Quest. XX. DID God leave all man- kind to perish in this state of sin and misery ?
Ans. No, he entered into a covenant of grace to deliver the elect out of that estate, and bring them into a state of grace by a Redeemer.
Isa. Iv. 3., " I will make an everlasting covenant with you." Man being by his fall, plunged into a labyrinth of misery, and having no way left to recover liimself, God was ple«sed to enter into a new cove- nant with him, and so restored him to life by a Redeemer. — The great proposition I shall go upon is, that there is a new cove- nant ratified between God and the elect.
Quest. Wiat is the new covenant ?
Ans. It is a solemn compact and agree- ment made between God and fallen man, wherein the Lord undertakes to be our God, and to make us his people.
Quest. UTiat ?iames are given to the cove- nant ?
Ans. 1. It is called the covenant of peace, Ezek. xxxvii. 26., because it seals up re- conciliation between God and humble sin- ners. Before this covenant there was no- thing but enmity ; God did not love us, — a creature that off"eiids cannot be loved by an holy God ; and we did not love him, — a God that condemns, cannot be loved by a guilty creature ; so that tliere was war on both sides. But God hath found out a
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way In the new covenant to reconcile dif- fering parties, so that it is fitly called the covenant of peace.
2. It is called a covenant of grace^ and well it may, for, \st. It was with grace, that, when we had forfeited the first cove- nant, God should enter into a new cove- nant, after we had cast away ourselves. The covenant of grace is tabula post nau- fraglum^ — as a plank after sliipwreck. O the free grace of God, that he should par- ley with sinners, and set his wisdom and mercy ar-work to bring rebels into the bond of the covenant ! — 2d. It is a covenant of grace, because it is a royal charter, all made up of terms of grace : that " God will cast our sins behind his back," — that " he will love us freely," Hos. xiv. 4., — that he will give us a will to accept of tlie mercy of the covenant, and strenglli to perform the conditions of the covenant, Ezek. xxxvii. 26. All tliis is pure gi-acc.
Quest. IVhy shoii/d God make a covenant with us ?
Ans. 1. It is out of indulgence, favour, and respect to us. A tyrant will not enter into a covenant with slaves, he will not shew them such respect. God's entering into covenant with us to be our God, is a dignity he puts upon us. A covenant is insigne honoris, — a note of distinction be- tween God's people and heathens, Ezek. xvi. 62., " I will establish my covenant with thee." Wlien the Lord told Abraham that he would enter into a covenant with him, Abraham fell upon his face. Gen. xvii. 2., as being amazed that the God of glory should bestow such a favour upon him.
A. 2. God makes a covenant with us, to tie us fast to him ; it is called in Ezekiel, ' the bond of the covenant.' God knows we have slippery hearts, therefore he will have a covenant to bind us; it is horrid impiety to go away from God after cove- nant. If one of the vestal nuns, who had vowed herself to religion, was deflowered, the Romans caused her to be buried alive. It is perjury to depart from God after so- lemn covenant.
Quest. Jiow doth the covenant of grace differ from the first covenant made with Adam ?
Ans. 1. The terms of the first covenant were more strict and severe : for, 1st. The
least failing would have made the covenant with Adam null and A'oid, but many fail- ings do not null the covenant of grace. I grant, the least sin is a trespass upon the covenant, but it doth not make it null and void. There may be many failings in the conjugal relation, but every failing doth not break the marriage-bond. It would be sad, if, as oft as we break covenant with God, he should break covenant with us ; but God will not take advantage of every failing, but " in anger remember mercy." — 2d/g. The first covenant being broken, allowed the sinner no remedy, all doors of hope were shut, but the new covenant al- lows the sinner a remedy, it leaves room for repentance, it provides a mediator, Heb. xli. 24., " Jesus the mediator of the new covenant."
A. 2. The first covenant did run all up- on ' working,' the second upon ' believing,' Rom. iv. 5.
Quest. BiU are not works required in the coveiumt of grace ?