promise be made, but unto the Lord Jesus Christ, as the Representative of his Church and people ? Some divines have called this the covenant of Redemption, as contra-distinguished from the covenant of Grace ; the one being made with Christ only, and the other with man. But this appears not founded in Scripture. There is one covenant only ; and that was made with Christ personally, and with him as the federal Head and Representative of his elect people: as made with him personally, it promised liim a seed, if he would lay down his life for them'^ ; and as made with him federally, it promised salvation to all who should believe in him, and become mem- bers of his mystical body*^.
Now this covenant is " everlasting ;" it has existed from the beginning, and shall exist to all eternity. No human being ever has been saved but by virtue of it ; nor shall any child of man ever be admitted into heaven, but agreeably to its pro- visions. We say not that no person ever has been, or shall be, saved without a distinct acquaintance with it : for we believe that many heathens who never heard of it, and millions of children who have been incapable of miderstanding any thing about it, have been saved ; but not a single soul has ever been accepted of God the Father, but as redeemed by the blood of his only-begotten Son. And perhaps we may say, that this circumstance gives to the glorified saints an advantage over angels themselves : for angels, though confirmed, we trust, in their happiness by the power of God, do not hold that happiness by so sure a tenure as the saints hold theirs : they cannot boast of holding it by the promise and oath of Jehovah ; they cannot shew a covenant securing to them the everlasting pos- session of their inheritance, and that covenant confirmed and ratified with the blood of God's only dear Son : but we can refer to such a covenant, as the sure ground of all our expecta- tions, and as the pledge that nothing shall ever separate us from the enjoyment of our God®.]
2. Its fulness — ■
[It may trtdy be said to be " ordered in all things." There is not any thing that can conduce to our happiness either in this world or the next, that is not comprehended in it. Every thing is prepared for us both in a way of pro\ddence and of grace. All our comforts, and all our trials, are therein adjusted for our good. All earthly things are secured to us, as far as they are necessary^; and even afflictions themselves are pro- mised, as the appointed means of fitting us for the realms of bliss ^. Whatever grace we stand in need of, it shall be given
c Isai. liii. 10, 11. ^ Gal. iii. 16, 17. ^2 Cor. i. 20.
f Matt. vi. 33. e Jer. xxx. 11.