Sermon XI

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

    Shewing what is contained in the Covenant of Grace, or what the Gifts, Grants, and Privileges which are Vouchsafed to all Comprehended therein.

    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.

    My Brethren, I shall now proceed to the next thing.

    Fourthly, The Fourth General Head proposed, was to shew you what is contained in the Covenant of Grace; I mean the Gifts, Grants, and Glorious Privileges vouchsafed to all those Persons that are comprehended therein.

    The First and chief Gift which is given in this Covenant, is God himself; and in speaking to this,

    1. I shall, God assisting, shew you how God comes to be our God in this Covenant.

    2. Shew you what this of having God to be our God doth import.

    3. I shall shew you what a wonderful Gift, Grant, and Privilege this is.

    I. My Brethren, how Man had God to be his God at first in the Covenant of Works, I shall not speak of here; 'tis evident that by breaking the first Covenant, he lost God, or that Blessed Covenant Relation he stood in to him; but now we have a new Title, God is ours again, and on better and more sure Basis, viz. upon the account of Christ's Mediation and Satisfaction—I will be your God, compared with Jer. 32.38. Cap. 24.7. and 30.31.33. Now that these Promises refer to the Covenant of Grace, See Heb. 8.8, 9, 10. And finding fault with them, he saith, Behold the Days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a New Covenant with the House of Israel, and the House ofJuda, ver. 8. Not according to the Covenant that I made with their Fathers, in the Day when I took them by the Hand to lead them out of the Land of Egypt: Because they continued not in my Covenant, and I regarded them not, v. 9. For this is the Covenant, &c.—I will put my Laws in their Mind, and write them in their Hearts, and I will be to them a God, &c. This being (as I said) the great and chiefest Gift, and Grant in the Covenant, I shall proceed to shew how God comes in this Covenant to be our God.

    1. Originally and Primarily by virtue of that Covenant made with Christ, as our Head and Representative, thus he became our God; I ascend to my Father, and to your Father, to my God, and to your God.

    2. By his own free Donation; through that Atonement Christ hath made, God gives himself to us to be our God.

    3. Nay, by what ways Soever we become God's People, by the same ways he becomes our God; as I shall have occasion to shew you afterwards.

    Secondly, What doth this import for God to be our God?

    1. Negatively, not merely our God by Creation, for so he is the God of the Fallen-Angels, and the God of all Ungodly Reprobates in the World, they are his Creatures, or were made by him.

    2. It doth not imply his being our God as he was the God of the whole House of Israel, which was by virtue of a Legal, and Typical Covenant; for tho in that Covenant he was their God, and an Husband to them, yet for all that, for their Disobedience he cast them off, and utterly rejected them, and now they are so no more his People, that Covenant and Covenant Relation, being quite dissolved and removed for ever: Therefore it follows, that was not the Covenant of Grace, into which all the Natural Seed of Abraham, as such, were taken; the Covenant of Grace can never be removed.

    3. Neither is he our God simply by an external or visible Profession, or by virtue of our own external Personal Covenanting with him, for many of these God will disown and be ashamed to be called their God; 'tis one thing to have the Christian Name, and profess the Christian Religion, and another thing to have a saving interest in God; Men may in this sense be in Christ, and yet as withered Branches be cut off and cast into the Fire.

    But in the Affirmative.

    I. God is our God in this Covenant by way of special interest, it denotes our peculiar Relation to God. (1.) As a Father is related to his Children, whom he either hath begotten, or adopted, even so God in this Covenant is our God and Father. (2.) Or, as a Husband is related to that Woman whom he hath in his most endeared Affections Espoused, and Married to himself. (3.) Or as an Heir is related to an Estate, or an Inheritance which was purchased for him, and made sure to him for ever. (4.) Or as a Redeemer, hath an interest in such Persons whom he hath redeemed for himself, and bought and purchased for his own Service, and to be for him and not for another.

    Thirdly, I shall endeavour to shew you what an amazing Blessing this Grant, or Gift in the Covenant of Peace is, i. e. for God to be our God.

