The unsearchable riches of Christ, and of grace and glory in and through [sic]…The unsearchable riches of Christ, and of grace and glory in and thorow [sic]…

The fifth Observation is, That sinners who are lying under a quarrel with God and have the offer of a Covenant, should betake themselves to it, and without delay p•t a close to the bargain betwixt God and them. Come (say they here) and let us join our selves to the Lord, in a perpetual Covenant, whereby is holden out, that when a sinner hath access to the Covenant with God, he should flee to it & take hold of it quickly. In this respect, covenanting with God is compared to fleeing in to the City of Refuge, Heb. 6. That which I mean, is first, that a sinner, who hath this Covenant in his offer, should take no other way for Justification and freedom from ⟨p. 257⟩sin and wrath, but hold to this only and seek to be Justified by it. 2. That he should do it speedily: when the word of the Gospel saith Come, he should answer, Lo I come unto thee; when God by the Preaching of the Gospel maketh a gracious declaration, that he will accept of lost sinners that come to him, and saith, This is the day of Salvation, this is the accepted time; as it is, 2 Cor. 6.3. and when by his ministers he waiteth on you, inviteth and wooeth you, ye should presently, without delay or demur, close with the offer and accept o• the invitation.

The fifth Observation is, That sinners who are lying under a quarrel with God and have the offer of a Covenant, should betake themselves to it, and without delay p•t a close to the bargain betwixt God and them. Come (say they here) and let us join our selves to the Lord, in a perpetuall Covenant, whereby is holden out, that when a sinner hath access to the Covenant with God, he should flee to it & take hold of it quickly. In this respect, covenanting with God is compared to fleeing in to the City of Refuge, Heb. 6. That which I mean, is first, that a sinner, who hath this Covenant in his offer, should take no other way for Justification and freedom from ⟨p. 257⟩sin and wrath, but hold to this only and seek to be Justified by it. 2. That he should do it speedily: when the word of the Gospel saith Come, he should answer, Lo I come unto thee; when God by the Preaching of the Gospel maketh a gracious declaration, that he will accept of lost sinners that come to him, and saith, This is the day of Salvation, this is the accepted time; as it is, 2 Cor. 6.3. and when by his ministers he waiteth on you, inviteth and wooeth you, ye should presently, without delay or demurr, close with the offer and accept o• the invitation.

The sixth Observation is, that Those who are convinced that they have sinned and would fain be in Covenant with God, should endeavour to have it throughed and made sure, to have it an absolutely closed and ended bargain. This is very clear in this peoples practice, who concernedly say, Come let us Join our selves in a perpetual Covenant never to be forgotten, they think they cannot get it made sure enough, and therefore they join, never to be forgotten, to perpetual, they Judged that it could not Possibly be made too sure: which manifestly saith, that when God giveth an opportunity to enter into or renew a Covenant with him, we should be Holily solicitous, in very good earnest, and greatly concerned to have it made sicker, as the words is, Nehemiah 9. vers. last, We make a sure Covenant and write it, and our Princes Levites and Priests Seal unto it, that word Isaiah 44.5. Is remarkable to this Purpose, One shall say, I am the Lords, and an other shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord; That it might stand (as it were) over his head, as being formally and explicitly engaged in, with heart and hand: and they that know how fickle and inconstant their hearts are: and how prone to ⟨p. 258⟩deal loosely and unfaithfully in Gods Covenant, have good reason to look to this, that all be sure work; that they get not the shell for the Kernel, and go not down to the grave with a lie in their right hand.

The sixth Observation is, that Those who are convinced that they have sinned and would fain be in Covenant with God, should endeavour to have it throughed and made sure, to have it an absolutely closed and ended bargain. This is very clear in this peoples practice, who concernedly say, Come let us Join our selves in a perpetuall Covenant never to be forgotten, they think they cannot get it made sure enough, and therefore they joyn, never to be forgotten, to perpetuall, they Judged that it could not Possibly be made too sure: which manifestly saith, that when God giveth an opportunity to enter into or renew a Covenant with him, we should be Holily solicitous, in very good earnest, and greatly concerned to have it made sicker, as the words is, Nehemiah 9. vers. last, We make a sure Covenant and write it, and our Princes Levits and Priests Seal unto it, that word Isaiah 44.5. Is remarkable to this Purpose, One shall say, I am the Lords, and an other shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord; That it might stand (as it were) over his head, as being formally and explicitly engaged in, with heart and hand: and they that know how fickle and inconstant their hearts are: and how prone to ⟨p. 258⟩deal loosely and unfaithfully in Gods Covenant, have good reason to look to this, that all be sure work; that they get not the shell for the Kernell, and go not down to the grave with a lie in their right hand.

