;98. VERSE4. The ymmutability Istow...,1 and accounted ours. And this isthat gratious covenant ofwhich the Lord here faith,/ have Aponte and voillzot repent. For refolvingof the fecond queflion, upon what rea- Ions the immutability ofthe covenantofGrace flandeth, we mull notethat as things are offeverall forts, fo accor- dingly they may bee mutable or immutable feverall waies. Some things are abfolately immmtableout of the natureof the thing it relic ; and that is, when the ab- rogation, or alteration of the thing would unavoy- dably inferre fomeprodigious confequences and notori- ous pravity with it, as certainedifhonour to God, and confution upon other things. As if we fhould conceive a man free fromworaiipping, reverencing,acknowledg- lag, loving or trufling inGod; herein the creature would be unfubordinated to the Creator, which would inferre defperate pravitie and diforder, and God fhould bee rbbb'dofhis effentiall honor which he canno more part from, than ceafe to bee God. But now it is repugnant to the nature ofan entire covenant, tobee in this manner immutable. For ina covenant there is a mutuall flipula- tion and content betweene Godand Man; and after per- formance of Mans duty, God maketh promife of be- llowing a reward. Now there can bee nobinding, ne- ceffity in God to conferre, nor abfolute power inMan to challenge any good from God, whocloth freely and by no neceflity, good unto his Creatures. Secondly, fome h ings are meerely jurispofitivi, not ofany intrin- ficall neceility, refulcing out ofthe conditionoftheir na- ture,fuch asare free either to bee or not to bee ofthem- felves, or when they are free to continue or to ceafe not in themfelves determined untoany condition of being unvariably belongingunto their nature. And {itch are all covenants; for Godmight have dealt with Men, as with lapfed Angels, never haveentred a-new into cove. nant with them : hec might have refervedunto himfelfe a power
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