A77360:314
Christ and the covenant the work and way of meditation
Christ and the covenant the work and way of meditation. : Gods return to the soul, or nation; together with his preventing mercy. : Delivered in ten sermons, (viz.) 1. Christs personal excellencies, the object of our love. 2. Christ crucified, the object of our faith. 3. The new covenant of grace opened. 4. Christ the mediator of the new covenant. 5. The way and spirit of the new covenant, or New Testament. 6. The blood of sprinkling. 7. The sweetness and profitableness of divine meditation. 8. The work and way of this meditation. 9. Gods return to the soul and nation. 10. Preventing mercy. / By W.B.
London: printed for N. Ranew, 1667
Sermons › Sermon 3: The New Covenant of Grace opened. SERMON III.
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.
Answ. First of all, If you be in Covenant indeed with the Lord, then God hath honoured you, he hath exalted you, and honoured you greatly; and if God have honoured you, why should not you honour God?
Now first, the more you fall down at the feet of the fullness of Christ, in the sense of your own unworthiness, inability, and insufficiency, the more you honour God: There is one, saith John, who is mightier then I, whose shoo latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
Now first, the more you fall down at the feet of the fulness of Christ, in the sense of your own unworthiness, inability, and insufficiency, the more you honour God: There is one, saith John, who is mightier then I, whose shooe latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
2. The more you cry up those Ordinances and ways of God, that are decried by the World, the more you honour God.
2. The more you cry up those Ordinances and wayes of God, that are decryed by the World, the more you honour God.
3. The more you keep close to God in declining times, the more you honour God.
4. The more you trust God at a dead lift, when all means fails, and when a sentence of death is upon all the means, the more you honour God.
5. The more you serve God, contrary to your own disposition, and reach the services of God over the head of your own dispositions, the more you honour God.
5. The more you serve God, contrary to your own disposition, and rea•h the services of God over the head of your own dispositions, the more you honour God.
6. And the more that you do prefer the things of God in time of competition above other things, the more you honour God.
7. And the more you part with your much for Gods lesser, the more you honour God. What is Honour? Honour is a testimony of another's Excellency; Now when I can part with my much for Gods little, his little truths and things, I do testify an excellency in God; I say, the more you can part with your much for Gods little, the more you honour God.
7. And the more you part with your much for Gods lesser, the more you honour God. What is Honour? Honour is a testimony of anothers Excellency; Now when I can part with my much for Gods little, his little truths and things, I do testifie an excellency in God; I say, the more you can part with your much for Gods little, the more you honour God.
8. And the more you do keep close to the Name and Faith of God and Christ, even where Satan's Throne is, the more you honour God: Now then hath the Lord honoured you, and taken you into Covenant with himself; then surely it is your duty for to honour God, and by these several particulars you may honour God.
8. And the more you do keep close to the Name and Faith of God and Christ, even where Satans Throne is, the more you honour God: Now then hath the Lord honoured you, and taken you into Covenant with himself; then surely it is your duty for to honour God, and by these several particulars you may honour God.
2. If the Lord have made and stricken a Covenant with you, then Friends give me leave to say to you, Why should you be solicitous for your own things? If you be in Covenant with the Lord, and God in Covenant with you, God will take care of your things; therefore why should you be solicitous about your own things? God is in Covenant with you, he will take care of yours.
2. If the Lord have made and stricken a Covenant with you, then Friends give me leave to say to you, Why should you be solicitous for your own things? If you be in Covenant with the Lord, and God in Covenant with you, God will take care of your things; therefore why should you be solicitous about your owne things? God is in Covenant with you, he will take care of yours.
And upon this account, in case there be any loss upon the things of God, why should you not be as much affected for that loss, as for your own losses? For if you be in Covenant with God, ⟨p. 79⟩and God with you; Gods things are yours, and your things are Gods: Gods things are yours, Why then should you not be as much touched with the loss of any thing that concerns God, as with any thing that concerns your selves?
And upon this account, in case there be any losse upon the things of God, why should you not be as much affected for that losse, as for your owne losses? For if you be in Covenant with God, ⟨p. 79⟩and God with you; Gods things are yours, and your things are Gods: Gods things are yours, Why then should you not be as much touched with the losse of any thing that concerns God, as with any thing that concerns your selves?
Yea, Why should not God have the use of all yours? God is in Covenant with you, and you have the use of Gods things, his Wisdom, his Power, his Mercy; Why? — Because he is in Covenant with you, and you are in Covenant with him. Why then should not God have the use of your thing also, your Name, and your Estate, and your Body, and your Time? If you be in Covenant with God, and God be in Covenant with you, yours are Gods, and Gods are yours; why should not God have the use of yours, as you think to have the use of Gods?
Yea, Why should not God have the use of all yours? God is in Covenant with you, and you have the use of Gods things, his Wisdome, his Power, his Mercy; Why? — Because he is in Covenant with you, and you are in Covenant with him. Why then should not God have the use of your thing also, your Name, and your Estate, and your Body, and your Time? If you be in Covenant with God, and God be in Covenant with you, yours are Gods, and Gods are yours; why should not God have the use of yours, as you think to have the use of Gods?
3. If God be in Covenant with you, and you be in Covenant with God, then why should you not live at an higher rate then the best of the Jews did? You are in a better Covenant then the Jews were; though for substance the same (as you heard) yet you are in a better Covenant, and shall not your lives be better?
You have a better Mediator, and shall not your lives be better?
You have better Promises, and shall not your lives be better?
Your state now is called Grace to That: The Law was given by Moses, but Grace and Truth comes by Christ, John 1. Chap. Look therefore upon the Jews, look into the Old Testament, and look upon the best of them, and think with your selves, am I in a better Covenant? Oh then how am I engaged ⟨p. 80⟩to live better? Oh that our lives were more exalted upon this account. Why should not our lives be better, and we live at a higher Rate?
Your state now is called Grace to That: The Law was given by Moses, but Grace and Truth comes by Christ, John 1. Chap. Look therefore upon the Jews, look into the Old Testament, and look upon the best of them, and think with your selves, am I in a better Covenant? Oh then how am I ingaged ⟨p. 80⟩to live better? Oh that our lives were more exalted upon this account. Why should not our lives be better, and we live at a higher Rate?