The Seventh Observation is, That There are sometimes beside other times, wherein some People beside others have it pungently Put to them to enter in, and to renew their Covenant with God. These here spoken of, who say (having Gods pressing call to it, before they said it o•e to another) Come and let us join to the Lord in a Covenant; are put to it more then others, and at this time more then at another: in a word People are then put to it in a mo•e especial manner, 1. At such a time when the Gospel is clearly, convincingly, and powerfully Preached unto them, Preaching of the Gospel being Gods way of meeting and treating with sinners, and t•e Ministers and Preachers thereof being as his ambassadors Commissioned and sent forth by him to treat, and close a treaty with sinners, on the terms contained in their Commission: which when they with suitable concernedness and earnestness do, their hearers are the more put to it. 2. They are thus put to it, when some stirring and warmness of affection towards Covenanting wi•h God is wrought in them; or when their own frame, through Grace, Presseth them on to it; as we may see it did in this People. 3. When the Lord oftener then once or twice, in frequently renewed opportunities of thy kind. Puts People to it; and more especially in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper; the very fight and offer of the elements in the Communion speak plainly, on the matter, to the Communicants, are ye indeed in earnest in the great business of covenanting with God; Since ye are now to receive the Seal of it? If ye be not, ye notably Profane the Ordinance, by ⟨p. 259⟩setting a Seal to a blank charter: It is therefore called the Covenant; This is the Cup of the New Covenant: Because it puts you in mind of the Covenant, and puts you to it, whether ye will really engage in it: It is like the Kings appointing a day for sealing of Pardons to Rebels; his Proclamation first Puts them to it, to accept of the Pardon; Next the heralds put them to it: and then Lastly the set and fixed time or day of the sealing, puts them Most of all to it: and so it is with you in this Ordinance, that we are by and by to be about.

The Seventh Observation is, That There are sometimes beside other times, wherein some People beside others have it pungently Put to them to enter in, and to renew their Covenant with God. These here spoken of, who say (having Gods pressing call to it, before they said it o•e to another) Come and let us join to the Lord in a Covenant; are put to it more then others, and at this time more then at another: in a word People are then put to it in a mo•e especiall manner, 1. At such a time when the Gospel is clearly, convincingly, and powerfully Preached unto them, Preaching of the Gospell being Gods way of meeting and treating with sinners, and t•e Ministers and Preachers thereof being as his ambassadours Commissioned and sent forth by him to treat, and close a treaty with sinners, on the terms c•n•ained in their Commission: which when they with suitable concernedness and earnest•ess do, their hearers are the more put to it. 2. They are thus put to it, when some stirring and warmness of affection towards Covenanting wi•h God is wrought in them; or when their own frame, through Grace, Presseth them on to it; as we may see it did in this People. 3. When the Lord o•tener then once or twice, in frequently renewed opportunities of thi kind. Puts People to it; and more especially in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper; the very fight and offer of the elements in the Communion speak plainly, on the matter, to the Communicants, are ye indeed in earnest in the great business of covenanting with God; Since ye are now to receive the Seal of it? If ye be not, ye notably Profane the Ordinance, by ⟨p. 259⟩setting a Seal to a blank charter: It is therefore called the Covenant; This is the Cup of the New Covenant: Because it puts you in mind of the Covenant, and puts you to it, whether ye will really engage in it: It is like the Kings appointing a day for sealing of Pa•dons to Rebels; his Proclamation first Puts them to it, to accept of the Pardon; Next the heraulds put them to it: and then Lastly the set and fixed time or day of the sealing, puts them Most of all to it: and so it is with you in this Ordinance, that we are by and by to be about.

And in the First place, I would Beseech you to endeavour to gather and compose Your selves, and gravely to ponder what it is, that this day ye are Pressingly called to; It is even this, Come and let us Join our selves to the Lord in a Perpetual Covenant, never to be forgotten. Know and Believe, that there is such a thing as Covenanting with God; That God is dealing with you to Covenant with him; and that it is a good bargain: To you is this word of Salvation sent: And ye should be very Seriously thinking how to get it accepted and made use of; how to receive this offer by Faith, and how to get your selves given up and awa• to him; because in this Covenant (as I showed before) there is a Mutual engaging; God offers himself and all that is in him to be ours, and to be made forth c•ming for our good: and we by Faith close wi•h the offer, and give up our selves to him to be at his dispose: have ye any serious thoughts of this? But your selves to it, and we ⟨p. 260⟩in the Name of the Lord put you to it, for we cannot well proceed any further, till ye be at some point in this: are ye in earnest? Is this your errand in being here to day? If not, why are ye come hither? Is it to see how the day goeth, or is it only to get your Communion, as ye use to speak? Alas! what's that? It's to Covenant with God, and ere ye depart this Place, to put it to a point, that it may be a closed bargain, that should be your errand.

