bestows on them, are mercies; the fruits and effects of abundant mercy and grace, Eph. ii. 4,----9 : Queft. 3. In what refpects are covenant-mercies faid to be fure mercies ? Anfw. 1. In refpect of the fure purpofe of God to bestow them. These covenant-mercies are what God has fully purpofed in himself, to make all those partakers of, who are in covenant with him. This is the eternal counsel and decree of God, to poflefs them of all fpiritual and eternal bleffings. And this decree of God is firm and immutable. Heh. vi. 17. Wherefore God willing more abundantly to fhew unto the heirs of the promife, the immutability of his counfel, confirmed itby an oath. Unchangeablenefs, is one property of the counfel and purpose of God, to confer the bleffings of the covehant, on the heirs of the promife. In this matter God is of one mind, and changeth not. His purpofe of mercy fhall never be alter'd, but ftand for ever. 2 Tim. ii. 19. The foundation of God ftandeth fure. As fure then as is the decree of God, fo fure are the mercies of the covenant, to all that are interested in the covenant of grace. Anfw. 2. In refpect of Christ's fure purchase of these mercies for them. Jefus Chrift has made a full purchafe of all covenant-mercies for his people. He gave himself a ransom for them, and fhed his moft precious blood for them, and thereby has obtained eternal redemption for them, Heb. ix. 12. He has paid down a fufficient price, to procure all spiritual and eternal bleffings for them. He has moft dearly bought them, by a price of infinite value. And in this refpest he has made falvation fure to believers. They can no more mifs of falvation, than the merits of Chrift can fail of compleat purchafing it. The furetyfhip-righteoufnefs of Jefus Chrift, wrought out for them, and imputed to them, gives them à fure title to all the mercies of the everlasting covenant. Anfw. 3. In refpect of the believers fure and certain enjoyment of them. They are fure, because they are made made fure to them that are in covenant with God. Believers have given to them many of thefe mercies in this prefent life; and they are fometimes fure that they' are poffeffed of them. They know, that their fins are pardoned, that their natures are fanctified, that they are born of God, and are the children of promife.---And they are alfo fometimes affured of the eternal bleffings of the kingdom of heaven after this life.--. But although they have not a fatisfying full affurance, of their being in a flate of grace now, and of their ftate of glory hereafter, yet the thing is in itfelf fure and certain. They are now in a state of grace, though they may not affuredly know it; and they fhall hereafter be in a state of glory, though they may not be under an unwavering affurance of it for the prefent. The fpiritual bleffings which they are now pofleffed of, they fhall affuredly abide in the poffeffion of, and never be deprived of. The eternal bleffings which they de fire and feek after, they fhall moft affuredly come to the full enjoyment of them for ever. All is fure to them, though they may not think fo. And when they fhall be brought to heaven, they fhall affuredly know, that the glories of that kingdom, will be fure to them for ever, APPLICATION. USE 1. We hence fee, that thofe who are interefied in the covenant of grace, are of all men the most happy. None are in fo bleffed a condition, none partake of fuch mercies, as they. The men of this world do enjoy many mercies; but not fuch mercies as believers do. The mercies which worldly men partake of, are only outward, common mercies, the good things of this world. But all thefe mercies are of a perifhing nature, and of uncertain continuance. They are not fure and everfting mercies. Men are not fure of the enjoyment of them for any time. They are not fure, that they fhall abide in the poffeffion of them one day or hour. And they may be fure, that when death comes, they fhall be be ftrip'd of them all for ever. But now, the mercies which believers partake of, and which are made over to them, are fure mercies. They are mercies, that cannot be taken away from them, that death itself cannot deprive them of. When they die, they carry with them the mercies they are owners of, and go to take poffeffion of the much better and greater mercies, that are referved in heaven for them. O then, how much does the bleffednefs of God's covenant-people outbid the feeming felicity of all the men in the world! Thought worldlings may think themfelves the moft happy men, yet they are miferable men, compared with them that have a covenant-intereft in God. Pfal. cxliv. 15, Happy is that people, whofe God is the Lord. USE 2. Are believers interested in fure mercies ? This then calls upon them to be in the practice of feveral duties. 1. Be exceeding thankful to God, for your interest in fuch fure mercies. Outward, common mercies, do bind men unto thankfulness to God. How much more do the fpecial and faving mercies of God, oblige us to most hearty thanksgivings to God? Thefe fure mercies of the covenant, are of all mercies the beft, and therefore do most of all engage unto thankful praifes to God. O then blefs and praife God for thefe uncommon favours of a covenant-God. How does David fummon all the powers of his foul, to blefs God on the account of fuch mercies? Pfal. ciii. 1,4. Blefs the Lord, O my soul : and all that is within me, blefs bis holy name. Bless the Lord, O my foul; and forget not all his benefits who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who bealeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from deftruction; who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies. Thus let your fouls alfo be thankful, and bless the Lord. 2. Reft fatisfied in your condition, whatever it be. You have caufe to be content and quiet, under all the allotments of divine providence, tho' feemingly grievous. It may be, God denies many outward comforts to you; it may be, he takes away many outward comforts from you; yet however, you have abundant reafon to be fatisfied in God's dealings with you. For God has. bestowed upon you fure mercies, which fhall never be taken away from you. God has given you things infinitely better, than all the good things of this world. He has already beftowed upon you fpiritual bleffings, which nothing fhall be able to deprive you of. And has ever lafting bleffings referved for you in heaven, which none fhall be able to prevent your coming to the enjoyment of. Thefe are all made fure to you; as fure as the almighty, all-wife, and most faithfull God can make them to you. And while you are interested in the beginnings of thefe mercies now, and entitled to the confummation and full fruition of them hereafter in heaven, you can have no juft caufe to be difquieted and perplexed about other things. The men of this world, who have their portion in this life, who have their All wrapped up in earthly things, may perplex themfelves, lofe their fleep, and wear out themselves with cares and fears about these things: but the fincere covenant-people of God fhould learn, in what faever condition they are, therewith to be content. For their fouls are fafe, and all the everlasting mercies of the Covenant of grace, are fo fecured to them, as that beaven and earth ball pass away, before they fhall fail of the eternal enjoyment of them in the kingdom of heaven. CHRIST Confider'd as the GIFT of God, in Character of a WITNESS, a LEADER, and a COMMANDER. Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people; a leader, and commander to the people. N the foregoing verfe, God had promised to I make an everlasting covenant with his people, and to bestow upon them the fure mercies of David. In this verfe he gives a description of the glorious Mediator, through whom, he would make that covenant with them, and bestow those mercies upon them. In the words we may obferve two things. 1. A call to attentive confideration, Behold. This word, behold, is wont to be ufed, when any thing most worthy of ferious confideration, is prefented unto us, And fuch is that, which God here calls upon us to take notice of; as it follows. 2. The matter of confideration, or things to be confidered, viz. |