A66098:62
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.
1. The Old Covenant, or Covenant of Works was accommodated to the State of Man in his innocency, and is therefore called of Works, because it was propounded under the notion of Work, and Wages: mthough there were abundance of Grace in that, taken in a large sense, for, not only all those habitual principles, with which Man was furnished, as Knowledge, Righteousness and Holiness, empowering him to do his duty, which were Additions to his Nature, and are entitled the Image of God; were Gods free gift: nay, His Creation it self was an effect ⟨p. 16⟩Gods bounty, who did not owe him a Being: but also the reward proposed was of that Nature and Value, as that the Pepper-corn of Man's most perfect obedience, (which could no ways enrich or profit his Lord) could not be thought to hold a valuable proportion to it: Yet, notwithstanding, there was a Rule of Justice also attended in this matter (which is no Egyptian Task-Master, requiring Bricks where no Straw is given) God therefore made Man upright, Eccl. 7 29. i. e. Fitted him for His Rule, with a concreated Power to attend it, and he suited a Rule to this capacity, and both told him what was his Work He expected from him; What should be his Wages if faithfully performed; What should be his damage in case of non-performance: His Talent was given him, and he was himself to improve it, and therefore is it called a Covenant of Works.
1. The Old Covenant, or Covenant of Works was accommodated to the State of Man in his innocency, and is therefore called of Works, because it was propounded under the notion of Work, and Wages: mthough there were abundance of Grace in that, taken in a large sense, for, not only all those habitual principles, with which Man was furnished, as Knowledge, Righteousness and Holiness, impowring him to do his duty, which were Additions to his Nature, and are entituled the Image of God; were Gods free gift: nay, His Creation it self was an effect ⟨p. 16⟩Gods bounty, who did not owe him a Being: but also the reward proposed was of that Nature and Value, as that the Pepper-corn of Man's most perfect obedience, (which could no wayes enrich or profit his Lord) could not be thought to hold a valuable proportion to it: Yet, notwithstanding, there was a Rule of Justice also attended in this matter (which is no Egyptian Task-Master, requiring Bricks where no Straw is given) God therefore made Man upright,