N00263:169
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. If we consider the great things which were needful to be done in order to the bringing about of this Covenant of Reconciliation. It was no light or little matter to prepare the way for this treaty of correspondence between God and Man, to set open a door of Salvation before Man, and make the proffers of entering into a New Covenant of Life with Him. zWe must therefore always carry in our minds, that the Covenant of Reconciliation points us to, and gives us notice of the Covenant of Redemption necessarily, going before and making ⟨p. 58⟩clear the way for it, without which it could never have been propounded to fallen Man. It is here altogether needless to dispute whither God punish Sin by necessity of Nature: this is certain, and by all Orthodox maintained; That God's holiness and justice were so concerned and engaged in the Covenant of Works, that without due and full satisfaction given to that Covenant in all it required, there was no way in which Reconciliation could be expected: And that Man by himself should ever be able to make this satisfaction, and thereby obtain his Peace, was impossible: It lay therefore upon God Himself, to contrive and effect it, in which Contrivance, His Wisdom, Power, and Love do wonderfully appear. If there had been nothing else needed but an act of mere Pardon to have past upon Man in this Transaction, the matter had not been so much, nor had the Grace of the Covenant shined forth so eminently: But, that God might he both just, and the Justifier of the ungodly, that the Penalty of the first Covenant might be exacted, and yet Man saved, this was the great Thing of Weight. Hence, then is matter of our admiration, that the Gospel-Covenant is founded on the Everlasting-Covenant, between God and Christ. The Gospel-Covenant propounds Salvation freely, Isai 55.•. Rev. 22.17. But that it may so do, it is prevented, or way is made for it by the Covenant of Redemption, in which this free Salvation is Bought with a sufficient and Valuable Price. 1 Cor. 6.20. When we hear in the Gospel that God proffers Mercy and Grace to Sinners; this declares wondrous condescendency in God; but when we hear that we were under the Law, Condemned to die, and could no way save our selves, and there was no Salvation possible to be obtained, except the first Covenant were satisfied, and that the eternal Son of God undertook for this;