CHAP. VII.
Of Gods Covenant.
1. The distance between God and the Creature
is so great, that although reasonable Creatures do owe obedience
unto him as their Creator, yet they could never have attained the
reward of Life, but by some (a) voluntary
condescension on Gods part, which he hath been pleased to express,
by way of Covenant.
a Luk. 17.10. Job 35.7.8.
2. Moreover Man having brought himself (b)
under the curse of the Law by his fall, it pleased the Lord
to make a Covenant of Grace wherein he freely offereth unto
Sinners, (c) Life and Salvation
by Jesus Christ, requiring of them Faith in him, that they may be
saved; and (d) promising to give unto
all those that are ordained unto eternal Life, his holy Spirit,
to make them willing, and able to believe.
b Gen. 2.17. Gal. 3.10. Rom. 3.20,21.
3. This Covenant is revealed in the Gospel;
first of all to Adam in the promise of Salvation by the (e)
seed of the woman, and afterwards by farther steps, untill the full (f)
discovery thereof was compleated in the new Testament; and it is founded
in that (*) Eternal Covenant transaction,
that was between the Father and the Son, about the Redemption
of the Elect; and it is alone by the Grace of this Covenant,
that all of the posterity of fallen Adam, that ever were (g)
saved, did obtain life and a blessed immortality; Man being now
utterly uncapable of acceptance with God upon those terms, on which
Adam stood in his state of innocency.
e Gen. 3.15.
