offices, he should be invested with in it, and the numerous offspring he should have. 1. As the work assigned him was to be done in human nature, which needed qualifications for it, support under it, and encouragement of success : all this was promised him, the Spirit should be put upon him, as a Spirit of wisdom, and of the fear of God, Isai. xi. 1, 2, without measure, Psal. xlv. 7. and that whereas the human nature, in which this work was to be done, would be attended with weakness, with all the sinless infirmities of human nature; God promised to strengthen him, and accordingly, he was the Man of his right hand, Psal. lxxxix. 21. so that he failed not, nor was he discouraged or broken, Isai. xlii. 1, 4. 2. As he was to do and suffer much in his human nature, so it was promised him, that he should have a very great glory conferred on him in that nature the prophecies of the old Testament, which are founded on covenant-engagements, speak, as of the sufferings of Christ, so of the glory that should follow, Isai. xlix. 5. Luke xxiv. 26. particularly it was promised him, that though he should die and be laid in the grave, yet that he should not lie so long as to see corruption, but be raised again the third day, as also, that he should ascend to heaven, and receive gifts for men, Psal. lxviii. 18. Moreover, it was promised him, that in human nature he should sit at the right hand of God; a glory and honour which none of the angels was ever admitted to; angels, authorities, and powers being made subject unto him! Psal. cx, 1. Heb. i. 13. In a word, it was promised him in covenant, that God would divide him a portion with the great; and that he should divide the spoil with the strong, 3. As an encouragement to Christ to engage in the above work pro, posed to him, in covenant, it was promised him, that he should be invested with, and sustain several honourable offices which he should execute in human nature; as that he should be the great prophet of the church; not only the minister of the circumcision for the truth of God to the Jews, but be for a light of the Gentiles; Isai. xlii. 6. and xlix. 6. It was also promised, and swore to by an oath in covenant, that he

should be a Priest; an honour which no man takes to him. self, but he that is called to it, as was Aaron; even Christ glorified not himself, to be called an High Priest; but his Father, Psal. cx. 4. Heb. v. 4. 5. Likewise, that he should be King of Zion, of saints, over his church and people, and have a kingdom very large, from sea to sea, from the river to the ends of the earth; of which government, and the increase of it, there should be no end; a dispensatory kingdom, besides that of nature and providence. Once more, God has appointed him in covenant to be the Judge of quick and dead; and has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness, by that Man whom he has ordained, Acts. x. 42. and xvii, 31. 4. In consequence of fulfilling the condi tion of the covenant, engaging to do, and doing the above work proposed in it; it was promised to Christ, that he should see his seed, and prolong his days, Isai. liii. 10. that is, that he should have a spiritual offspring, he should be an everlasting Father to them, and they be his everlasting children he was bid to ask of his Father in covenant, and he would give him the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession; which accordingly he asked, and has, and is well pleased with his portion, Isai. ix. 6. Psal. xxii. 30. all power in heaven and in earth is given unto him, so that he can order and appoint whatsoever he pleases for the good of his people, Eph. i. 22. John xvii. 2. 11. There are other things which God the Father promised in covenant, respecting, the persons for whom Christ was a covenantee, And,-1. It was promised, that upon Christ's engaging in, and performing the work of redemption, they should be delivered out of that state of misery sin brought them into, even out of the pit wherein is no water, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Zech. ix. 11. 2. That upon the faithful discharge of his office, as a Servant, particularly in bearing the sins of his people, they should be openly justified and acquitted, Isai. liii. 11. 3. That all their iniquities should be forgiven them, for Christ's sake, and their sins and trans.

gressions be remembered no more. This is a special and particular article in the covenant, to which all the prophets bear witness, Jer. xxxi. 34. Acts x. 43. 4. that they should be openly adopted, and declared the children of God, and be dealt with as such; that God should be their God, their Fa ther, their Portion and inheritance. Jer. xxxii. 38. 5. that they should be regenerated, and be made willing in the day of his power upon them, to be saved by him, and to serve him, Deut. xxxi. 6. 6. that they should have knowledge of God, as their covenant-God and Father; even the least, as well as the greatest, be all taught of God, as his children, Jer. xxxi. 34. So that repentance and faith are not terms and conditions of the covenant, but are free grace-gifts granted, and blessings of grace promised in the covenant, and are as sure to the covenant-people, as any other blessings whatever, Acts. xi. 18. 7. It is another promise in this covenant that the law of God should be put into their inward parts, and written on their hearts, Jer. xxxi. 33. 8. It is further promised by the Lord, in this covenant, that whereas they are weak and unable to do any thing spiritually good of themselves, that he will put his Spirit within them. 9. Another article in this cove nant, respecting the chosen and covenant-people, is, that they shall persevere in grace, in faith, and holiness to the end; this is absolutely promised in it, and the faithfulness of God is engaged to perform it; I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me, Jer. xxxi. 40. 10. Glory, as well as grace, is promised in this covenant; promise that he has promised us, even eternal life, Tit. i. 2.