And in the First place, I would Beseech you to endeavour to gather and compose Your selves, and gravely to ponder what it is, that this day ye are Pressingly called to; It is even this, Come and let us Join our selves to the Lord in a Perpetual Covenant, never to be forgotten. Know and Believe, that there is such a thing as Covenanting with God; That God is dealing with you to Covenant with him; and that it is a good bargain: To you is this word of Salvation sent: And ye should be very Seriously thinking how to get it accepted and made use of; how to receive this offer by Faith, and how to get your selves given up and awa• to him; because in this Covenant (as I shewed before) there is a Mutu•ll engaging; God offers himself and all that is in him to be ours, and to be made forth c•ming for our good: and we by Faith close wi•h the offer, and give up our selves to him to be at his dispose: have ye any serious thoughts of this? But your selves to it, and we ⟨p. 260⟩in the Name of the Lord put you to it, for we cannot well proceed any further, till ye be at some point in this: are ye in earnest? Is this your errand in being here to day? If not, why are ye come hither? Is it to see how the day goeth, or is it only to get your Communion, as ye use to speak? Alace! what's that? It's to Covenant with God, and ere ye depart this Place, to put it to a point, that it may be a closed bargain, that should be your errand.

And therefore in the Second Place we tell you, that the great God is content to Covenant with poor, feckless and sinful Creatures, whereat ye may wonder, and say, Is it so in very deed that God will dwell with men on earth? Will he indeed Covenant with men, with sinful men, with Treacherous dealing men, with backsliders? Yea we tell you, that it is so; he is content to be your God, and that ye possess all things in him, content to pardon you all your sins, to give you Grace and Glory, even every good thing: to enter you heirs to a Kingdom, and on good and easy terms: to do it freely without Money, and without Price, If ye be but indeed content to accept of His offer on his easy and very reasonable terms: and may not your very hearts laugh within you at the hearing of the glad tidings of this Covenant, and that God is yet content to make it up with you? O how sappy and Massive is this! and that is a very sweet word to this Purpose which we have, Psal. •7 6. God, even our own God shall bless us, which may make the Believer smile: This relation of our own maketh the blessing double: and it flows from this formal, a• least, real Covenanting and union with God, and the Believer hath a right to this and all things: He hath here an offer and another sort of right, then he hath to his house and land or cloths, it's aright to God, that ⟨p. 261⟩giveth a right to these things, I mean a Spiritual right: for we speak not now of that which is civill: let us, therefore, stay our selves and wonder, and be stirred and affected with it, that the infinite and all-sufficient God is content to make this good bargain, and even now to make it with us Sinners, even with insignificant and unworthy us.

And therefore in the Second Place we tell you, that the great God is content to Covenant with poor, fectless and sinfull C•eatures, whereat ye may wonder, and say, Is it so in very deed that God will dwell with men on earth? Will he indeed Covenant with men, with sinfull men, with Treacherous dealing men, with backsliders? Yea we tell you, that it is so; he is content to be your God, and that ye possess all things in him, content to pardon you all your sins, to give you Grace and Glory, even every good thing: to enter you heirs to a Kingdome, and on good and easie terms: to do it freely without Money, and without Price, If ye be but indeed content to accept of His offer on his easie and very reasonable terms: and may not your very hearts laugh within you at the hearing of the glad tydings of this Covenant, and that God is yet content to make it up with you? O how sappie and Massie is this! and that is a very sweet word to this Purpose which we have, Psal. •7 6. God, even our own God shall bless us, which may make the Believer smile: This relation of our own maketh the blessing double: and it flows from this formal, a• least, real Covenanting and union with God, and the Believer hath a right to this and all things: He hath here an offer and another sort of right, then he hath to his house and land or cloths, it's aright to God, that ⟨p. 261⟩giveth a right to these things, I mean a Spirituall right: for we speak not now of that which is civill: let us, therefore, stay our selves and wonder, and be stirred and affected with it, that the infinit and alsufficient God is content to make this good bargain, and even now to make it with us Sinners, even with insignificant and unworthy us.

