(2.) It had a solemn confirmation in the blood of the Son ; hence the blood of Christ is called " The blood of the covenant." The cove- nant was solemnly confirmed in the blood of Christ. It is the design of the apostle, in the 10th chapter of the Hebrews, to prove the solemn confirmation of the new covenant in the blood of the Son of God. That makes it irrevocable and unchangeable.
(3.) But when all this is done, how shall this covenant be executed? Why, that is the work of the Holy Spirit. He hath undertaken two things: — [1.] To assure our souls of all things on the part of God; — to reveal the terms of the covenant, and make known unto us the end of God in it. And, [2.] To undertake on our part to give us hearts that we shall love him and fear him ; — to write the terms of the covenant on our part in our souls, so that it shall have an infal- lible execution. If any thing had been wanting in this order, we could never have had benefit by this covenant.
There is an addition of order, in reference to the matter of it, here expressed. As it is " ordered," so it is " ordered in all things ;"— it is
THE BELIEVERS SUPPORT UNDER DISTRESS. 419
ordered in all the things " of grace on the part of God ;" it is or- dered in all the things " of sin on our part." \si, It is ordered in all the things " of grace on the part of God/' — that all grace whatsoever, that is needful for the covenanters, shall be given out unto them. If there were any needful grace that we should come short of, in refer- ence unto the end of this covenant, it would not be " ordered in all things." If the covenant had been ordered but in some grace, in quickening grace, and not in persevering grace, we had never come to the end of the covenant : if in pardoning grace, and not renewing grace, we had never come to the end of the covenant ; " for without holiness no man shall see the Lord." But whatsoever grace is need- ful to bring us to the enjoyment of God, it is ordered in all grace. The first covenant with Adam was ordered in grace, but not in all grace ; it was ordered in righteousness, holiness, and innocency, but not ordered in the grace pf perseverance : and failing in that grace, the whole covenant failed. But this covenant is " ordered in all things," with reference to believers. 2d, It is ordered in reference unto sin. There was a great deal of glory and beauty in the first covenant ; but there was no order taken about sin : [so] that if any sin came in, the first covenant was gone and broken, and of no use any more. But this covenant hath taken order about sin; that there shall no sin befall believers but what the grace of the covenant will extend pardon unto. If a believer should fall into any one sin that would deprive him of the benefit of this covenant, it would not be " ordered in all things." There are sins that, if a believer should fall into, would break the covenant; but the covenant prevents such falls.
This is another motive to rely upon this covenant, — because it is ''or- dered in all things." What could God provide more for poor creatures?
3. The last property of this covenant is, that it is " sure." It is " or- dered in all things, and sure." If it had not been sure, it would not have been a relief unto us. The springs of the security of this cove- nant are two : — (1.) The oath of God. (2.) The intercession of Christ.
God hath confirmed this covenant by his oath; and that gives surety in itself, and security unto us, Heb. vi. 17, 18.
And it is made sure by the interposition of Christ. He. is made the surety of a better covenant, Heb. vii. 22. And he lives for ever to make intercession for them that come unto God by him, and so is able to save unto the uttermost, verse 25.
This is what I have to offer from the opening of the words, and the reasons contained in them, why they are the great relief and re- serve of believers in all the surprisals, disappointments, and distresses, that may befall them ; and we are marvellously unwise, if we do not live in a constant expectation of such surprisals. To say that we shall
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die in our nests, and our mountain is so strong that it shall not be moved, — this is carnal security.
I will answer one question, and I have done: —
How do believers betake themselves to this covenant for relief? or, What may we do that we may betake ourselves unto it for our relief in our surprisals and distresses?
I answer, first, The first way is, by faith to get a due and dear valuation of the things of the covenant, above all things we here enjoy in this world. We shall never have relief by it, until we value the things of it as we ought; and those who do so shall never want relief from it.