Sermon IX

For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee. - Isaiah 54:10

    Further opening the Nature of the Covenant of Peace; that 'tis a well-ordered Covenant, a Glorious Covenant, a Full Covenant, a Seasonable Covenant. &c.

    Neither shall the Covenant of my Peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.

    Doct. THAT there is a Covenant of Peace,made or agreed on, and stands firm in the behalf of all God's Elect.

    I am, my Brethren, upon the Third General Head of Discourse, which is to open the Nature of the Covenant of Peace.

    1. I shewed you it is the Covenant of Grace. And that as considered in it self.

    3. It is an Absolute Covenant.

    Fourthly, To proceed: It is a well-ordered Covenant; See 2 Sam. 23.5. Yet he hath made with me, an Everlasting Covenant, ordered in all things and sure, &c.

    I. This Covenant is well-ordered in all things in respect of the Revelation, and Manifestation of all the Perfections, and Glory of the Three Divine Persons in the Godhead.

    1. The Perfections, Work, and Glory of God the Father shines forth, and is displayed in this Covenant.

    2. The Perfections, Work, and Glory of God the Son, shines forth, and is displayed herein also.

    3. The Perfections, Work, and Glory of God the Holy Ghost shines forth, and is displayed in it likewise, as hath been shewed.

    II. This Covenant is well ordered in all Things respecting the Manifestation, or Revelation of the Perfections, and Glory of all the Divine Attributes of God, and as they also in this Covenant appear to meet together in Sweet Harmony.

    III. This Covenant is well ordered in all things, to the utter Overthrowing, Defeating, and Destroying for ever the Design, Devices, Works, and Kingdom of the Devil; For to this End was the Son of God manifested.

    IV. This Covenant is well ordered in all things to magnify the Sanction and Honour of the Holy Law of God, in that rather then the Law shall fall to the Ground, or be violated, or rendered contemptible in God's Saving lost Sinners, the Son of God comes and takes our Nature on him, and yields Perfect Obedience to it; and to greaten its Glory, he died the Cursed Death of the Cross, to answer the Just Punishment it doth denounce upon Mankind, for the Breach thereof. Moreover,

    V. This Covenant is well ordered in all things for our Good, both in respect of Grace here, and Glory hereafter; or in respect of what by it we are delivered from, and of those high Privileges, Dignities, and of that Unchangeable and Eternal Honour we are raised up unto hereby: But because I have lately upon another Text spoken unto these Things largely in two Sermons on the Covenant, I shall not add any thing further on this Account .

    Fifthly, It is a Glorious Covenant.

    I. It must needs be a Glorious Covenant in respect had to the Time when it was made, or entered into, between the Father and the Son; and this was, as you have heard, before the World began, even in Eternity, 2 Tim. 1.9. Tit. 1.2.

    Hence Jesus Christ 'tis said was a Lamb slain before the Foundation of the World, Rev. 13.8. and what Pilate, and the People of Israel, and the Gentiles, did to him, was whatsoever God's Hand and his Counsel determined before to be done, Act. 4.28.

    Certainly that Covenant that was so early, even from Everlasting, contrived by the Sublime Wisdom of God, and entered into between such Glorious Persons as the Father and the Son, must be a most Glorious Covenant; and this, I say, in respect to the Time when, and to the Persons who entered into it, certainly it must be some great Thing that is contained in this Covenant that was so early, and by the Eternal God concluded upon.

    II. It must needs be a Glorious Covenant, in regard that there was also a Council held about it in Eternity, for it was made as the Result of a Great and Glorious Council; Him, being delivered by the Determinate Council and Fore-knowledge of God, ye have taken, and by Wicked Hands ye have Crucified and Slain. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit then agreed, That the Second Person should assume the Nature of Man, and die to make our Peace; tho 'tis true elsewhere it is said. The Counsel of Peace was between them both, viz. the Father and the Son; yet since it is ascribed to God without distinction of Persons, and also seeing the Holy Ghost hath his part in this Covenant to act and do, in order to the actual and complete Accomplishment of the whole Transactions agreed on in that Glorious Council, I see no reason to exclude the Holy Ghost from being concerned therein.

