A treatise of the covenant of grace, as it is dispensed to the elect…

Now let me further say thus much, Let us rightly discern what use to make of the principal part of the Scriptures; take heed you do not close with promises before you have Jesus Christ, specially take heed you make not use of promises to a qualification to give you your part in Jesus Christ, neither be taken aside to make account that the Lord did give you himself graciously in a conditional promise; for these are aberrations from the Covenant of Grace: Consider therefore well what the Promises be, and what use the Lord would have us to make of them: It is not for a woman to take her husbands inheritance before she take his person; and you know that all the blessings, and all the promises are (as it were) the Inheritance of the Lord Jesus, given unto him, and to no other, but in his name; and therefore there is not any Soul under Heaven that can challenge his right in Christ at the first by any promise, till Christ first be given: if you know that you are in Christ, you may then know that the promises are yours, otherwise you shall not be able to know your right in Christ by your right in the promises; and therefore do not turn them upside down beyond the scope and intendment of the Covenant of Grace: we may take occasion by them to admire the goodness and grace of God, as David did, Psal. 31.19. O how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee! thus ought we to consider of them, ⟨p. 74⟩and whither to look that we might enjoy them, and the blessings in them: If you shall say, We have been converted, and we have had gracious changes wrought within us; be not deceived: such work may reach no farther then conviction, and you may come at the last to turn your backs upon Jesus Christ. Consider therefore, did ever the Lord give himself to be one with you? whensoever the Lord doth strike up the bond of Union, it is in an absolute, and free-promise of his grace. Trust not therefore unto every leaning of your Souls upon conditional promises; for so you may build upon a Covenant made upon a work, and in the end you, and your Covenant will fail together: but when you read how the Lord hath made such promises to such and such qualifications, then consider that those things are indeed requisite to be found in you; but who is there in heaven, or earth that is able to work them in you? there is none but Jesus Christ;

Now let me further say thus much, Let us rightly discerne what use to make of the principal part of the Scriptures; take heed you do not close with promises before you have Jesus Christ, specially take heed you make not use of promises to a qualification to give you your part in Jesus Christ, neither be taken aside to make account that the Lord did give you himself gratiously in a conditional promise; for these are aberrations from the Covenant of Grace: Consider therefore well what the Promises be, and what use the Lord would have us to make of them: It is not for a woman to take her husbands inheritance before she take his person; and you know that all the blessings, and all the promises are (as it were) the Inheritance of the Lord Jesus, given unto him, and to no other, but in his name; and therefore there is not any Soul under Heaven that can challenge his right in Christ at the first by any promise, till Christ first be given: if you know that you are in Christ, you may then know that the promises are yours, otherwise you shall not be able to know your right in Christ by your right in the promises; and therefore do not turn them upside down beyond the scope and intendment of the Covenant of Grace: we may take occasion by them to admire the goodnesse and grace of God, as David did,