Thirdly, We make Proclamation of this bargain to you, and avouch, that there is Salvation offered to sinners, and to be had through Jesus Christ: the Lord alloweth and warranteth us to make this Proclamation, as well as he did Jeremiah, when he saith to him, Chap. 3.12. Go and Proclaim these words towards the North, return thou back-sliding Israel, and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon thee, for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and will not keep anger for ever: He alloweth, nay he Peremptorily Commandeth that ye should be put to it: and therefore when we have laid the Covenant before you: what say ye to it, what will ye do? We must have an answer from you: ye have his word and Oath for confirmation of it: O Believe and take hold of it, and ye shall get the seal from us as his Commissioners; who treat with you, according to our Commission, in his Name; And here we must be particular, and be ye particular with your selves: take and receive what we say to you with a warrant, as the word of the Lord, for it is no less his Word now, then it was when Jeremiah and the other Prophets spoke it, when the Apostles spoke it, yea When Christ spake it himself: It's the same Covenant and the same word, that this day is preached to you; The Lord calls us to stir up our selves, and to say in good earnest, Come let us join our selves to him in a Perpetual Covenant, 1. The party inviting is the Lord Jehovah in the Mediator, and sure he is a ⟨p. 262⟩most, yea the most excellent Party; thy maker (saith he Isai. 54.8.) is thy Husband. 2. There are in this Covenant excellent Promises: God is content to be your God and to take you for his people and Spouse, to Pardon your iniquity, to heal your back-slidings, to Sanctify and save you, and to make you eternally happy: and are not these desirable? 3. It calls you to give your selves up to him: and indeed it is very reasonable, that if the husband give himself to the wife, she should give her self to him. Are ye then content to treat with God in the Mediator, and to be his on his own terms? It is good to meet and treat with God in him. Have ye any ground to except against this? Doth it please or displease you? say to it, tell your mind? For I declare to you, that if ye get him to be yours, you must needs be his. I fear many of you stand and stick at this, notwithstanding the high reasonableness of it:

Thirdly, We make Proclamation of this bargain to you, and avouch, that there is Salvation offered to sinners, and to be had through Jesus Christ: the Lord alloweth and warranteth us to make this Proclamation, as well as he did Jeremiah, when he saith to him, Chap. 3.12. Go and Proclaim these words towards the North, return thou back-sliding Israel, and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon thee, for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and will not keep anger for ever: He alloweth, nay he Peremptorily Commandeth that ye should be put to it: and therefore when we have laid the Covenant before you: what say ye to it, what will ye do? We must have an answer from you: ye have his word and Oath for confirmation of it: O Believe and take hold of it, and ye shall get the seal from us as his Commissioners; who treat with you, according to our Commission, in his Name; And here we must be particular, and be ye particular with your selves: take and receive what we say to you with a warrant, as the word of the Lord, for it is no less his Word now, then it was when Jeremiah and the other Prophets spoke it, when the Apostles spoke it, yea When Christ spake it himself: It's the same Covenant and the same word, that this day is preached to you; The Lord cals us to stir up our selves, and to say in good earnest, Come let us joyn our selves to him in a Perpetuall Covenant, 1. The party inviting is the Lord Jehovah in the Mediator, and sure he is a ⟨p. 262⟩most, yea the most excellent Party; thy maker (saith he Isai. 54.8.) is thy Husband. 2. There are in this Covenant excellent Promises: God is content to be your God and to take you for his people and Spouse, to Pardon your iniquity, to heal your back-slidings, to Sanctifie and save you, and to make you eternally happy: and are not these desirable? 3. It calls you to give your selves up to him: and indeed it is very reasonable, that if the husband give himself to the wife, she should give her self to him. Are ye then content to treat with God in the Mediator, and to be his on his own terms? It is good to meet and treat with God in him. Have ye any ground to except against this? Doth it please or displease you? say to it, tell your mind? For I declare to you, that if ye get him to be yours, you must needs be his. I fear many of you stand and stick at this, notwithstanding the high reasonableness of it:

is this, think ye, an evil, disadvantageous, or Prejudicial exchange? whether is it better that the one and only true God reign over you, then that Satan and a multitude of strange Lords, your Lusts, taking the Throne (as it were) by turns, should reign over you? It's both sad and stupendous, that ever this should be suffered once to come in question or debate; and yet, Alas! it's this, or some thing like this, at which it will stand: either ye will not take God for your God: or ye will not give your selves to him to be his People, on his own very reasonable and easy terms? and I trow, ye will make no better. I would, therefore, yet again put you to it: for it's the very thing that ye are called to, the great business of the day, and it's come even to the shock.

is this, think ye, an evil, disadvantagious, or Prejudicial exchange? whether is it better that the one and only true God reign over you, then that Sathan and a multitude of strange Lords, your Lusts, taking the Throne (as it were) by turns, should reigne over you? It's both sad and stupendious, that ever this should be suffered once to come in question or debate; and yet, Alace! it's this, or some thing like this, at which it will stand: either ye will not take God for your God: or ye will not give your selves to him to be his People, on his own very reasonable and easie terms? and I trow, ye will make no better. I would, therefore, yet again put you to it: for it's the very thing that ye are called to, the great business of the day, and it's come even to the shock.

