his heart against God. Were we left to the strength of our nature, we could never reach these Conditions. But to remedy this difficulty, the Covenant holds forth sufficient relief against all these impediments. Hence, when the Covenant-Command bids us believe in Christ, to love and serve God. If we should make such an Objection as this, we cannot believe, we cannot obey, they are things above us, and hereupon we take discouragement, and begin ⟨p. 62⟩to think our Condition is as remote from hopes of Life and Salvation as ever, we mistake the Covenant: For God knows that we cannot, and therefore, if we understand it aright, the Covenant tells us that God doth not expect at our hands, nor would he accept of us, a Faith of our own making, or an Obedience done in our own strength; and that if thus we should go about to endeavour to keep Covenant with him, we should but irritate or make it void, and therefore Christ standing as a Mediator in the Covenant, proffers Himself to be our Surety and undertaker, to help us and work all our works in and for us, that so we may perform the Terms, and attend the Requisites of the Covenant; to work Faith in us, and perfect us in holiness, and so to keep us that we shall never depart from Him: And if we set about, or think to do any New-Covenant-duty, without an eye hither, and reliance here, we run upon woeful undoing mistakes, and utterly lose our selves. Let all these thoughts teach us to see and be affected with the excellency and Glory of the New Covenant.
5. If we consider the great helps which the Covenant affords us for the fulfilling of these easie Termes. It must be acknowledged, that, as easie as they are, it exceeds the power of fallen Man by himself to performe them, by reason of the depravedness of his will and sinfull enmity of his heart against God. Were we left to the strength of our nature, we could never reach these Conditions. But to remedy this difficulty, the Covenant holds forth sufficient relief against all these impediments. Hence, when the Covenant-Command bids us beleeve in Christ, to love and serve God. If we should make such an Objection as this, we cannot believe, we cannot obey, they are things above us, and hereupon we take discouragement, and begin