    I. It is a choice and precious Blessing for God to give himself to us according to that Grant to Christ in the Covenant, because it is a clear Demonstration of his Special, Peculiar, and Eternal Love and Election: No Man can say he was beloved from everlasting, till he is effectually called; 'tis not a Man's having great Riches, Honours, Pleasures, Sweet Relations, Wealth, Health, and Prosperity; no, but 'tis his having Saving Grace: To kiss the King's Hand is a great Favour, but it is a far greater Token of Special Love to be made his Queen, and Royal Consort, and to lie in his Bosom: O! what can be a greater evidence of Divine Love and Goodness, than for God to give himself to us to be our God in the nearest Relation that a Creature is capable of, or can be brought into with his Glorious Creator, and Blessed Redeemer; For this God to be our God, our Portion, the Lot of our Inheritance, our Shield, and our exceeding great Reward, who were once his Enemies and mere Vassals of Sin and Satan: What Tongue is able to express this Love, or Heart to conceive how great it is?

    II. It is an amazing Privilege, Grant, and Blessing, because God cannot give a greater Gift than this is: My Brethren, Is there any thing in Heaven, or Earth greater or better than God himself? What hath God to bestow that excels himself? God (as I may speak with Reverence) looked round about on all things he had in Heaven and Earth, and saw nothing good enough to impart to his Elect and Beloved ones; and therefore gave himself to them, who comprehends and infinitely excels all Excellencies in both Worlds: Now is the Fountain of the great Depths broken up, and Mercy and Divine Goodness flows down like a mighty River: O! what Thoughts of Love and Bounty was in the Heart of God to us, when he entered into this Covenant of Peace, with Jesus Christ for us? What make a Deed of Gift of himself to us? And on such a sure Foundation too? Be amazed O ye Heavens! One Smile of God's Face, is better than all the World; which made David say, Whom have I in Heaven but thee? And there is none on Earth that I desire besides thee.

    III. Because when God gives himself to a poor Sinner, he gives all he is, and all he has, so far as it is communicable to Creatures; Fear not Abraham, I am thy Shield, and thy exceeding great Reward. My Brethren, all that Good that is contained in the communicable Attributes of God, are in this Covenant made over by a Deed of Gift to every Believer, as I briefly shall shew you.

    I. Divine Goodness, this is let out to all true Believers, the Goodness of God is given to them, not only laid up for them that fear his Name, but also it is imparted to them; and this of all the Attributes of God, seems to be the sweetest, it is one of the choice perfection of his Nature, and that which renders God to be the Object of our Love, Joy, and Delight: As he is a great and just God, he is the Object of our Fear, and as he is a Faithful God, he is the Object of our Trust, but as he is a Good God he is the Object of our Affections; God is good; There is none good but one, and that is God; nothing that is good, truly good, but what is derived from God, the loss of God only made Man miserable; and the Damned being for ever deprived of God, is that which makes them eternally miserable; And Sinners having interest in God, in the Goodness of God, this only tends to make them happy.

    Quest. What a Good is God?

    Answ. Goodness in God may be considered under a twofold Consideration.

    I. The Perfection and Excellency of the Being of God, I mean his Essential Goodness, this cannot be imparted to Creatures.

    II. His Communicative Goodness, or that which God hath wrought out, laid up, and which he lets forth to Believers; O how great is thy Goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee? Which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the Children of Men—The Earth is full of the Goodness of the Lord:I will make all my Goodness pass before thee, &c. My Excellency, or my Glory. This is that which we call the declarative Goodness of God.

    1. God is Absolutely Good in the Perfection of his Being, he is independently Good, there is nothing wanting in him, no defection, he subsists in and of himself, he needeth not us, and there can be no addition made to his Goodness to make it more than it is.

