Ans. Yes ; Tit. iii. 8., " This is a faith- ful saying, that they which have believed in God, be careful to maintain good works." But the covenant of grace doth not ro- qidi'e works in the same manner as the covenant of works did. In the first cove- nant, works were required as the condi- tion of life ; in the second, they are requir- ed only as the signs of a man that is alive. In the first covenant, works were required as grounds of salvation ; in the new cove- nant, they are required as evidences of our love to God. In the first, they were re- quired to the justification of our persons ; in the new, to the testification of our grace. Quest. IVhat is the conditicm of the cove- nant of grace ?
Ans. The main condition is faith. Quest. But ichy is fuilh more the condi- tion of the new covenard than any other grace? Ans. To exclude all glorying in the crea- ture ; faith is an humble grace. If repen- tance or works were the condition of the covenant, a man would say, " It is my righteousness hath saved me :" but if it be of faith, where is boasting ? Faith fetcheth all from Christ, and gives all the glory to Christ; it is a most humble grace. Hence it is God hath singled out this gTace to be
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the condition of tlie covenant. And if faith be the condition of the covenant of gi-ace, it excludes desperate presumptuous sinners from tlie covenant. They say there is a covenant of grace, and they shall be saved : but did you ever know a bond without a condition ? Tlie condition of the covenant is faith, and if thou hast no faith, thou hast no more to do with the covenant than a foreigner or a country farmer with the city charter.
Use 1st Of information. See the amaz- ing goodness of God, to enter into cove- nant with us : he never entered into cove- nant with the angels when they fell. It was much condescension in God to enter into covenant with us in a state of inno- cency, but more so when we were in a state of enmity. In this covenant of grace we may see the cream of God's love and the working of his bowels to sinners. This is a marriage-covenant, Jer. iii. 14., " I am married to you, saith the Lord." In the new covenant, God makes himself over to us, and what can he give more ? And he makes over his promises to us, and what better bonds can we have ?
Use 2d. Of trial. \Vliether we are in covenant with God. There are three cha- racters.
1. God's covenant-people are an humble people, 1 Pet. v. 5., " Be clothed with liu- mility." God's people esteem of others better than themselves ; they shrink into nothing in their own thoughts, Phil. ii. 3. David cries out, " I am a worm, and no man, Ps. xxii. 6. ; though a saint, though a king, yet a Avorm. When Moses' face shined, he covered it with a veil : God's people, when they shine most in grace, are covered with the veil of humility. Pride ex- cludes from the covenant ; " God resisteth the proud," I Pet. v. 5., and sure such are not in covenant with God, whom he resists.
2. A people in covenant with God are a willing people ; though they cannot serve God perfectly, they serve him willingly. They do not grudge God a little time spent in his worship ; they do not hesitate or murmur at sufferings ; they will go through a sea and a wilderness if (iod call : Ps. ex. 3., " Thy people shall be a willing peoj)le," — Heb. ' a ])eople of willingness.' Tliis
spontaneity and willingness, is from the attractive power of God's Spirit ; the Spi- rit doth not impellers^ force, but trakerey sweetly draw the will ; and this willing- ness in religion makes all our services ac- cepted. God doth sometimes accept of willingness without the work, but never the work without willingness.
3. God's covenant-people are a conse- crated people; they have holiness to the Lord written upon them ; Deut. vii. 6., '• Thou art a holy people unto the Lord thy God." God's covenant-people are se- parated from the world and sanctified by the Spirit. The priests under the law were not only to wash in the great laver, but were arrayed with glorious apparel, Exod. xxviii. 2. This was typical to shew God's people are not only washed from gross sins, but adorned with holiness of heart, they bear not only God's name, but image. Ta- merlane refused a pot of gold, when he saw it had not his father's stamp upon it, but the Roman stamp. Holiness is God's stamp ; if he doth not see this stamp upon us, he will not own us for his covenant- people.