And therefore, labour to be at a point, whether ye will close with him or not: If ye will sincerely say, we ⟨p. 263⟩take the Lord to be our God, and give our selves to him, to be his People and servants: then we say to you, and assure you in his Name, that this Cup, that by and by the are to drink, shall be according to his warrant, The new Covenant in his Blood. And to press you to the thing, let me but Ask you a few Questions. 1. Is there not need of Covenanting with God? Are there not many sins on your score? Is there not a quarrel betwixt God and you? Is not this bargain meet and suitable for you, which holds out remission of sins and peace with God? are ye not urgently called to it? And what ground of challenge will it be, think ye, that this was in your offer, and on very free and easy terms, and ye would not accept of it, but would needs destroy your selves? 2. If there be sin and a quarrel, is there not a necessity to have it taken away? Have ye laid your account and resolved not to be solicitous and careful, whether ye be friends with God or not? And if ye will not say that, why do ye not enter this Covenant? 3. Is there any other way to get sin pardoned and the quarrel taken away, but by making sure your Covenant with God? David or any others that were saved, were they saved any other way? This Covenant was all his Salvation and all his desire. 4. What will ye say in the day of the Lord, when the Trumpet shall sound, and he shall call you to an account for refusing his free and Gracious offer; when there will be no more treating with you, when he shall say, and make your own Conscience say to you? It was plainly told you, that there was a quarrel standing betwixt me, and you; It was told you, that I was willing to enter into a Covenant with you, and to remove that quarrel, I sent my Messengers unto you for this end, but ye made light of the matter: Say to it, O say to it; ye must say something, ⟨p. 264⟩Yea or Nay; ye are not left to be indifferent and to keep up your selves in this matter; I tell you if ye say not Yea, ye say Nay; and as the Apostle speaks, Acts 13 46. Ye pass sentence on your selves, and judge your selves unworthy of Eternal life: It's interpretatively a saying, that ye will not have Heaven and life through Christ:

And therefore, labour to be at a point, whether ye will close with him or not: If ye will sincerely say, we ⟨p. 263⟩take the Lord to be our God, and give our selves to him, to be his People and servants: then we say to you, and assure you in his Name, that this Cup, that by and by ye are to drink, shall be according to his warrant, The new Covenant in his Blood. And to press you to the thing, let me but Ask you a few Questions. 1. Is there not need of Covenanting with God? Are there not many sins on your score? Is there not a quarrell betwixt God and you? Is not this bargain meet and suitable for you, which holds out remission of sins and peace with God? are ye not urgently called to it? And what ground of challenge will it be, think ye, that this was in your offer, and on very free and easie terms, and ye would not accept of it, but would needs destroy your selves? 2. If there be sin and a quarrell, is there not a necessity to have it taken away? Have ye laid your account and resolved not to be solicitous and carefull, whether ye be friends with God or not? And if ye will not say that, why do ye not enter this Covenant? 3. Is there any other way to get sin pardoned and the quarrell taken away, but by making sure your Covenant with God? David or any others that were saved, were they saved any other way? This Covenant was all his Salvation and all his desire. 4. What will ye say in the day of the Lord, when the Trumpet shall sound, and he shall call you to an account for refusing his free and Gracious offer; when there will be no more treating with you, when he shall say, and make your own Conscience say to you? It was plainly told you, that there was a quarrell standing betwixt me, and you; It was told you, that I was willing to enter into a Covenant with you, and to remove that quartell, I sent my Messengers unto you for this end, but ye made light of the matter: Say to it, O say to it; ye must say something, ⟨p. 264⟩Yea or Nay; ye are not left to be indifferent and to keep up your selves in this matter; I tell you if ye say not Yea, ye say Nay; and as the Apostle speaks, Acts 13 46. Ye pass sentence on your selves, and judge your selves unworthy of Eternall life: It's interpretatively a saying, that ye will not have Heaven and life thorow Christ:

and therefore, as ye would not destroy your own Souls, I beseech you, nay I obtest you in the Name of the Lord and for his sake; accept of this Covenant. We tell you and as the Apostle hath it, we say, Be it known unto you, that through Jesus Christ remission of sins is Preached to you: He hath purchased life and Salvation to sinners, And to you is the word of this Salvation sent: Give, O give your consent to the bargain, and that is all we seek of you.

