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…

I. That visible-Covenant-interest will not afford Man sufficient security against eternal Damnation. Many there are who fondly think the Covenant shall save them, but they do but put a Cheat upon their own Souls. Keeping of Covenant will save a man, according to God's promise who will be true to his Word; but barely being outwardly in Covenant will not do it. The Covenant indeed hath saving Mercies in it, but they are exhibited or propounded to us with an IF, if you keep it. There are many are admitted to tread in the Holy Place, who shall never be entertained in-the most Holy. If some Men shall be so bold as to plead the Covenant with Christ at the last day▪ he will counterplead them; yea, and condemn them by the same Covenant, by which they think to be saved, because it will be found that they did not keep it. This position is so notoriously true, that there are manifold examples of those who have not only forfeited the visible Privileges of it, but also have fallen from it into the depth of Hell. What got Ishmael by being a child of the Church, and circumcised, when he turned a mocker, but rejection from the Church, and exclusion out of Heaven? What got Esau when he became profane? or Absalom when he proved a Rebel? If Children ⟨p. 76⟩grow Loose, Light, Vain, wicked, &c. There is no hiding of themselves in the Church, or under the Covenant from the wrath of God. He will search Jerusalem with Candles, and His wrath find out all those who say in their hearts, God seeth us not, Zeph. 1.12. When dying David takes upon him to instruct his Son Solomon about the Covenant, he opens the Nature and Hazards of it, 1 Chron. 28.9. If thou seek Him, He will be found of thee, but if thou forsake Him, He will cast thee off for ever. A noble Vine may degenerate, and the Children of Godly Parents may prove Apostates; and if they do, What can be expected but Destruction? A Man must be something more than outwardly a Jew, or Church-member, or Child of the Covenant, else this will deceive him, and give him no sure Title to Heaven and Glory.

I. That visible-Covenant-interest will not afford Man sufficient security against eternal Damnation. Many there are who fondly think the Covenant shall save them, but they do but put a Cheat upon their own Souls. Keeping of Covenant will save a man, according to God's promise who will be true to his Word; but barely being outwardly in Covenant will not do it. The Covenant indeed hath saving Mercies in it, but they are exhibited or propounded to us with an IF, if you keep it. There are many are admitted to tread in the Holy Place, who shall never be entertained in-the most Holy. If some Men shall be so bold as to plead the Covenant with Christ at the last day he will counterplead them; yea, and condemn them by the same Covenant, by which they think to be saved, because it will be found that they did not keep it. This position is so notoriously true, that there are manifold examples of those who have not only forfeited the visible Priviledges of it, but also have fallen from it into the depth of Hell. What got Ishmael by being a child of the Church, and circumcised, when he turned a mocker, but rejection from the Church, and exclusion out of Heaven? What got Esau when he became profane? or Absalom when he proved a Rebel? If Children