Preached Auguft 17. '1662. 147 Law is holy, juji andgood, but weak in refpe& olus ; for it is impof tible that that Covenant, by the breach of which fin and death came into us, fhould reconcile us to God, and appeafe his anger : and therefore God contrived another covenant for tis;a covenant in the Golpel, that was made with us in Chrilf, and this is called an Ever- lailing Covenant, becaufe it remains for ever, the tenor of it fhall not be changed ; for, the firft Covenant is onlyabrogated and made null, while fruftrated as to the intent it was firft given. 2. It's called anEverlafting Covenant, as it bringsto thole that are parties initan everlafting glory : So the Lord jefus his blood is called an everlatling Redemption, for it ranfoms the fouls of men from that eternaldeath to which they were liable, and gives them a a title to everlajiing life : foir this covenant which now God hath made with us, it not only fecures the Reward, but the conditions to which the reward is made ; for God faith, / will plant my fear in your hearts that you, ball not depart from me. I have now gone over the Title, and that inorder to the Prayer which follows, [Make you perfeet to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleating in his fight] the general filmof it is this, That God ofpeace, who is reconciled to us in his Son, as he is the Father of mercies to us, fo he is the fountain of holinefs to us ; and in this re- fpeac we can onlyexpe& from him the ti eafure ofgrace, as he is the Godof peace ; for God, as he is our Judge, diipences to finners no- thing brit revenge ; there is nothing to be expe&edbut the curie of his Law, the execution ofthat Sentence of death from him. For although the world defpife holinefs as a bate and contemptible thing, they had rather be ungracious than inglorious in the eyes of men : and upon this account they are afraid tobe holy, left they thould be the publick fcorn and contempt of theplace wherein they live ; although holinefi is of fo low a price in the world,yet in Hea- l* ven, next toGod, thrift ; and the Spirit, Holinefs is the molt rich jewel, That, God can bellow upon us, and therefore we mutt firft look upon him as the God of peace, before we can beg anygrace from him. And this is-the realon why the Apoffle reprefents God by theeTitles, that he might encourage the Hebrews to believe Godwould grant this requeft. When (Thrift died for us, it was not his defign only to quiet our confciences, but td quicken our fouls ; not only to free us from damnation, but from the domination offin : And therefore you (hall find there two are joyned together, tit. 2. 14. Whogave himfelffor us, that he Might Tedeem usfrom all iniquity, andpurifie unto himfelfa peculiar people,zealous of good works. The death ofGhrift,as there was a value in it topurchafe Gods fa- V 2 Your,
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