    Moreover let us consider the great Things Consulted about in that Glorious Council.

    1. It was how God might be Just, or Magnify his Justice, and yet be Gracious, and Magnify his Mercy, and Infinite Love and Goodness; or how God might preserve his own Honour, and yet become our Redeemer.

    2. How Sin might be punished, and the Odious Nature, and Infinite Evil that is in it, be exposed, and yet the guilty Sinner be acquitted.

    III. It is a Glorious Covenant, because in it there is a display of God's Highest, and most Glorious Wisdom; the Gospel contains the Manifestation of God's Hidden Wisdom, and the Wisdom of God in a Mystery; nay, Paul calls it a Glorious Mystery, To whom God would make known what is the Riches of the Glory of this Mystery. There is much of the Wisdom of God seen in his Works of Creation and Providence; yea, and there is also great Mysteries hid in those Works of God, but the Chiefest and most Glorious Wisdom of God is manifested in the Work and Covenant of Man's Redemption; Without Controversy,great is the Mystery of Godliness; God manifested in the Flesh, the Word was made Flesh. This is the Wonderment of the Holy Angels, and 'tis marvelous indeed, how an Infinite Nature should be Personally united to a Finite Nature, so as to make but one Person: What Wisdom of God is here displayed? O who can search out the depth of this Mystery?

    IV. It must needs be a Glorious Covenant in respect of that display of God's Glorious Love therein; God so loved the World, that no Created Beings can conceive of it, neither Men nor Angels.

    And so I might speak of the Glory of his Justice, Power, Holiness, &c. which amazingly shine forth herein.

    V. Also in that this Covenant sets forth the Glory, Beauty, and Personal Excellencies of Jesus Christ.

    1. In respect of his Person, as God-Man.

    2. In respect of his Offices, of which I have already spoken.

    VI. It is a Glorious Covenant in respect of those Things which we are hereby delivered from, and are also invested with, and raised up to possess—Is not that a Glorious Covenant, by the Blessings of which, Sinners are delivered from Sin, which is the greatest Evil; and that brings them out of a State of Death, Wrath, the Curse, and Condemnation? And that which also gives them, through the Application thereof, an Interest in God, the chiefest Good; or which restores God to them to be their God forever? Consider what Glorious Gifts and Privileges are given and granted in this Covenant? Is not that a Glorious Covenant in which God is given, Christ is given to the Soul? (But this I shall open more largely under the next Head.) But O! what Glorious Privileges are contained herein, as granted to all true Believers? Moreover, What Glorious Grace is by this Covenant procured for all the Elect? And what a Crown and Kingdom do they hereby obtain a true Title unto.

    Sixthly, The Covenant of Peace is a full Covenant; there is nothing wanting in it, either respecting the Glory of God, or our Good and Eternal Happiness.

    I. It is a full Covenant in respect of Satisfaction, Merit and Righteousness; my Brethren, neither Divine Justice, nor the Law of God can require any more than what Christ hath by his Active, and Passive Obedience paid: God saith, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Christ is called the Sun of Righteousness, denoting that fullness of Righteousness which is in him as Mediator; What is fuller of light than the Sun? And who is fuller of Righteousness than Jesus Christ? And as the Sun communicates its Light to all the Earth, even so Christ communicates his Righteousness to all the Elect; i. e. His Righteousness is imputed to all that Believe: (not the Effects of his Righteousness) but his Active and Passive Obedience, is the Material cause of our Justification, and the Imputation of it, is the formal cause thereof, and from him by the Spirit an Inherent Righteousness is also infused into the whole Body (to whom he is a Head of Influence) to their Sanctification.

    II. This Covenant is a full Covenant; because, in it, or in Christ (who is the Sum of the Covenant) there is a fullness of Sufficiency: and in the application of it by the Spirit, There is a fullness of Efficacy to all the Elect, He is the Head of the Body, the Church,the Fullness of him that filleth all in all.

