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…

2. When the one Pa•ty hath full and absolute power ever the other Party; it is in his hand, and he hath ful• right and privilege to do with, and dispose of him according to his own pleasure, and may therefore lay upon him what obligations he sees meet, and bind him to such Conditions as suit best with his own Will; and the other stands under a necessary engagement, either by duty, or at least because his Condition is such as he must needs accept of such terms as are propounded to him, or else he hath no hope nor help in his hand: Here, is a ful• and absolute Superiority, and Inferiority; and it is an Act of Voluntary Condescendency in him to come upon any terms of agreement, who might have been inexorable: Thus it is in the Hand and Power of the Conqueror to give Conditions to the Conquered, and it is a favour to do it when it was in his Power, and it may be he had been many ways provoked to have destroyed them; and if he give them fair and noble Conditions, his great Candour, and Royal Magnificence is therein expressed. In this Covenant thus circumstanced, the Conditions of it are truly and properly called a Law, because they are propounded with the Authority of the Superior; and the Inferior is held under a necessity, either to accept of them, or to suffer. Hence, also the Scripture useth the Word Covenant and Law Synonymically, and indifferently; and each Synecdochically; and as the Condition is called a Law, so the consequent, or the engagement made on the Part of the Superior is called Grace, because it is a free yielding in him to become bound in any favour, to those that were under his Power, and whom he might as well have made to feel his severity: So that in this state of Superiority, and Inferiority, which is absolute, a Law given, with a Promise, or threatening, or both, annexed to it from one that hath full and free Power to enjoin it, and signified ⟨p. 15⟩unto those that do stand under a tie of necessity or duty to accept of it, and do not withstand it, is properly to be reputed a Covenant, it being a mutual obligation between two Parties, which ever constitutes a Covenant: And this may suffice for the explaining of the general nature of it;

2. When the one Pa•ty hath full and absolute power ever the other Party; it is in his hand, and he hath ful right and priviledge to do with, and dispose of him according to his own pleasure, and may therefore lay upon him what obligations he sees meet, and bind him to such Conditions as suit best with his own Will; and the other stands under a necessary engagement, either by duty, or at least because his Condition is such as he must needs accept of such terms as are propounded to him, or else he hath no hope nor help in his hand: Here, is a ful and absolute Superiority, and Inferiority; and it is an Act of Voluntary Condescendency in him to come upo any terms of agreement, who might have been inexorable: Thus it is in the Hand and Power of the Conquerour to give Conditions to the Conquered, and it is a favour to do it when it was in his Power, and it may be he had been many wayes provoked to have destroyed them; and if he give them fair and noble Conditions, his great Candor, and Royal Magnificence is therein expressed. In this Covenant thus circumstanced, the Conditions of it are truly and properly called a Law, because they are propounded with the Authority of the Superiour; and the Inferiour is held under a necessity, either to accept of them, or to suffer. Hence, also the Scripture useth the Word Covenant and Law Synonymically, and indifferently; and each Synechdochically; and as the Condition is called a Law, so the consequent, or the engagement made on the Part of the Superiour is called Grace, because it is a free yeelding in him to become bound in any favour, to those that were under his Power, and whom he might as well have made to feel his severity: So that in this state of Superiority, and Inferiority, which is absolute, a Law given, with a Promise, or threatning, or both, annexed to it from one that hath full and free Power to enjoyne it, and signified