tions, as seemed best in his infinite wisedome, and best fitted the present condition of the creature. In this manner hath God afforded both the prime and secondary good unto man under Covenants and seales, that he might have the greater assurance, so long as he walked in obedience: and herein God was pleased to condescend to mans weaknesse, and for the confirmation of his faith to adde Seales to his Covenants, in all times to bind the bargaine. The Covenant in generall may be described, a mutuall compact or agreement betwixt God and man, whereby God promiseth all good things, specially eternall happinesse unto man, upon just, equall and favourable conditions, and man doth promise to walk before God in all acccptable, free and willing obedience, expecting all good from God, and happinesse in God, according to his Promise, for the praise and glory of his great Name.
The Author of the Covenant is God, not God and man, for God doth enter into Covenant with man, not as his equall, but as his Soveraigne, and man is bound to accept of the conditions offered by the Lord. There can be no such equality of power and authority betwixt God and the creature, as that he should indent with the most High, but he must accept what the Lord is well-pleased to offer and command. The Covenant is of God, and that of his free grace and love: for although in some Covenant the good covenanted be promised in justice, and given in justice for our workes: yet it was of grace that God was pleased to bind himselfe to his creature, and above the desert of the creature: and though the reward be of justice, it is also of favour. For after perfect obedience performed according to the will of God, it had been no injustice in God, as he made the creature of nothing, so to have brought him unto nothing: it was then of grace that he was pleased to make that promise, and of the same grace his happinesse should have been continued. The partees covenanting are God and man: for God promiseth unto man upon condition, and man promiseth unto God what he requireth. In respect of Gods promise the Covenant is called his: but in respect of the conditions,Zech. 9.11.
In the bloud of thy Covenant.
Sept. δὶαθήκης σου. it may be called mans. God promiseth freely to recompence the good of obedience, which is already due, and might be exacted without promise of reward; man promiseth to pay that debt of duty, which he oweth unto the Lord, in respect of the manifold relations, wherein he stands obliged unto him. Theforme