    2. God is originally and essentially Good, not only good, but Goodness it self; Goodness in Creatures is an accessary Quality, or a Created, or Superadded Gift, but Goodness in God, is not a Quality, but 'tis his Essence; he can as soon cease to be God, as cease to be Good; as a Vessel of pure Gold, the Matter is pure Gold, it self gives luster to it; but Brass gilt with Gold is another thing: So my Brethren, a Saint is one thing, and his Grace, his Righteousness is another thing. The Fallen Angels are God's Creatures still, they retain their Beings, but their Holiness they retain not, that is gone: God is the First Good, the Original Good, and Essentially Good.

    3. God is infinitely Good, Goodness in Creatures is small, and but little, but in God there is an Ocean of Goodness; it is bankless, boundless, bottomless, our Goodness is like a drop of Water out of the Ocean; — nay, there is a greater disproportion between that Goodness which is in God, and that which is in Saints, than there is between the Main Ocean and one small drop of Water, or between a Beam of Light let into a Room, and the Sun it self.

    4. God is Immutably and Unchangeably Good, as Goodness in God cannot be augmented, so it cannot be diminished, he cannot change or loose his Goodness, no not the least degree thereof; I am God I change not—He is the same Yesterday, to Day, and for ever: God made Man good and upright, but he long abode not so; all things in the first Creation are subject to change, but so is not the Blessed God and Creator.

    5. God is Universally Good, we may have Health and no Beauty, Learning but no Grace, Wisdom but no Power; Men may be Great and not Good, Rich but not Virtuous, &c. but all Perfections and Excellencies meet in the Blessed God; he is a Sun, a Shield, Wisdom, Love, Mercy, Power, Holiness,. Faithfulness, Grace, Mercy, Glory, &c.

    6. God is an unmixed Good, there is no Condition of poor Mortals, but hath in this Life its Mixtures; Honey yet some Gall, Grace yet some Sin, Strength yet some Weakness, Light yet some Darkness, Wisdom yet some Folly; but in God there is infinite and unmixed Goodness, whatsoever is good, all good, and that without any mixture.

    7. God is a Soul-enriching Good, a Soul-suitable, a Soul-satisfying Good, and a Soul-fattening Good; Eat ye that which is good, and let your Soul delight it self in Fatness: Why will you spend your Money for that which is not Bread, and your Labour for that which satisfieth not? There is enough in God to satisfy the Holy Angels, much more smaller Vessels; this Good Satisfies and not Surfeits; it satisfies the Soul, the Precious and Immortal Soul; neither can any Thing, or Person do this but God himself alone; They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fate things of thy House, and thou shalt make them drink of Rivers of thy Pleasure; for with thee is the Fountain of Life: God made the Soul for himself, it is fitted for him; therefore Creatures cannot satisfy it, God alone is the Adequate Object to it; 'tis Spiritual, and its Constitution is such, if it enjoy not God, 'tis restless, disquieted, and like Noah's Dove, it finds no resting place till it returns to the true Ark; Return to thy Rest, O my Soul, (saith David) take up thy dwelling in God, trust in him.

    8. God is a Delicious Good,a Soul-ravishing Good, he is an eternal Spring of Joy and Delight, and in this Covenant he displays his transcendent Glory and Perfections to his Creatures, who by the Spirit discern the Heavenly Beauty, and are made Partakers of the Divine Nature, which so endears them to the Divine Being, that they are at times transported with Joy, his Glory shining in them; there is nothing requisite to entire Blessedness, but it is in God, which Goodness powerfully allures and engage the Affections of every true Believer, who is in the exercise of Faith and Love; so that they at some Seasons are filled with unspeakable Comfort.

    9. God, it appears from hence, is a Superlative Good, he is far better than any thing we can conceive of, he is Man's only summum bonum; Who would weigh a Feather against a Mountain.

    10. God is a Communicative Good, this Crowns all; Why did he enter into a Covenant of Peace, and provide such a Mediator, but to let out, as through a Conduit Pipe, his Infinite Goodness to us? Herein we see how his Heart wrought from Eternity; it is an opening and an unfolding of his Bowels, which lay secretly yearning in him; this brings Life and Immortality to light, in the Revelation thereof, here is an immense Flood of Bounty and rich Goodness flowing down to Mankind, which shews the Excellency and Amiableness of his Nature most honourable to himself, and a perfect Pattern of Goodness unto Men, that so we may Adore and Worship him with Love and Delight.

