N00263:174
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. Positive, or those good things which it entitles them unto who embrace it Cordially; which are Justification, not only Negative in Absolution from the ⟨p. 60⟩Curse, but Positive too, in declaring the Sinner to be Righteous: And Adoption, in giving us the Title of the Sons of God, and in bestowing on us a real Right to all the good things of God, constituting us Co-heirs with Jesus Christ in the purchased Possession: And Sanctification, in being purged from the Filth, and delivered from the Dominion of Sin, and made partakers of the Graces of the Spirit, whereby we are enabled to serve God in Holiness and Righteousness all our Days: And Glorification, in those comfortable foretastes of Divine Love and Favour, which are better than Life, and assurances of inheriting the whole Promise, and all the blessings laid up in it: These are Covenant Blessings. Text.
2. Positive, or those good things which it entitles them unto who embrace it Cordially; which are Justification, not only Negative in Absolution from the ⟨p. 60⟩Curse, but Positive too, in declaring the Sinner to be Righteous: And Adoption, in giving us the Title of the Sons of God, and in bestowing on us a real Right to all the good things of God, constituting us Co-heirs with Jesus Christ in the purchased Possession: And Sanctification, in being purged from the Filth, and delivered from the Dominion of Sin, and made partakers of the Graces of the Spirit, whereby we are enabled to serve God in Holiness and Righteousness all our Dayes: And Glorification, in those comfortable foretastes of Divine Love and Favour, which are better than Life, and assurances of inheriting the whole Promise, and all the blessings laid up in it: These are Covenant Blessings. Text.
4. If we consider the easy Terms of it: If these benefits had been propounded to us upon Terms, hard and impossible, it had not been so glorious as now it is, but the fair Tenders, and facile Propositions, or Conditions that it stands upon, declare it to be a Rich Favour of God. Perfect Obedience to the Law, without any Slip or Failure, and personal full satisfaction for every Offence to it (those Rigorous Terms to the Covenant of Works) become impossible to Man by reason of his Fall: These therefore are Removed, and Evangelical Gracious Terms are introduced in their Room. This Covenant declares that the Law is already satisfied, Divine Justice fully appeased, Salvation already completely wrought out and procured: It asks not of us any personal satisfaction to God for our offences, nor any meritorious Works of ours to be the Price of heaven's Purchase: All that which it requires is only these two Things.