This is the

OF THE PART THE SON OF GOD HAS TAKEN IN THE COVENANT.

THE part which the son of God takes, and the place and office he has in the covenant of grace, are next to be considered. Christ has so great a concern in the covenant, that he

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is said to be the covenant itself: I will give thee for a Covenant of the people, Isai. xlii. 6. he is the first and the last in it, the sum and substance of it; he is every thing, ALL in ALL in it; all the blessings of it are the sure mercies of him, who is David, and David's Son. He is the representative-Head of his people in it; he is the Mediator, Surety, Testator, and Messenger of it; of all which, more particularly and distinctly hereafter. At present I shall only observe Christ's assent to his Father's proposals, which is fully expressed in Psal. xl. 6-8. Heb. x. 5-10.

OF CHRIST, AS THE COVENANT HEAD OF THE ELECT.

CHRIST is often said to be the Head of the church; not of any particular congregation of saints, in this or any other part of the world; but of the church of the first-born, whose names are written in heaven, Eph. i. 22, 23. and v. 23. he is that to them as a natural head is to a natural body, and the members of it; which is of the same nature with it, superior to it, communicates life, sense, and motion to it, as well as overlooks and protects it; such an head of influence is Christ to the Church, Eph. iv. 15, 16. he is an Head in a political sense, as a captain-general is head of his army, and a king is head of his subjects, Judg. x. 11. Hos. i. 11. and in an economical sense, as the husband is the head of the wife, and a father the head of his children, and a master the head of his servants, and of his whole family, Numb, i. 4. Eph. v. 23, 24. Isai. ix. 6. Besides these, he is the representative.head of his church; all that he engaged to do and suffer, was not only on their account, but in their name and stead; and all that he received, promises and blessings, were not only for them, but he receiv ed them as personating them. Thus,-1. Christ was consid ered in election; he was chosen a Head, and his people as members in him, Eph. i. 4. 2. Such a relation Christ stood in to them in the covenant, that was made, not with him alone, but with all the elect of God, considered in him as their head

and representative; hence we read of the covenant that was confirmed before God in Christ; when as yet they had not an actual being, only a representative one in Christ, Gal. iii. 17. 3 The promises of grace and glory, made to the elect of God, in covenant, were made to them. as considered in Christ their head and representative: hence the promise of life is said to be in him, 2 Tim. i. 1. and indeed, all the promises are Yea and Amen in him, 2 Cor. i. 20. 4. All the blessings of grace, and grants of them in the covenant of grace, were not in actual being, but only had a representative one in Christ their head; hence grace is said to be given them in Christ Jesus before the world began, 2 Tim. i. 9. 5. Christ, in the everlasting covenant, engaged in the name of his people, to obey and suffer in their stead; not as a single individual of human na ture, and for himself, but as the federal Head of his people, as representing them; That so the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, Rom. viii. 4. insomuch that they may be truly said to suffer with him; they were all gathered together, recollected in one Head, and are said to be crucified with him, Eph. i. 10. 6. When he rose from the dead, he rose not as a private Person, but as a public Person, Eph. ii. 5, 6. Yea, Christ is also gone to heaven, not only as the Forerunner of his people, but as their Head and Representative: and hence they are said to be made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, Eph. ii. 6. 7. The federal headship of Christ, may be argued and concluded from Adam being a federal head and representative of all his natural offspring; in which he was the figure of him that was to come, that is Christ; for it was in that chiefly, if not solely, that he was a figure of Christ, Rom. v. 14. Now as Christ stands in the relation of an head to the elect, he has all things delivered into his hands; in honour to him, and in love both to him and them, and for their good, Matt. xi. 27. and therefore their persons, grace and glory, must be safe in him; the covenant, and all its bless ings and promisses, are sure in him, the Head and Represen tative of his people in it.