The doctrine of the covenant of redemption. Wherein is laid the foundation of all…

3 All the encouragement which an awakened sinner hath to embrace & take hold of the Grace which is exhibited in the Gospel ⟨p. 101⟩Covenant, ariseth, or is fetched from the Covenant of Redemption. There is a previous Conviction which is wont to be wrought in the heart or conscience of a sinner, in order to the proposal of the Terms of the Gospel to him: and this is requisite, for without this Conviction he cannot be brought to see any need that he stands in of the benefits of the New-Covenant; and consequently cannot be persuaded to give them entertainment. Now in the working of this Conviction, he is made to see and apprehend his forlorn wretched state, and how he came to fall into it: that an holy law hath been broken by him; that by virtue hereof he lies under guilt, and is fast bound by a Sentence of Condemnation, to suffer the wrath of God, and vengeance of hell: that he hath to do with a God who is a just and a righteous Judge, who will stand to his word, and is unchangeable, and will give accomplishment to all that he hath said without fail. So that when he is under the terror of these Convictions, and now the Grace of God is tendered him in the Gospel, and he is spoken to, and treated with about the things of his peace: he is told that God is Gracious, ready to pardon, willing to receive him into favour, and to bestow salvation upon him; although these things ⟨p. 102⟩are glad tidings in themselves, yet there will arise demurs and enquiries in him about the matter, and he will be ready to say how can these things be? he will presently demand, how then shall the Justice of God be satisfied for me? how shall the mouth of the law be stopped? how shall the first Covenant be fully answered and stand inviolable? neither is it to be supposed, that such an one can believingly cast himself upon the Gospel Grace, and place his reliance upon Christ, till he be well satisfied upon this account. That is not to be accounted for a true faith which rashly adventures upon accepting of tendered mercy, and never considers how it comes, or in what way his sin may be so pardoned, as that God may salve the honour of his Justice in the Applying of Justification unto him. Now this discovery is to be made in the Contemplation of the Covenant of Redemption: here alone it is that this is to be seen: for in that it was that this provision was made: