Covenant, the one in respect of God, the other in respect of man. A Covenant there is betwixt God and man, but no mutuall obligation of debt: for such mutuall obligation is founded in some equality; but there is no equality between the Creator and the creature, much lesse betwixt the Lord most high, and man a sinner. If man had never offended, God almighty, who gave him his being and perfection, could not have been indepted unto him, but as he was pleased to recompence the good of obedience, in the creature that never deserved punishment: much lesse can God be indepted to the creature that hath offended, who can neither endure his presence nor beare the weight of his wrath, nor satisfie Justice, nor deliver his soule from the thraldome of sinne. The obligation of man to God is of double right and debt: but it is of rich grace and abundant love, that God doth bind himselfe unto man. God doth promise in this Covenant to be God and Father by right of redemption, and Christ to be Saviour of them that beleeve in God by him, and in faith do yeild sincere, uniforme, willing, upright and constant obedience unto his Commandements. Jer. 31. 31, 32, 33 Deut. 31. 6. Ezek. 36. 25, 26. Gen. 15. 1, 4, 5. Jer. 32. 40. & 33. 9. Heb. 8. 10, 11, 12. Isa. 54. 7. Hos. 2. 19.
The stipulation required is, that we take God to be our God, that is, that we repent of our iniquities, believe the promises of mercy and embrace them with the whole heart, and yeeld love, feare, reverence, worship, and obedience unto him, according to the prescript rule of his word. Repentance Luke 13. 5.
Act. 11. 18.
2 Cor. 7. 10.
Ezek. 18. 27.is called for in this Covenant, as it setteth forth the subject capable of Salvation by faith, but is it selfe only an acknowledgement of sinne, no healing of our wound, or cause of our acquittance. The feeling of paine and sicknesse, causeth a man to desire and seeke remedy, but it is no remedy it selfe. Hunger and thirst make a man to desire and seeke for food, but a man is not fed by being hungry. By repentance we know our selves, we feele our sicknesse, we hunger and thirst after grace, but the hand which we stretch forth to receive it, is faith alone, without which repentance is nothing but darknesse and despaire. Repentance is the condition of faith and the qualification of a person capable of Salvation: but faith alone is the cause of Justification and Salvation, on our part required. It is a penitent and petitioning faith, wherby we receive the promises of mercy, but we are not justified partly by prayer, partlyby
