286 · Simters enj]atedin lhe C~venant, become .members of his body, .Eph~ iii. 17. Howdo we all enter perfonally in to the covenant of works, fo as to partake·of the curfe in it? Is it not tluo' C5ur 'becoming, by P..atural generation, branches of the Jirfi Adam the rcprefentative in that covenant ? Here– by, every one of us is perfonally entred and enfiated ,in that covenant; before we are capable to approve or difapprove of the fame, to confent to it or diffent from ) t. Even fo, we enter perfonally into the covenant of grace, fo as to partake of the benefits in it, by our becoming branche$ of the fecond Adam the Repre- . Jentative therein: and that is through £'lith, in fu~jech capable of altual believing. 'Tis by being ingrafted · - into Chrifi, we come to partake of the covenant and benefits thereof. And hence it is, that infants, not capable ofaCtual be1ieving, nor of knowing what t'he covenant is, yet having the Spirit of faith, are perfon• ally entred into it, and enftated in it; forafinuch as , that Spirit of faith is effeCtual in them, to a real unit· . ing 'them with Chrif!. Jl'o this agrees God's giving· , ' Chrift for a covenant : that in him, people may bavs_the covenant, and all the benefits ·thereof. As \.:r~d, in making of the covenant, took Chr_ifl for the ·condition, and for tQe parties to receive the pro_· mifes, he being a fecond Adam; fe finners in accep– -ting and embracing ofthe covenant, are to tak~ him for aH; the whole of the covenant, the parties and parts ofit t0o being in him,' forafmuch as he is God, as weU ·as Man, fecond Adam. And thus it appers, that uniting with Chri.fl: the Hea:d of rhecovenant., is a finner's formal entring into the covenant : the which uniting with him, being by fa-ith on him, 'tis evident, that it is by the belie· :Ving on Ohrift, a finper ·embraceth, enters into, and . is enfiated in 'the covenant, unto falvation .- Where• · fore, reach Chrift by faith, and ye reach the covenant: 'i f ye mifs him, ye mifs fhe covenant, iu point oflife . :md: · It
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