forme of the Covenant stands in a Promise and restipulation, To will and to nill the same things is the sure bond of all amity and friendship. Now because the communion betwixt God and us is of infinite disparitie, therefore his will is a Law to us, and our obedience is true love to him. wherein the Lord, though he might have required the whole debt of obedience, without promise of reward, in respect of the good things already bestowed upon the creature, yet to the end that man might yeeld cheerfull and free obedience, he first bound himselfe to reward the obedience of man, before he bound man unto him in obedience.
The Subject of this Covenant in generall is man not differenced by speciall respects: for as the Law was given, so the Gospell is revealed to man. Man in this or that speciall consideration is the subject of the Covenant, as it is divided for kinds, or altered for circumstances, and degrees: but man is the subject of the Covenant without such particular considerations. The Lord having respect to the mutability and weaknesse of mans nature, was pleased, so to try his obedience by Symbolicall precepts, so to evidence the assurance of his faithfull promise by outward seales: but when the creature shall grow to absolute perfection and unchangeablenesse, such symbolicall precepts and outward seales shall cease as needlesse. The good promised is eternall blessednesse with all good things that doe accompany it, or belong thereunto: the good required is obedience to the just and righteous Commandement of God, which he as our Soveraigne Lord doth claime and call for, according as he shall prescribe and appoint. The end thereof is the glory of God, viz. the praise of his wisedome, justice and bountie. And in all these things the Covenants howsoever divided in kinds, or varied in degrees and circumstances, doe sweetly consent and agree. But seeing the Covenant is not one, but manifold, both in kinds and degrees, we must distinguish it, and weigh more diligently what doth agree to every kind, and wherein they agree, and wherein they differ one from another. Some distinguish thus, the Covenant is either of Nature, or of Grace, or subservient to both, which is called the Old Testament. Others thus, the Covenant is Legall or Evangelicall, of works, or of grace. The Covenant of workes, wherein God covenanteth with man to give him eternall life upon condition of perfect obedience in his owne person. The Covenant of Grace, which God maketh with man promising eternall life upon condition of beleeving. And this distinction is one for substance with the former: and with that which may be taken from thespeciall
