N00263:110
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. ; [Seven lines from Deuteronomy]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. ; [Seven lines from Deuteronomy]
printed by James Glen, 1682
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.
2. As it is the Spring and Life of New-Obedience, i. e. such a Faith whose Nature is to work by Love; and hence we find that the whole Spiritual Life of a Christian is called the Life of Faith, Heb. 10.38. Gal. 2.20. It is not an idle, or dead, but a lively and working Faith: for indeed it is the Faith that mixeth with the duty of a Christian that only puts a worth upon it in Gods account, the want of which ingredient renders the most specious duties of Men of no value, Heb. 11.6.
Quest. But it may then be enquired whither Obedience be not rather a Promise made to Faith, than a Condition required of us in the New-Covenant? Since Christ hath Promised in the Gospel, that he that believes shall be saved, and if so, then (by necessary consequence) he that Promiseth the end, Promiseth also the means, i. e. All that which is requisite to bring us to Salvation, and there Obedience may properly take its place.
Quest. But it may then be enquired whither Obedience be not rather a Promise made to Faith, than a Condition required of us in the New-Covenant? Since Christ hath Promised in the Gospell, that he that believes shall be saved, and if so, then (by necessary consequence) he that Promiseth the end, Promiseth also the means, i. e. All that which is requisite to bring us to Salvation, and there Obedience may properly take its place.
Ans. In satisfaction to this inquiry these things are well to be weighed.