Now to Prosecute this a little, and to put you yet further to it, because it will lie before God, whether we have put you to it or not, and whether ye have accepted of this Covenant or not: whether we were in earnest in Proposing it, and whether ye were in earnest in closing with it: Consider, 1. The Persons whom we put to this, and the things that we put you to. 2. The terms on which, 3. The grounds from which, and. 4. The qualifications and directions whereby.

Now to Prosecute this a little, and to put you yet further to it, because it will ly before God, whether we have put you to it or not, and whether ye have accepted of this Covenant or not: whether we were in earnest in Proposing it, and whether ye were in earnest in closing with it: Consider, 1. The Persons whom we put to this, and the things that we put you to. 2. The terms on which, 3. The grounds from which, and. 4. The qualifications and directions whereby.

First, As for the persons whom we put and press to this Covenanting with God: It's not those only who have gotten their tokens warranting them to come to the Table, nor those only that are debarred and so have got no tokens: but it's all of you, Those who are afar off and near hand: but differently: To the tender Soul, we say, come forward: to the secure we say, Humble your selves and then come and join in this Covenant. The thing we call you to, is to take the Lord to be your God, and to give up your selves to be Gods, we call ⟨p. 265⟩you to take God to be your Master, and your Father, your Saviour, your Head, your Husband, your Friend, even your all, and that is no ill nor small offer: and we call you to give up your selves to God, to forsake your Fathers house, and all your kindred and to cleave to him: to join your selves to the Lord, as the Text hath it: and as it is said, The Prodigal Joined himself to a certain Citizen, So ye would join your selves to the Lord, and be beholden to him for your life.

First, As for the persons whom we put and press to this Covenanting with God: It's not those only who have gotten their tokens warranting them to come to the Table, nor those only that are debarred and so have got no tokens: but it's all of you, Those who are afar off and near hand: but differently: To the tender Soul, we say, come forward: to the secure we say, Humble your selves and then come and join in this Covenant. The thing we call you to, is to take the Lord to be your God, and to give up your selves to be Gods, we call ⟨p. 265⟩you to take God to be your Master, and your Father, your Saviour, your Head, your Husband, your Friend, even your all, and that is no ill nor small offer: and we call you to give up your selves to God, to forsake your Fathers house, and all your kindred and to cleave to him: to join your selves to the Lord, as the Text hath it: and as it is said, The Prodigall Joyned himself to a certain Citizen, So ye would joyn your selves to the Lord, and be beholden to him for your life.

Secondly, As for the Terms, they are in short: that Seeing God saith, accept of my Sons Righteousness, and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters: ye would freely accept of it, and take and put Christs Righteousness in the place and Room of self-righteousness which was in the Covenant of works: found your plea before God on nothing that ye can do, but on Christs doing and suffering for you, which now by Faith ye resolve to adhere to, and resign your selves to him without any reservation, to be guided and saved by him, in his own way.

Secondly, As for the Terms, they are in short: that Seeing God saith, accept of my Sons Righteousness, and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters: ye would freely accept of it, and take and put Christs Righteousness in the place and Room of self-righteousness which was in the Covenant of works: found your plea before God on nothing that ye can do, but on Christs doing and suffering for you, which now by Faith ye resolve to adhere to, and resigne your selves to him without any reservation, to be guided and saved by him, in his own way.

As for the Third, How, or from and by what grounds we put you to this: or rather how doth the Lord put us all to it? First, Ye are put to it by his offer in the Gospel: which, in discretion, calls you to give him an answer; he cries, Come unto me, and I will make an everlasting Covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David, And doth he not require an answer? And is it not incumbent to us who speak to you in his Name, to crave your answer? We declare to you all, that ye may if ye will, come to be joined with God in Covenant, and may be sure to be accepted of as his, if ye come aright; Now, what say ye to it? either ye must look on this as a cheat or cunningly devised fable, or if ye dare not look on it so, ye must accept of it and make it welcome. Secondly, Ye are put to it, in this respect, that the Lord ⟨p. 266⟩brings you now and then under some conviction of the necessity of your peace with God; something within you saith, that peace with God is worth the having and needful, that this is a good bargain, and that ye have need of it, and there are now and then some raw resolutions to put it to a point; and it may be there is something presently that puts you to it; and if not, so much the more ye would put your selves to it; lest the Kingdom of God be taken from you. Thirdly, Ye are put to it by this same Sacrament; is it possible that ye can take the Communion for a Seal and confirmation, except ye Covenant with God before; If ye will not Covenant, ye prove your selves to be Treacherous dissemblers in going to the Communion, and to be liars to God; when he presents and offers his Covenant: ye profess to take his offer and to close the Covenant with him, but ye refuse, as it were, to take the Pen in your hand, or do throw it away: when he presents to you the Cup of the New Testament, ye drink the Wine and spill the Blood, and so become guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord, when ye despise it, and will not make use of it, nor Covenant with God that ye may get the use of it. And therefore, Fourthly, Know, that ye are put to it presently and peremptorily, & that the Lord will take it for a refusal and for a scorning and despising on your part, if ye do it not; and do ye think it a little matte• to have such a guilt lying on your score? what kno• ye, if ever God shall offer to Seal a Covenant with yo• again?