    Lastly, God is an Eternal Good, all Earthly Good will fail, it lasts but for a moment, but God and his Goodness endures for ever; Why boasteth thou thy self in mischief,O mighty Man? The Goodness of God endureth continually. His Love, Mercy, and Goodness to his People is not fading and inconstant, but everlasting and unchangeable; the Love of God will eternally be running and flowing forth, so that our Joy, Peace and Satisfaction will never end, our Portion wasteth not, it will never be spent, God is an Eternal Reward.

    II. As Divine Goodness is that Man's who hath God to be his God, so is Divine Strength his also to support, uphold, and strengthen all that are his People; My Flesh and my Heart faileth, but God is the Strength of my Heart, and my Portion for ever: When God becomes our God, he is our Shield, and our exceeding great Reward, our Rest, our Fortress, our High Tower, &c. when God made that Promise to Abraham, it is as if he should say, I and all my Attributes are thine, for thy Use and Benefit; my Power is thine, my Arm is thine;

    Fear not Abraham, I am God All-sufficient; and I will from thence communicate all things to thee that thou needest; thou shalt have Me, my Goodness, my Power, and my Love for thy Portion; Jehovah is my Strength and my Song, he also is become my Salvation.

    III. Gods Mercies is theirs also, he is not only a God of Mercy, but a Believer (that has God to be his God) may say with David of God's Mercy, my Mercy, The God of my Mercy shall prevent me; the Mercy of God is ours, to spare and pity us; that is, we have interest in the Mercy of God, however great, or good and lasting it is, it is ours, his Mercy shall be let out to us, flow down to us: And O! what a Sweet Blessing is this?

    IV. Moreover, Divine Wisdom is ours, if God be our God, to conduct, lead, counsel, and guide us, and to order and dispose of all things for our good.

    V. Also the Riches and glorious Bounty of God is our Wealth, if we have the Person, or are Married to the Person, we have the Portion, a Believer hath interest in all the Riches of God's Grace and Glory.

    VI. The Care and Faithfulness of God is ours to preserve and keep us; to whom should Faithfulness be manifested, but to such that are in Covenant, and to whom all Promises are made; if God be our God, his Faithfulness will preserve us; Who should a Father care for, but for his own dear Children, as well as love and pity them? Casting all your Care upon him, for he Cares for you.

    VII. His Love is ours, (who is the God of Love) if he is our God, that is, we are the Objects of his most choice Affections, his Love is ours to delight and comfort us. Hence he is said to delight in his People, and to rejoice over them, as a young Man rejoiceth over his Bride.

    VIII. His Justice is ours to acquit us, to discharge us, and to plead for us as well as his Mercy: and to pronounce us Righteous in his Son, and for ever pardoned; He is Just and Righteous to forgive.

    IX. And his Unchangeableness also will prevent us from being consumed, that's our Security: O see what a Blessing and high Privilege it is to have God to be our God in Covenant? When Jehoshaphat had made a Covenant with Ahab, see how he expresses himself; i. e. There is a League between us,therefore my Horses are thy Horses, and my People are thy People: And so it is between God and us, his Strength is our Strength, and his Armies our Armies, we have interest in all God has, there is an offensive and defensive League between God and us; his Angels are all ready to engage in our just Cause, and fight for us, and against our Enemies: If we implore God's Aid, will he, think you, break his Covenant? God forbid. Moreover, his Special Providence is ours, if he be our God; I will guide thee by mine Eye — Hast thou not made an Hedge about him, and about all he hath? Job 1.10.

    Thirdly, There is one thing more that ought to be minded (that is) in this Covenant, all the Holy Attributes are united together, as a mighty Army on our side, in Christ they all sweetly harmonize,Mercy and Truth are met together, Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other. But having spoken to this already, I shall add no more to it now. See Dr. Bates's Harmony of the Divine Attributes.

