(1.) That all breaches and differences between him and us be re- moved, perfect peace and agreement made, and we rendered accept- able and well-pleasing in his sight. These are the terms whereon they stand to whom he is a God in covenant. For the accomplish- ment of this is the first main stream that floweth from the former fountain, — namely, the great promise of giving Christ to us and for us, " who is our peace," Eph. ii. 14; and " who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctificatiou, and redemption," 1 Cor. i. 30; " wlio loves us, and washeth us in his own blood, and makes us kings and jjriests to God and his Father," Rev. i. 5, 6 ; " giving himself for his church, that he might sanctify and cleanse it, Avith the washing of water by the word, tliat he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish," Eph. v. 25-27;^ doing and accomplishing all things that are required for the forementioned ends. And this is the first main stream that flows from that fountain. Christ as a redeemer, a saviour, a mighty one, a priest, a sacrifice, an oblation, our peace, righteousness, and the author of our salvation, is the subject-matter thereof.
(2.) That we may be kept and preserved meet for communion with him as our God, and for the enjoyment of him as our reward. For this end flows forth the other great str-^am from the former fountain, ■ — namely, the promise of the Holy Spirit; which he gives us to "make us meet for the inheritance of the saints in light," '^ to put forth and exercise towards us all the acts of his love which are need- ful for us, and to work in us the obedience which he requires and accepts of us in Jesus Christ, so preserving us for himself This promise of the Spirit in the covenant, with his work and peculiar dispensations, is plentifully witnessed in very many places of the Old Testament and New,* some whereof must afterward be insisted on.
' Tit. ii. M; Gen. iii. 15; Job xix. 25; Eph. ii. 13; Hcb. ii. 17 ; Eph. v. Ii ; 1 Tim. ii. G. ' Col. i. VI.
» Isa. lix. 21 ; Kzok. xi. 19, xxxvi. 2G, 27 ; John xiv. 16, 17, etc.
V.j THE PROMISES OF GOD. 233
Hence he is sometimes called the promise of the covenant : Acts ii. 89, "The promise is to you; " which promise is that which Christ receiveth from his Father, verse 33, even " the promise of the Holy Ghost." I shall only add, that though this be a great stream flow- ing from the first fountain, yet it comes not immediately thence, but issues out from the stream before mentioned, the promise of the Lord Jesus Christ; for he is given by him unto us, as procured for us, and given only unto his, John xiv. 16, 17, 26; Gal. iv. 6.
Now, from these two gi-and streams do a thousand rivulets flow forth for our refreshment. All the mercy that Christ hath purchased, all the graces that the Spirit doth bring forth (which in the former description I call all things that are either required in them or need- ful to them to make them accepted before God, and to bring them to an enjoyment of him), all promises of mercy and forgiveness, all promises of faith and holiness, of obedience and perseverance, of joy and consolation, of correction, affliction, and deliverance, — they all flow from these ; that is, from the matter of those promises doth the matter of these arise. And hence are the ensuing corollaries : —
1. Whoever hath an interest in any one promise hath an interest in them all, and in the fountain-love from whence they flow. He to whom any drop of their sweetness floweth may follow it up unto the spring. Were we wise, each taste of mercy would lead us to the ocean of love. Have we any hold on a promise ? — we may get upon it, and it will bring us to the main, Christ himself and the Spirit, and so into the bosom of the Father. It is our folly to abide upon a little, which is given us merely to make us press for more.
2. That the most conditional promises are to be resolved into ab- solute and unconditional love. God, who hath promised life upon believing, hath promised believing on no condition (on our parts) at all, because to sinners.
This in general being given in concerning the nature of the pro- mises, I shall proceed to some such considerations as are of particular usefulness unto that improvement which, the Lord assisting, I in- tend to make of them, for the confirmation of the truth under debate. And they are these: —
] . All the promises of God are true and faithful, and shall most certainly all of them be accomplished. His nature, his veracity, his unchangeableness, his omniscience and omnipotency, do all contri- bute strength to this assertion. Neither can these properties pos- sibly continue 'entire, and the honour of them be preserved unto the Lord, if the least failing in the accomplishment of his promises be ascribed unto him. Every such failing must of necessity relate to some such principle as stands in direct opposition to one or more of the perfections before mentioned. It must be a failing in the truth, unchangeableness, prescience, or power, that must frustrate