As for the Third, How, or from and by what grounds we put you to this: or rather how doth the Lord put us all to it? First, Ye are put to it by his offer in the Gospel: which, in discretion, cals you to give him an answer; he cries, Come unto me, and I will make an everlasting Covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David, And doth he not require an answer? And is it not incumbent to us who speak to you in his Name, to crave your answer? We declare to you all, that ye may if ye will, come to be joined with God in Covenant, and may be sure to be accepted of as his, if ye come aright; Now, what say ye to it? either ye must look on this as a cheat or cunningly devised fable, or if ye dare not look on it so, ye must accept of it and make it welcome. Secondly, Ye are put to it, in this respect, that the Lord ⟨p. 266⟩brings you now and then under some conviction of the necessity of your peace with God; something within you saith, that peace with God is worth the having and needfull, that this is a good bargain, and that ye have need of it, and there are now and then some raw resolutions to put it to a point; and it may be there is something presently that puts you to it; and if not, so much the more ye would put your selves to it; lest the Kingdom of God be taken from you. Thirdly, Ye are put to it by this same Sacrament; is it possible that ye can take the Communion for a Seal and confirmation, except ye Covenant with God before; If ye will not Covenant, ye prove your selves to be Treacherous dissemblers in going to the Communion, and to be liars to God; when he presents and offers his Covenant: ye profess to take his offer and to close the Covenant with him, but ye refuse, as it were, to take the Pen in your hand, or do throw it away: when he presents to you the Cup of the New Testament, ye drink the Wine and spill the Blood, and so become guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord, when ye despise it, and will not make use of it, nor Covenant with God that ye may get the use of it. And therefore, Fourthly, Know, that ye are put to it presently and peremptorily, & that the Lord will take it for a refusall and for a scorning and despising on your part, if ye do it not; and do ye think it a litle matte• to have such a guilt lying on your score? what kno• ye, if ever God shall offer to Seal a Covenant with yo• again?

and therefore we put you to it peremptorily as to these Three. 1 As to the thing, that when he invites, ye come, when he offers, ye receive and give th• Lord your answer, not a nay say, but a yea, as ye wi• be answerable: and upon your saying Yea to this Cov• nant on his Terms, we declare in his Name, that […] ⟨p. 267⟩says Yea in taking in the sinner that fleeth unto him. 2. As to the whole of the thing; for ye must not half Gods Covenant; but as ye accept of God to be yours, so ye must give up your selves to him to be his; and as ye take Christ for paying of your debt; So also ye must take him to help you to do your du•ie; take all therefore, and submit your selves entirely to him in this Covenant. 3. As to the time, ye must do all this presently; for the Lord doth not allow us to give you an hour, or to promise to treat with you one hour after this; It's now, come and let us join our selves to the Lord; It's no difficult thing that ye are called to; It's to believe with the heart, and to confess with the mouth our Lord Jesus Christ, as it is, Rom. 10.9. The Object is Christ: the Condition is Faith, whereby he is griped and taken hold of, and which goeth out towards him in the word: And so ye have no more ado, but when the offer and Promise comes out, to accept and subscribe, and to say, I am the Lords, I will be his, to be saved by his Righteousness and made Holy by his Grace, both which are contained in the Covenant; I am content to be beholden to him both for Holiness and happiness; and it shall be a bargain. The Lord himself persuade you to do so, and that presently without delaying, dallying, or shifting and off putting.

and therefore we put you to it peremptorily as to these Three. 1 As to the thing, that when he invites, ye come, when he offers, ye receive and give th• Lord your answer, not a nay say, but a yea, as ye wi• be answerable: and upon your saying Yea to this Cov• nant on his Terms, we declare in his Name, that 〈…〉 ⟨p. 267⟩says Yea in taking in the sinner that fleeth unto him. 2. As to the whole of the thing; for ye must not half Gods Covenant; but as ye accept of God to be yours, so ye must give up your selves to him to be his; and as ye take Christ for paying of your debt; So also ye must take him to help you to do your du•ie; take all therefore, and submit your selves intirely to him in this Covenant. 3. As to the time, ye must do all this presently; for the Lord doth not allow us to give you an hour, or to promise to treat with you one hour after this; It's now, come and let us join our selves to the Lord; It's no difficult thing that ye are called to; It's to believe with the heart, and to confess with the mouth our Lord Jesus Christ, as it is, Rom. 10.9. The Object is Christ: the Condition is Faith, whereby he is griped and taken hold of, and which goeth out towards him in the word: And so ye have no more ado, but when the offer and Promise comes out, to accept and subscribe, and to say, I am the Lords, I will be his, to be saved by his Righteousness and made Holy by his Grace, both which are contained in the Covenant; I am content to be beholden to him both for Holiness and happiness; and it shall be a bargain. The Lord himself perswade you to do so, and that presently without delaying, dallying, or shifting and off putting.

