N00263:149
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.
1. Because, having been at first placed under a Covenant of Works, he could not so well be delivered from the fears and terrors arising from his apprehended violation of it, and the curses thereby brought upon himself, but by the discoveries of a New Covenant of Grace. If God had not proclaimed a Covenant of Grace, Man would have been held under the tenor of the Law. Adam (now fallen) was under the amazement of that threatening of Death, Cen. 2.17. Nor could he discover any the least glimmerings of Hope till the Covenant-Promise was made known for his encouragement, Gen. 3.15. The Curse denounced came by a Covenant, and therefore the Mercy promised must come in the same way, that it may be every whit as plain and sure to us, for they are only Covenant-Mercies, which are sure Mercies. Isa. 55.3.
1. Because, having been at first placed under a Covenant of Works, he could not so well be delivered from the fears and terrours arising from his apprehended violation of it, and the curses thereby brought upon himself, but by the discoveries of a New Covenant of Grace. If God had not proclaimed a Covenant of Grace, Man would have been held under the tenor of the Law. Adam (now fallen) was under the amazment of that threatning of Death, Cen. 2.17. Nor could he discover any the least glimmerings of Hope till the Covenant-Promise was made known for his encouragment, Gen. 3.15. The Curse denounced came by a Covenant, and therfore the Mercy promised must come in the same way, that it may be every whit as plain and sure to us, for they are only Covenant-Mercies, which are sure Mercies. Isa. 55.3.
2. Because hereby, not only Salvation it self, but the way to the attaining of it, is also made plain and clear. If God had only made it known, or declared that he would save by Might, and by Power a number of fallen Adam's Progeny, there might indeed have been some general and languishing hope afforded to particular Men and Women, but it had been upon very weak and uncertain grounds; nor could their hopes have been able to balance their fears; their state of Misery being certain and evidently demonstrable, but their happiness (at least) but in a remote probability, But […] God not only reveals Salvation to be provided, but publisheth the way in which it is to be attained, and certainly enjoyed: Now the People of God have an argument, and an evidence, and a clear manifestation of the particular love of God to them. Now all this is done in the way