matter of high importance and of great concernment, for all mortals
to make good his covenant to his people. I might have laid down
several other unanswerable arguments to have evinced this blessed
truth, that there is a covenant between God and his people; but let
these eight suffice for the present.
7. Seventhly and lastly, Premise this with me—namely, that it is a
matter of high importance and of great concernment, for all mortals
to have a clear and a right understanding of that covenant under
which they are, 2 Sam. 23:3-4. God deals with all men according to
the covenant under which they stand. We shall never come to
understand our spiritual estate and condition, until we come to know
what covenant we are under, Psalm 105:8, 111:5; 1 Cor. 11:28; Gal.
4:23-25. If we are under a covenant of works, our state is miserable;
if we are under a covenant of grace, our state is happy. If we die
under a covenant of works, we shall be certainly damned; if we die
under a covenant of grace, we shall be certainly saved.
Until we come to understand what covenant we are under, we shall
never be able to put a right construction, a right interpretation, upon
any of God's actions, dealings, or dispensations towards us. When we
come to understand that we are under the covenant of grace, then we
shall be able to put a sweet, a loving, and a favorable construction
upon the most sharp, distressing, severe, and dreadful dispensations
of God, knowing that all flows from love, and shall work for our
external, internal, and eternal good, and for the advancement of
God's honor and glory in the world. [Rev. 3:19; Job 1:21; Jer. 24:4-5;
Romans 8:28; Heb. 12:10-11; 2 Cor. 4:15-18.] When we come to
understand that we are under a covenant of works, then we shall
know that there are wrath, and curses, and woes wrapped up in the
most favorable dispensations, and in the greatest outward mercies
and blessings which Christ confers upon us. [Proverbs 1:32; Mal. 2:2;
Deut. 28:15-20; Lev. 26:14-24; 2 Cor. 2:14; Heb. 12:1.]
If a man is under a covenant of grace—and does not know it, how can
he rejoice in the Lord? How can he sing out the high praises of God?
How can he delight himself in the Almighty? How can he triumph in
Christ Jesus? How can he cheerfully run the race which is before
him? How can he bear up bravely and resolutely in his sufferings for
the cause of Christ? How can he besiege the throne of grace with
boldness? How can he be temptation-proof? How can he be dead to
this world? How can he long to be with Christ in that other world?
And if a man be under a covenant of works—and does not know it,
how can he lament and bewail his sad condition? How can he be
earnest with God to bring him under the bond of the new covenant?
How can he desire after Christ? How can he choose the things that
please God? How can he cease from doing evil, and learn to do well?
How can he lay hold on eternal life? How can he be saved from wrath
to come? etc.
If we are under a covenant of grace—and do not know it, how can we
manage our duties and services with that life, love, seriousness,
holiness, spiritualness, and uprightness, as becomes us? [Psalm 16:4;
Amos 8:5; Mal. 1:13; Hosea 6:4, and 4:10; Psalm 36:3.] etc. If we are