~4 The Parties in the · covenant and fuch a covenant, there is no difference, bl,lt in degree, which leaves it .fiill of the fame kind. Fourthly, This method was taken, that the com– ·munication of righteoufnefs and life, might be in as · compendious a way, as the communication of.fin and death was. ' As by one man's difobedience many were made finners: fo by the 'obedience of one lhall many. be righteous,' Rom. v. 19. The covenant of works having been made with Adam, as a reprefenta– tive 0f his natural feed; upon the breaking thereof, fin and death are communicate to them all, 'from him, as a deadly head. · This being fo, it 'was not agreea– ble to the method of Divine procedure with men, to treat with thefe predefiinat~d unto falvation,fevcraliy, as, principal parties,each contracting for himfelf,in the new covenant for life : but to 'treat for them all, wit'h ~ one public perfon, who, through his fulfilling of the , covenant, fhould be a quickning Head to them., from whence life might be derived to them, in as compen· dious a way, as death was, from the firfi Adam. For his mercies are above aH his other works. · Laflly, The covenant of grace was fo made, that it migti t be fi1re covenant ; even~ , ' to the end the promife might be fore to all the feed,' Rom. iv. 16. The firfi covenant was made with a mere creature, as a princip<J.l party, an~ contracter: and tho' he was ~ holy and righteous man ; yet was he fo fickle and tmfrable, that he fail'd of performing the condition be undertook : and fo, the benefit of thepromife was lofi: wherefore, fallen men were nor at all fit to be princi– pa~ par,ties, or parties-contrad:ers, in the new ·cove– nant, wherejn the promife was to be fi.1re, and not to · mifs of an accomplifhment. They being then wholly .·· a broken company, not to be tru.iled in the JUatter, · Jefus ChriH the Son of God was confiitute head of the new covenant, to aCt for and in the name of the , fpiritual feed. And that, ' to the end, the covenant being, in this manner, fure in point of the· fulfil- . · ling · "'
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