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The doctrine of the covenant of redemption. Wherein is laid the foundation of all…
The doctrine of the covenant of redemption. Wherein is laid the foundation of all our hopes and happiness. Briefly opened and improved. / By Samuel Willard, teacher of a church in Boston. ; [Three lines from Psalms]
Boston: printed by Benj. Harris over against the Old-Meeting-House, 1693
Chapter 11: Of the Influence that the Covenant of Redemption hath into the Covenant of Grace, which…
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.
CHAP. 11. Of the Influence that the Covenant of Redemption hath into the Covenant of Grace, which is made with us.
THE Foundation of Fallen Mans Salvation is laid in the Covenant of Redemption: here was the price provided to buy him out of the hands of Revenging Justice, and purchase for him the Eternal Inheritance. Here also was security given that all those for whom it was provided should be made happy partakers ⟨p. 94⟩in the […] of it. But still there […] in order to the bringing of them into the actual enjoyment of this Title, and having this Security made •ver unto them, and for this the Scripture points us to another Covenant distinct from this, which is by some called the Covenant of Reconciliation; but is more generally known by the name of the Covenant of Grace. Not as if the former were not of mere Grace; but here, the Grace which was laid up in the former, breaks forth and is applied effectually unto them, who were before the heirs of it. Nor can these Covenants be confounded, without greatly darkening the knowledge of the wonderful Mystery of the Love of God to men. These Covenants are Essentially diverse one from the other, having neither the same Parties, nor the same Articles in them. In the former the Father and the Son are the parties, in this latter, God and Man. In the former, the Justice of God was to be satisfied; in the latter, the Grace of God, which was so made way for, is to be applied. In the former, the Law was to be fulfilled by Christ; in the latter the Gospel is to be complied with by man. In the ⟨p. 95⟩former, Christ was made one party; in the latter he stands as the Mediator between both parties, 1 Tim. 2.2.5. In the former, God Covenanted for us, in the latter he Covenants with us: there he promised us to his Son; here he promiseth himself to us. But though these are two Covenants, yet there is a near Conjunction between them, and the latter hath a manifold dependence on the former: yea, such, as all the Believers solid comfort, and permanent hope ariseth from it: yea indeed, all the Grace that there is in this Covenant derives from that, as a stream from a Fountain; and this may be observed more especially in five respects.