Blake - Houston-Packer Collection BT155 .B53 1653

The Covenant of Works Chap.2. bond-man ferves his mailer, one volunteer that" goes out of choyce, more honours an expedition, then ten that are preft by power for fervice, only waiting an opportunity by ftealth, out of diflike, as Davids fouldiers out of fhame, to quit the fervice, I Scam. 19 3. Secondly, to vanquifh all temptations, and overcome all af- faults, that may occurre in mans way of obedience ; cfldam in . innocency was foiled by a temptation, which he had overcome, in cafe he had herded the termes of the Covenant, the curfe that was threatened, and the promife that was contained in it; man in his fallen eflate undergoes many tryals, and is encountered with variety of temptations, had he not a word on which he might hope, a word of promife in way of Covenant from Cod ; he would not Rand, but of necefhty muff perifh. Thirdly, that love rather then fear might principle man in his obedience, as feeing more of goodneffe to induce, then of wrath to fcare him into it, God will have his fervauts, fons. The free honour of a childe to his father, rather then the compulfory fear of a fervant, pleafes him. Fourthly, for the aggravation of fin; the more of condefcen- fion, goodneffe, bounty, and love appears, in Gods way of deal- ing ; the more of equity is feene, the more ingratitude and folly appears in mans difobedience. Fifthly, for mans greater confolation; an upright hearted man findes abundance of peace in his Covenant entered with God; when he prayes and feeles the greaten mercy in prayer, he is able to fay, In thy fait hfmtlnef]'e aanf wer me, and in thy righteouf - neffe, Pfal. 143. i. Pan /can fay, that God the righteous fudge 'hall give him a crown of righteon(nefie; 2 Tim. 4. R. having engaged by Covenant, righteoufneffe ties him to make good his engage- ments ; this is Gods end in his enterance of Covenant, and rati- fication of it by oath; confequently of committing it to writing, and confirming it by feat; that by two immutable things in which it Wets impoffible for God to lie, we might have a firong conf olation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope (et before ato, Heb 6.18. Thefe ffrong confolations were the end of Gòd, in rati- fying his Covenant, they are the fupport and : piritreviving cor- dials to his peope in Covenant ; See ..the refult of the Pfalmifts meditations, In the multitude of my thoughts zatthin me, thy comforts

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