74 . lnfer~nces from . irwnly calle.d per/onal Covenanting. But I would have all to beware of a practical corrupting of the covenant of grace, by making covrnantsoftheir own, upon fuch · and fuch terms, which they will fulfil for life and falva. tion .The carnal ]e'Ws, mifiaking t_he defign of the giv~ ing of the law, did fo corrupt the covenant of grace; looking for lifeand falvation; not for the fake ofthe pro· mifed feed alone, but for their obedience, fuch as it wa5, to the moml and ceremonial laws. And rhus many, t~i n king that eFernal falvation is propofec;l to them in the word, upon the fcondition of faith, rep~ntance, and fi~1cere obedience to God's law, do conferit to thefe terms, and folemnly undertake to perform them; juil: binding themfelves to fuch duties, that God may fave their fouls : and fo they make their covenant. And while they can perfwade themfelves, that they perform. their part of the covenant,. they look for life and fa~· · vation thereupon. This cloth quite overturn the na– ture of the covenant of gra'ce : for ' to him that work– eth, the reward is not reckoned ofgrace, but of debt,' Rom. iv. 4· And, ' If it be of works, then it'is no , 1nore grace,' chap. xi. 6. The finfulnefs ofthis prac– tice is great, as .overlooking Chrifl, the great under· taker aJlld party-contracter by the appointment of the l''arher ; <tnd putting themfelves, in his room, to do and work for themfe1ves, for life. . And the danger of it mufi n eeds be great, as laying a. foundation to bear the weight of their falvarion, which Divine wif. dom fi1w to be quite unable to bear it. The iffue · whereofmufi be, that fuch covenanters · lhallly down in forrow.. So the Apofile determines, Gal. v. 5· ' Chrifi is become of no effect unto .you, wh~foever of you are ju.fl:ified by the law ; ye are fallen from gra~e.' _ . Our part tl1cn, in this cafe, is only , to take hold of God,s covenant m fi de already,. and offered and exhi· bi ted to us in rhe go fpel. This hold is taken by faith, which is in Scripture..account, the hand of the foul, John \ (
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