    Fourthly, He that hath God to be his God in this Covenant, hath him to be his God for ever, he shall never lose God any more, every Believer hath an everlasting Interest in, and a Title to the ever Blessed God; This God is our God for ever and ever, and he will be our Guide even unto Death: This Grant will never be revoked by the Giver, nor can it be forfeited by the Receiver; you have heard how sure and firm the Covenant is, by which we hold the Inheritance; he is our Father, our Friend, our Portion, our Strength, our Help, our Riches, our Honour, and our God for ever.

    Secondly, Jesus Christ is given to all Believers in this Covenant, this is a glorious Gift, or Grant: O! how great and how comprehensive is this Gift? God is not our God till Christ is ours: O! consider; every Saint may say with Thomas, My Lord and my God: Christ is not only a Saviour, but a Believer may say, my Saviour; he is not only a Redeemer, but my Redeemer; not only the Life of the World, but my Life: When Christ,who is our Life, shall appear, &c. Christ is not only Light, but our Light; and not only a Peacemaker, but our Peace; He is our Peace that hath made both one: He is not only a Bridegroom, but our Bridegroom; my Beloved is mine, not only a Physician, but our Physician; and not only a Shepherd, but our Shepherd; The Lord is my Shepherd, yea, and our King, our Priest, our Prophet; he is our Righteousness, our Strength, our Food, our Clothes, our Foundation; who of God is made to us Wisdom and Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption. In a word, Christ in this Covenant is all in all; Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, Circumcision nor Uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, Bond nor Free, but Christ is all and in all.

    Thirdly, The next great Gift that is given in this Covenant, is the Holy Ghost, Isa. 59.21. the Holy Spirit is given to unite us to Christ, to quicken us, to illuminate our Minds, and to renovate our Soul, to be our Guide, our Comforter, and to dwell in us for ever, and to seal all Covenant Blessings to us.

    Fourthly, All Grace is given in this Covenant, Faith, Repentance, a pure Heart, Love, Hope, Humility, Patience, Charity, Temperance, Meekness, &c. But to every one of us is given Grace according to the measure of the Gift of Christ; and not only Grace, but all Spiritual Gifts also, yea, Sanctified Gifts; thus many great Gifts are given.

    Fifthly, Consider what other Grand Blessings and Privileges, are also given and granted, by virtue of this Covenant, viz. (1.) Adoption, to as many as received him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God. (2.) Righteousness and Justification from all things. (3.) Sanctification. (4.) Pardon of all Sins, and that for ever, and not only forgiven for ever, but they also are forgotten for ever. (5.) Peace. (6.) Communion with the Father and the Son (7.) Godly Zeal. (8.) Spiritual Strength and Courage. (9.) All Ordinances are given, yea, Fat and Green Pastures, Bread and Water of Life. (10.) The Ministers of Christ are given; Whether Paul, or Apostles, or Cephas, or the World, or Life, or Death, or things present, or things to come, all is yours,and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's: They have a Right and Title to all things that are good. (11.) All the Promises of God, are given in the Covenant; Whereby are given to us exceeding great and precious Promises: Promises that suit every State and Condition that we are, or may be in; great as to their Quantity, and precious as to their Quality; All the Promises of God are in him, yea, and in him, Amen, unto the Glory of God the Father. Moreover, all Gospel Ordinances are given. (12.) Yea, a Right to Eternal Life also is given and granted to all in this Covenant, even a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away; a Kingdom, a Crown, and a Throne is given; To him will I grant to sit with me in my Throne. (13.) Final Perseverance is given by this Covenant. Lastly, A Free Trade to Heaven is granted, or free access to the Father: But to this I shall more largely and distinctly speak at another time.

    O stand and Wonder! O what Gifts, Grants, Blessings and Privileges are procured in the Covenant of Peace? Happy are they that are taken into it: But I shall go no farther at this time.