    Christ makes the Covenant Effectual or Efficacious to all his Members, filling all who believe, with all grace by the Spirit, leaving not one believing Soul empty of what is truly good. Doth the Soul want light? Christ will give it; He is the Light of the Gentiles: The Light of the World. Doth he want Liberty? Christ releases the Captives. Doth he need Rest? Christ gives the weary and heavy-laden rest: In a word, Christ in the Covenant is Food to the Hungry, Clothes to the Naked, Strength to the Weak, Health to the Sick, Courage to the Faint-hearted, Succor to the Tempted, Beauty to the Deformed, Riches to the Poor, Peace to the Troubled, Life to the Dead Christ is all in this Covenant.

    III. It is a Full Covenant; because it answers not only all the wants of the Soul, but of the Body also: He will give meat to them that fear him, he is ever mindful of his Covenant: Meat to the Soul, and Meat to the Body. Also, Trust in the Lord and do good, and so shalt thou dwell in the Land, and verily thou shalt be fed. All things both for the Body and Soul, which God sees is good for us we shall have; he will give Grace and Glory, and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly: But yet, we must not be the Judges of what is good, but leave it to God. We may think that is good for us which he may see to be hurtful.

    IV. It is a Full Covenant; because in it there is the Mediators Fulness Communicated to all such that are united to him as the effects thereof, 'tis not a Creature-Fulness that is in Christ; no, but the Fulness of God: For it pleased the Father that in him all Fulness should dwell; — in him dwelleth the Fulness of the God-head Bodily: The Fulness of the God-head dwells as truly in the Son, as in the Father; and of his Fulness do all Believers partake, Of his Fulness all we receive,and Grace for Grace.

    1. Therefore in this Covenant, we do not only receive Light, but the Fulness of Light.

    2. Not only Life, but the Fulness of Life, because Christ is our Life whom we receive in this Covenant.

    3. Not only Strength, but the Fulness of Strength; The Lord is the Strength of my heart,and my Portion for ever.

    4. Not only Pardon of Sin, but a Fulness of Pardon; or, the Fullest Pardon, complete Pardon.

    5. Not only Righteousness, but the Fulness of Righteousness; perfect and complete Righteousness, and you are complete in him.

    6 Not only Peace, but the Fulness of Peace; Peace that passeth all understanding.

    7. Not only Beauty, but the Fulness of Beauty; For it was perfect,thro' my Comeliness which I put upon thee, saith the Lord God.

    8. Not only knowledge, but the Fulness of knowledge; And ye also are Full of all goodness, filled with all knowledge, &c.

    The parts may be weak, yet where Christ dwells or hath taken possession of the heart, there the Soul hath a Fulness of Spiritual knowledge: Our Vessels may be full tho' but small. And

    9. Not only Joy, but the Fulness of Joy;

    These things have I spoken unto you,that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. Again, he saith, Ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full; 'tis called, unspeakable joy, and full of Glory.

    10. Lastly, And not only Glory, but the Fulness of Glory; for the Fulness of the Glory of Heaven is contained in this Covenant, or the perfect and full enjoyment of God, even the Beatificial - Vision.

    Seventhly. It is a seasonable Covenant.

    I. In respect of God's early contrivance and making of it for us with Christ; it was provided (my Brethren) before Man sinned, or ready against the very time of need: Poor Adam when he had sinned knew nothing of it. But God provided the Plaister before we received the Wound; he provided us a Physician, before we were Sick; or a Saviour in this Covenant, before we had sinned; had not this Covenant been made before with Christ for us, we had been lost no doubt for ever that very moment Man fell, every thing being Beautiful in its time, or proper season. 'Tis

    II. A seasonable Covenant, in respect of the Revelation or Manifestation of it; even just as Adam had sinned, and when Divine Justice was ready to lift up his direful Ax of Divine Vengeance: How seasonable is it for a poor condemned Criminal to hear of a Pardon, just when he is brought to the place of Execution; and the Halter is put about his Neck, or the Ax lifted up to Cut off his Head?