Now it may be, that some think this to be a good bargain, but they know not how to make it sure and sicker, so as it may hold for ever. And therefore this is the last thing, that in the 4th. Place, we would speak a little to, viz. How shall a person Covenant with God, and know that he hath done so in very deed? (for the Directions how to Covenant are so many evidences of Covenanting, when performed:) For Directions then in this matter; we would in general, in the First Place, ⟨p. 268⟩have ground to suppose and take it for granted that ye know what ye are, even sinners, and that Sin hath laid the Foundation of a quarrel betwixt God and you; and that ye know what he is a designing and doing by this Preached Gospel, even to bring sinners into this Covenant, and to have an union made up betwixt him and them: but ye will, belike, say, I know not how to make it sure: there is no answer to this, but, be doing, till ye get it made su•e, for your unsureness must flow, either from something on Gods side, or from something on your side, ye dare not, I suppose, say that it flows from any thing on Gods side, or if ye should, this is the way to make him sure (to speak so;) and if it flow from something on your side, he bids you, return back sliding Children, and he will heal your back slidings, and make it sure. But in the Next Place and more particularly, consider, 1. Your end and design, what ye• would be at; ye may have some general aim at something that is good in it self; but that is not enough, i• must be something more Particular and peculiar: Is […] to get God to be your God? Doth that fill your eye• Is it to get your back slidings healed as well as pardoned? That is right, if your aim be to have God and Sp• ritual good; I mention this the rather, because some may love God and the Covenant, for some temporal good; whereas others love him and his Covena•• mainly for a Spiritual good, and think themselves we• come to and made up thereby. Wherein lies the d• ference will ye say; I answer in a word, to love G•• and the Covenant only or mainly for temporal me• cies, is ill and selfish: but to love God and his Cov• nant, to be made thereby really happy in the enjoyme•• of him, and to be made conform to him in Holiness is good and desirable, and neither selfish nor servile a•• ⟨p. 269⟩mercenary:

Now it may be, that some think this to be a good bargain, but they know not how to make it sure and siker, so as it may hold for ever. And therefore this is the last thing, that in the 4th. Place, we would speak a litle to, viz. How shall a person Covenant with God, and know that he hath done so in very deed? (for the Directions how to Covenant are so many evidences of Covenanting, when performed:) For Directions then in this matter; we would in generall, in the First Place, ⟨p. 268⟩have ground to suppose and take it for granted that ye know what ye are, even sinners, and that Sin hath laid the Foundation of a quarrell betwixt God and you; and that ye know what he is a designing and doing by this Preached Gospel, even to bring sinners into this Covenant, and to have an union made up betwixt him and them: but ye will, belike, say, I know not how to make it sure: there is no answer to this, but, be doing, till ye get it made su•e, for your unsureness must flow, either from something on Gods side, or from something on your side, ye dare not, I suppose, say that it flowes from any thing on Gods side, or if ye should, this is the way to make him sure (to speak so;) and if it flow from something on your side, he bids you, return back sliding Children, and he will heal your back slidings, and make it sure. But in the Next Place and more particularly, consider, 1. Your end and designe, what ye• would be at; ye may have some generall aim at something that is good in it self; but that is not enough, i• must be something more Particular and peculiar: Is 〈…〉 to get God to be your God? Doth that fill your eye• Is it to get your back slidings healed as well as pardoned? That is right, if your aim be to have God and Sp• rituall good; I mention this the rather, because som• may love God and the Covenant, for some tempora• good; whereas others love him and his Covena•• mainly for a Spirituall good, and think themselves we• come to and made up thereby. Wherein lyes the d• ference will ye say; I answer in a word, to love G•• and the Covenant only or mainly for temporall me• cies, is ill aod selfish: but to love God and his Cov• nant, to be made thereby really happy in the enjoyme•• of him, and to be made conform to him in Holines• is good and desirable, and neither selfish nor servile a•• ⟨p. 269⟩mercenary: