N00263:256
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. I now come to some more particular directions for our right keeping Covenant with God. And here let me premise that it is not my purpose to descend to the most particular Rules; for we must know that Covenant-keeping is of equal extent with Gospel-obedience, and that is exceeding broad. I shall only propound some comprehensive particulars, and such as do most nearly concern us considered as a Covenanted reforming People: Such we are by profession, God grant we may be so in reality.
Here I shall first propound a few Rules to the whole body of the Church considered as one, and then single out the Children of the Covenant, and add some special Words of counsel unto them apart by themselves.
1. Let me prescribe some Scripture-Rules to the body of the Church, or Society of God's People: Would you be found and acknowledged to be a Society that keeps Covenant with God? Observe then these Directions.
1. Keep pure and entire all the Ordinances of God from corruption, either by Depravation or Innovation. The Oracles and Ordinances of God are committed to His Church as a great depositum, worthy of our utmost care and watchfulness: They are great things they are the means of eternal Life; the Glory, as well as the Love of God is abundantly manifested in them to the Children of Men: They are the fat things of his house,