    III. It is a seasonable Covenant, in respect to the application of the blessings thereof to a poor Sinner.

    1. 'Tis by the Spirit applied, when the sinner sees he is Condemned, being under the sense of Sin, Wrath and Condemnation, beholding himself just dropping into Hell; then this Covenant is opened, and the blessing of free Justification, and Pardon is applied.

    2. When the Soul and Conscience of a sinner is wounded, and his wounds bleed; then is the Balm of the Covenant applied to heal him.

    3. When the Sinner sees he is pursued by the Avenger of Blood, and sees no way to escape, then his Eyes are opened and he is directed to fly to the City of refuge; the way being made plain and easy, and the Holy Spirit directs the Soul to Christ, and cries Refuge, Refuge.

    4. When the Sinner sees he is so sick that he can't live, even then the Physician provided in the Covenant comes immediately and pours in his Oil and Wine,When I passed by and saw thee polluted in thy Blood, I said unto thee live — Ye I sware unto thee,and entered into Covenant with thee saith the Lord, and thou becamest mine.

    Eighthly. It is a Sure Covenant:Ordered in all things and sure. — Incline your ear and come unto me, hear and your Souls shall live,and I will make an everlasting Covenant with you even the sure mercies of David.

    I. It is a sure Covenant, because it is made with such a Surety as Jesus Christ is, it is not made primarily with us, but with Christ for us, and with us in him; the sure mercies of David: That is our Lord Jesus Christ, he is the true Antitypical David. Sure, because they are Mercies granted to us thro' Christ's suretiship; and when a Sinner is brought into the bands of the Covenant, God is said to make this Covenant with him, i. e. he actually entering then thro' Christ into Covenant with God; but our standing then in it, is upon the account of Christ's Covenant with the Father for us.

    II. It is a Sure Covenant, because it stands upon the absolute purpose and unchangeable Decree and Council of God. My Mercy will I keep with him, and my Covenant shall stand fast with him. — My Covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my mouth. Hence the absolute Decrees of God, are compared to mountains of Brass, Zach. 6.1. Denoting how unmovable, steady and unchangeable his Councils are; nay, Tho' the Mountains should depart,and the Hills be removed, yet saith the Lord, my loving kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the Covenant of my Peace be removed, &c. All Covenant-Mercies are according to God's Eternal purpose, which be purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: The Covenant stands not only as the act of God's Eternal Wisdom, but as his Eternal Decree and Purpose before all Worlds.

    III. The Covenant of Peace is sure, because it is confirmed by the witness of the Holy Ghost.

    1. The Spirit of God was a witness to the Covenant when it was made.

    2. Moreover it was confirmed in the promulgation of it by the Holy Ghost, by wonderful Miracles; for what served all those Miracles more clearly for, than to confirm the Authority of the Mediator, and the verity and stability of the Gospel Covenant?

    IV. Furthermore, The Covenant was (as you heard) confirmed by the Blood of Jesus Christ, therefore it is a sure Covenant.

    V. The Covenant is sure; because it is confirmed by the Promise and Oath of God: Once have I sworn by my Holiness that I will not lye to David, — his Seed shall endure for ever, and his Throne as the Sun before me.This is as the waters of Noah unto me, for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah shall no more go over the Earth, so have I sworn that I will not be wrath with thee, nor rebuke thee; compared with Heb. 6.13, 16, 17, 18.

    VI. It is a Sure Covenant to all Gods Elect; because the Execution of it is put into Christ's own hands, he is the Executioner of his own Will and Testament, for tho Christ was dead yet he is alive; I am he that liveth and was dead, and behold I am alive forevermore. Christ sees his last Will and Testament fully executed by his Spirit.

    Ninthly, It is a Covenant of Peace, this is the Name that is given to it in my Text, which also shews it is of an excellent and precious nature.

