ceive me: which negation properly respects the degrees.See Jer.23.7. Isai.43.18Joh. 5. 45. There is one that accuseth you, even Moses, that is, Moses primarily and especially, Gen. 45. 8. God sent me hither: when God and his brethren had done it, but in a divers manner.
C h a p. II.
Of the Covenant God made with man in the state of Innocencie.
IT hath pleased God to deale with the reasonable creature, by way of Promise and restipulation, that is, by way of Covenant: In which God himselfe is one partie covenanting and promising, and the whole reasonable creature, the other restipulating and obeying. The thing holden out by God is eternall life with all immediate blessings, the condition on the part of the reasonable creature is free, ready and willing obedience, whether from nature or grace. The causes why God made choice to deale with the reasonable creature in this manner are principally three. First, that the creature might know what to expect from the Creator, into what state soever cast. Secondly, that the same creature might alwayes recognize, and acknowledge what to retribute. Thirdly, Such manner of dealing suites best with the nature of the reasonable creature, and his subordination to the Almighty. But passing by what might be spoken of the Covenant with reasonable creatures, both men and Angels: we will only consider what Covenant God hath made with mankind, because the knowledge thereof doth in speciall manner concerne us, and in the unfolding thereof the Scripture is most plentifull. We reade not the word Covenant betwixt God and man, ever since the Creation, both in Innocency, and under the fall; but we have in Scripture what may amount to as much. As in Innocency God provided and proposed to Adam, eternall happinesse in the present injoyments, and cals for perfect obedience: which appeares from Gods threatning, Gen. 2. 17. For if man must die if he disobeyed, it implies strongly that Gods Covenant was with him for life, if he obeyed. And after the fall, it is most evident, God was pleased to hold this course with man, in all ages and conditions, but with some altera-
