Use \st. See the condescension of God, who was pleased to stoop so low, as to make a covenant with us. For the God of glory to make a covenant with dust and ashes : for God to bind himself to us, to give us life in case of obedience ; entering into a covenant was a sign of God's friendship with us, and a royal act of his favour.
Use 2d. See what a glorious condition man was in, Avhen God entered into cove- nant with him. 1. He was placed in the garden of God, which for the pleasure of it was called paradise, Gen. ii. 8. He had his choice of all the trees, one only excepted ; he had all kinds of precious stones, pure metals, rich cedars ; he was a king upon the throne, and all the creation did obeisance to him, as in Joseph's dream, all his brethren's sheaves did bow to his sheaf. Man, in in- nocency, had all kinds of pleasure that might ravish his senses with delight, and be as baits to allure him to serve and worship his Maker. — 2. Besides he was full of holiness; paradise was not more adorned with fruit, than Adam's soul was with grace. He was the coin on which (iod had stamped his lively image : light spai'kled in his under-
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standing, lie was like an earthly angel ; liis will and. affections were full of order, tuning harmoniously to the will of God. Adam wasa perfect pattern of sanctity- — S.Adam had in- timacy of communion with God and convers- ed with him, as a favourite with his prince. Adam knew God's mind, and had his lieart : he not only enjoyed tlie light of the sun in paradise, hut the light of (iod's countenance. This condition was Adam in, when God en- tered into a covenant with him ; hut this did not long continue : " man being in honour ahideth not," Ps. xlix. ult., — lodged not for a night ; his teeth watered at the apple, and ever since it hath made our eyes water.
Use Sd. Learn, from Adam's fall, how unable we are to stand in our own strength. If Adam, in the state of integrity, did not stand, how unable are we now, when the lock of our original ri^»hteousness is cut ? If pu- rified nature did not stand, how then shall corrupt nature ? We need more strength to uphold us than our own.
Use Alh. See in what a sad condition all unbelievers and impenitent persons are ; as long as they continue in their sins, they continue under the curse, — under the first covenant. Faith entitles us to the mercy of the second covenant : but, while men are under the power of their sins, they are un- der the curse of the first covenant, and if they die in this condition, they are damned to eternity.
Use bth. See the wonderful goodness of God, who was pleased when he had forfeit- ed the first covenant, to enter into a new covenant with us. Well may it be called fcedus gratce, — a covenant of grace ; it is be- spangled with promises, as the heaven with stars. When the angels, those glorious spirits, fell, God did uot enter into a new
covenant with them to be their God, but let those golden vessels lie broken ; but hath entered into a second covenant with us, better than the first, Heb. viii. 6. It is better, because it is surer; it is made in Christ, and cannot be reversed ; Christ hath engaged his strength to keep every believer. In the first covenant we had a posse stare, — a power of standing : in the second we had a no7i posse cadere, — an impossibility of fall- ing finally, 1 Pet. i. 5.
Use 6th. W hosoever they are that look for righteousness and Salvation by the power of their free-will, or the inherent goodness of their nature, or by virtue of their merit, as the Socinians and Papists, these are all under the covenant of w^orks ; they do not submit to the righteousness of faith, there- fore they are bound to keep the ^^•hole law, and in case of failure, they are condemned. The covenant of grace is like a court of chancery, to relieve the sinner, and help him who is cast by the first covenant ; it saith, ' Believe in the Lord Jesus, and be saved ;' but such as will stand upon their own inherent righteousness, free-will and merit, they fall under the first covenant of works, and are in a perishing estate.
Use 1th. Let us labour by faith to get into the second covenant of grace, and then the curse of the first covenant is taken away by Christ. If we once get to be heirs of the covenant of grace, we are in a better state than before. Adam stood on his own legs, therefore fell ; we stand in the strength of Christ ; under the first covenant, the jus- tice of God, as an avenger of blood, pursues you ; but if ye get into the second covenant you are got into the city of refuge, — you are safe, and the justice of God is pacified towards you.
CONCERNING SIN.
Quest. XIV. WHAT is sin?
Ans. Sin is any want of conformity un- to, or transgression of the law of God. — 1 John iii. 4., " Sin is the transgression of the law." Of sin in general:
1. Sin is a violation or transgression ; tlie Latin A\ord, tiun.^jrediur, ' to trans-