    I. 'Tis a Covenant of Peace with God, God is hereby reconciled to us, and we to him, and that for ever.

    II. Hereby we come also to have peace in our own Souls, or peace of Conscience; nor indeed can we ever have true peace any other ways: For, can your repentance give you peace of Conscience? Can Tears of Blood appease Divine Wrath, or satisfy Divine Justice? Can Reformation of life give you Peace, or your inherent Sanctification, or pious and religious duties? Do you fetch your peace from thence? If you do, your peace will be turned into trouble and anguish of Spirit; or can your lively and spiritual Frame give you true and lasting peace? I affirm 'tis a false peace that is simply grounded on a lively and Spiritual Frame or disposition of Heart, for there can be no true peace of Conscience but by Jesus Christ; thro' the Blood of the everlasting Covenant. He is our peace, &c. He will speak peace to his People. — Not as the World giveth, give I unto you. Dare a Man plead his Faith or good Duties to Justify him, and so from thence fetch his peace and comfort; alas! What unrighteousness cleaves to our righteousness, what doubtings attend our Faith, and what wanderings of heart attend us in our best Duties; nay, may we not find some Hypocrisy in us also, tho in the main we are sincere; our peace is only had in Christ.

    III. 'Tis only by the peace made by Christ, as is revealed in this Covenant, that a poor wounded despairing and distressed Soul comes to have peace. I once cited a passage out of Dr. Owen, being pious Anselem's directions to a poor tempted Soul on a Death-Bed, let me repeat it here once again.

    Minister, Dost thou believe, thou canst not be saved but by the Death of Christ.

    'Sick-man, Yes, I do so believe.

    Minister, Then let it be said unto thee, go, and whilst thy Soul abideth in thee, and put all thy confidence in Christ's death alone, place thy trust in no other thing; commit thy self wholly to Christ's death, cover thy self wholly with his death, wrap thy self wholly in his death: and if God would judge thee, say, Lord I place the death of our Lord Jesus Christ between me and thy Judgment, and no other ways will I contend with thee: And if he shall say unto thee, thou art a sinner, say I place the death of our Lord Jesus Christ between me and my sins; and if he shall say unto thee, that you deserve Damnation; say, Lord I put the death of our Lord Jesus Christ between thee and all my sins, and I offer his Merits for my own, which I should have, and have not: If he shall say, that he is Angry with thee; say, Lord I place the death of Christ between me and thine Anger.

    O Sinner, here is thy relief, it is in the Blood of the Covenant, it is Christ's death under all Fears, Temptations, Despair and Anguish of Soul, here is peace even under the accusations of thy own Conscience and Satan's temptations, even in Life and at the hour of Death: O Blessed Covenant of Peace! Who is it that is just going to God's Tribunal, that dares to plead what he hath done, or is wrought in him? alas, all hands will be weak all hearts faint, and all self-confidence will fail them: This Covenant is therefore all our Hope, our Peace, and all our Salvation, and in it there is indeed a Salve for every Sore.

    USE.

    1. Sinner take hold of this Covenant and tho thou art an Eunuch, i. e. a poor doomed barren and fruitless Soul, yet if thou take hold of God's Covenant, or canst but get Faith to take hold of Christ, God will give thee a Name in his House better than that of Sons and Daughters.

    2. Saints do you fix your eyes also upon this Covenant, to plead the Blood and Merits of Christ in this Covenant? Rest alone upon the Lord Jesus and on the Faithfulness of God, in his promises in this Covenant, for tho thou knowest nothing of thy self, yet thou art not thereby Justified; nor can thy sin condemn thee if thou art in Christ, for thou art perfect in him, touching thy Justification before the Throne of God.

    3. With what comfort then mayest thou Believer take the Sacrament as a Token the Covenant-blessings: Yea, thou takest it as a pledge from God, that all his wrath over in Christ, and that Divine Justice is satisfied towards thee in Christ, and that all thy Sins are for ever pardoned, that God is the Father, Jesus Christ is thy Saviour, and Heaven is thy Inheritance, but here I shall Conclude at this time.