The end of all these things, as we shall afterward at large declare, is to encourage poor sinners to believe, and to evidence how inex- cusable they will be left who, not'svithstanding all this, do, through the poAver of their lusts and unbelief, refuse to come to God in Christ that they may be pardoned. Yea, the laying open of the certainty and fulness of the evidence given unto this truth makes it plain and conspicuous whence it is that men perish in and for their sins. Is it for luant of mercy, goodness, grace, or patience in God? Is it through any defect in the mediation of the Lord Christ? Is it for want of the mig]itiest encouragements and most infallible assurances that with God there is forgiveness? Not at all; but merely on the account of their own obstinacy, stubbornness, and perverseness. They will not come unto this light, yea, they hate it, because their deeds are evil. They will not come to Christ, that they may have life. It is merely darkness, blindness, and love of sin that brings men to de- struction. And this is laid open, and all pretences and excuses are removed, and the shame of men's lusts made naked, by the full con- firmation of this truth which God hath furnished us withal.
Take heed, you that hear or read these things ; if they are not mixed with faith, they will add greatly to your misery. Every ar-
470 AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM cxxx. [Ver. 4.
gumont will be your torment. But these considerations must be in- sisted on afterward.
Moreover, if you will take into yom- minds wliat liatli been de- livered in particular concerning the nature and end of the worship of God which you attend unto, you may be instructed in the use and due observation of it. When you address yourselves unto it, re- member that this is that which God requires of you who are sinners ; that this he Avould not have done but with thoughts and intention of mercy for sinners. Bless him with all your souls that this is laid as the foundation of all that you have to do with him. You are not utterly cast off because you are sinners. Let this support and warm your hearts when you go to hear, to pray, or any duty of worship. Consider what is your principal work in the whole. You are going to deal with God about forgiveness, in the being, causes, consequents, and effects of it. Hearken what he speaks, declares, or reveals about it; mix his revelation and promises with faith. Inquire diligently into all the obedience and thankfulness, all those duties of holiness and. righteousness, which he justly expects from them Avho are made partakers of it. So shall you observe the worship of God unto his glory and your own advantage.
The giving' and establishing of the new covenant another evidence of forgiveness "with God — The oath of God engaged in the confirmation tliereof.
VIII. Another evidence hereof may be taken from the making, estahli siting, and ratifying of the new covenant. That God Avould make a new covenant with his people is often promised, often de- clared: see, among other places, Jer. xxxi. 31, 32. And that he hath done so accordingly the apostle at large doth manifest, Heb. viii. 8-12. Now, herein simdry things unto our present puipose may be considered; for, —
First, It is supposed that God had before made another covenant with mankind. With reference hereunto is this said to be a 7ieiu one. It is opposed unto another that was before it, and in compa- rison whereof that is called old and this said to be neiv, as the apostle speaks expressly in the place before mentioned. Now, a covenant between God and man is a thmg great and marvellous, whether we consider the nature of it or the ends of it. In its own nature it is a convention, compact, and agreement for some certain ends and purposes between the holy Creator and his poor creatures. How infinite, how uns2)eakablc must needs the grace and condescen-
yer.4.] EVIDENCE OF FORGIVENESS WITH GOD. 471
sion of God in this matter be ! For what is j)oor miserable man, that God should set his heart upon him, — that he should, as it were, give bounds to his sovereignty over him, and enter into terms of agree- ment with him? For whereas before he was a mere object of his absolute dominion, made at his will and for his jjleasure, and on the same reasons to be crushed at any time into nothing; now he hath a bottom and ground given him to stand upon, whereon to expect good things from God upon the account of his faithfulness and righteousness. God in a covenant gives those holy properties of his nature unto his creature, as his hand or arm for him to lay hold ui^on, and by them to plead and argue with him. And without this a man could have no foundation for any intercourse or commu- nion with God, or of any expectation from him, nor any direction how to deal with him in any of his concernments. Great and signal, then, was the condescension of God, to take his poor creature into covenant with himself; and especially will this be manifest if we con- sider the ends of it, and why it is that God thus deals Avith man. Now, these are no other than that man might serve him aright, be blessed by him, and be brought unto the everlasting enjoyment of him ; — all unto his glory. These are the ends of every covenant that God takes us into with himself; and these are " the whole of man," [Eccles. xii. 13.] No more is required of us in a way of duty, no more can be required by us to make us blessed and happy, but v/hat is contained in them. That we might live to God, be accepted with him, and come to the eternal fruition of him, is the whole of man, all that we were made for or are capable of ; and these are the ends of every covenant that God makes Avith men, being all comprised in that solemn word, that " he will be their God, and they shall be his people."