58 CHARACTER OF THOSE FOR. [Chap. 4. he be received, or not at all. Faithnot only acknowledges hissufferings, and accepts of pardon and glory, but acknow- ledges his sovereignty, and submits to his government and way of salvation. 6. As an essential part of the character of God's people, they now enter into a cordial covenani with Christ. The sinner was never strictly, nor comfortably, in covenant with Christ till now. He is sure, by the free offers, that Christ consents; and now he cordially consents himself; and so the agreement is fully made. With this covenant Christ delivers up himself in all comfortable relations to the sinner; and the sinner delivers up himself to be saved and ruled by Christ. Now the soul resolutely concludes, " I have been blindly led by flesh and lust, by the world and the devil, too long, almost to my utter destruction ; I will now be wholly at thedisposal of my Lord, who hath bought me with his blood, and will bringme to his glory." 7. I add, that the people of God persevere in this covenant . to the end. Though the believer may be tempted, yet he never disclaims his Lord, renounces his allegiance, nor re- pents of his covenant; nor can he properlybe said to break that covenant, while that faith continues which is the con- dition of it. Indeed, those that have verballycovenanted, and not cordially, may " tread under foot the blood of the covenant, as an unholy thing, wherewith they were sancti- fied," by separation from those without the church; but the elect cannot be so deceived. Though this persever- ance be certain to true believers, yet it is made a condition of their salvation; yea, of their continued life and fruitful- ness, and of the continuance of their justification, though not of their first justification itself. But eternally blessed be that hand of love, which hath drawn the free promise, and subscribed and sealed to that which ascertains us both of the grace which is the condition, and the kingdom which on that condition is offered ! Such are the essentials of this people of God. Not a full portraiture of them in all their excellencies, nor all the notes whereby they may be discerned. I beseech thee, reader, as thou hast the hope of a Christian, or the reason of a man, judge thyself, as one that must shortly be judged by a righteous God, and faithfully answer these questions. I will not inquire whether you remember the time or the
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