A66098:88
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. In the One, the Covenant is firmly established, and unalterably, God is become the God & portion of the ⟨p. 27⟩Soul that hopes and believes in him, and Believers are made His People really, the soul is made to believe, the Covenant is firmly settled, and unmoveably: whereas in the other it is only propounded with the command and threatening on God's Part, and on the other hand as only outwardly & professedly asserted & submitted to by those concerned, and that oftentimes deceitfully, Psal. 73. 35, 36, 37. not but that many in the visible Covenant have more than outwardly assented to it. True Believers give not only their hands, but their hearts also to God, but that refers to the internal and not the visible dispensation of the Covenant.
1. In the One, the Covenant is firmly established, and unalterably, God is become the God & portion of the ⟨p. 27⟩Soul that hopes and believes in him, and Beleevers are made His People really, the soul is made to believe, the Covenant is firmly settled, and unmoveably: whereas in the other it is only propounded with the command and threatning on God's Part, and on the other hand as only outwardly & professedly asserted & submitted to by those concerned, and that oftentimes deceitfully, Psal. 73. 35, 36, 37. not but that many in the visible Covenant have more than outwardly assented to it. True Beleevers give not only their hands, but their hearts also to God, but that referes to the internall and not the visible dispensation of the Covenant.
2. In the One the Covenant is ratified and confirmed by a surety and undertaker for the performance of it, by all those that are related to it: The Soul having closed with Christ by Faith, he becomes a never sailing surety for him, that he shall do his Part of it, and to him that all the Promises of it shall be fulfilled upon him: In the other it is not so, there is also Christ propounded as a surety, and His readiness to undertake for us, if we will by Faith close with and accept of Him to that end: He tenders Himself to be a Corner-stone, but withal threatens to be a stumbling-stone, and Rock of offence if He be not believed in but despised. In the one Christ is an undertaking Mediator, in the other only a proffered Mediator. In both we are assured that there is no treating with God, but by a middle person: the one tells a Believer, that Christ stands in his room responsible for him; the other tells all that are the subjects of it, they may have Him for such if they will,