SERM.

IV.

1. By the outward means of his Word: wherein he plainly fhews them, what those conditions of the Covenant of Grace are, which are so neceffary to be performed on their part; and the neceffity that arises from the nature of Things, that thofe conditions be complied with, 'ere the promised Bleffings of the Covenant can be expected: and at the fame time propounds to them the most suitable Directions and the most powerful Motives, to induce them to a compliance therewith. And moreover, hath instituted a standing Ministry in his Church, to the end that thefe Conditions, Directions and Motives may be frequently explained, and folemnly enforced on their Minds. These are the outward means. And,

2. The inward means he uses, to engage them to comply with the Terms of the Covenant, are the Grace and Influences of the Holy Spirit (g); to render the forementioned external means effectual. And by

thefe

(g) N. B. In treating of this Subject I make use of the Words Terms and Conditions indifcriminately as fynonymous; and defire throughout to be understood in the same sense, wherein I have explained the Word Condition in the preceding Difcourfe, (as Conditio fine quâ non) to be performed not by an inherent, but a communicated Power.

IV.

these gracious Operations of his Spirit he be- SERM. gins, and carries on and perfects a Divine Change in their Souls: which are therefore commonly called his awakening, quickening and confirming Grace.

He begins this Work in their Souls by his awakening Grace; which is otherwise called convincing and preventing Grace: whereby he renders them thoroughly fenfible of their Danger, whilft they continue out of Covenant with God and Enemies to him; and makes them willing to comply with the Terms of the Covenant, as indifpenfably neceffary to a mutual Reconciliation. Makes them willing, I fay; not by forcing or overbearing their Will by an irresistible Energy; for that would not be dealing with them. as reasonable or moral Agents: but by effectually perfuading it; by fetting the forementioned Motives before their Minds in the ftrongest Light; and by removing those Prejudices and carnal Affections, which prevent their feeing the Evidence, and feeling the Force of them. So that they, who wilfully fhut their Eyes against the one, and harden their Hearts against the other, in a conftant oppofition to that Grace, which is

thus

SERM. thus offered to enlighten and convince them, IV. must at length neceffarily perish through W their own Perverseness.

And befides this, there is the quickening Grace of the Spirit, to carry on the good Work in the Soul: whereby it is enlivened, enlarged and invigorated; and roufed out of that indolent and infenfible Frame it is fometimes but too apt to fall into, with respect to it's fpiritual and eternal Concerns; and is enabled more and more to comply with the Terms of the Covenant, and fo attain ftill brighter Hopes of its Intereft in the Bleffings of it.

And lastly, there is his confirming Grace: whereby the Soul is established in the Ways of Holinefs; enjoys the Pleafures of Religion, the Teftimony of a good Confcience, fettled Peace, and affured Hope of everlasting life.

And thus Chrift directs, affifts and ftrengthens us to comply with the Terms of Salvation, as Mediator of the Covenant with Man.

2. Let us now confider him ás Mediator of the Covenant with GOD; and in what manner he gives us the fulleft Affurance of

the

the Bleffings of the Covenant, upon our SERM. compliance with the conditions thereof. IV. And this he does two ways, viz. by the Merits of his Death, and the Efficacy of his Interceffion.

1. By the Merits of his Death; or the Atonement of his Blood, which is called the Seal of the Covenant on God's part. By offering himself a Propitiation for Sin, and fuffering as our Subftitute and Surety, he hath answered all the Demands of the Divine Law and Juftice; given us all poffible Affurance that GOD is actually reconciled to us, and willing to bestow upon us all the Bleffings of the Covenant, upon our thus complying with the Conditions of it: not merely for the fake of this our obedient Compliance (tho' even this was wrought in us by the free and efficacious Grace of the Spirit) but for the fake of this great Propitiation and Atonement of Chrift; which God hath accepted, in which he is wellpleased, and for the fake of which he is wellpleased with all thofe, who in performance of his Covenant depend upon that Propitia 2. He

tion.

And

SERM.

IV.

2. He moreover fecures to us the Bleffings of the Covenant by the efficacy of his Interceffion. For he ever liveth to make Interceffon for his People (b). And that which he pleads before the Father in their behalf is, what he hath done for them, and what he hath wrought in them. And if we confider but how acceptable the Subject of such an Interceffion must be to the Father of Mercies, and how near and dear to him the Interceffor himself, we may be affured that his Interceffion will prevail.

4. I am now to confider the Foundation of this wonderful Conftitution,

And if we furvey it in all it's parts from the Beginning to the End, as it hath been now briefly represented, it will plainly appear to have been founded in the divine Grace and Wisdom.

First, it is a Conftitution full of Grace and Mercy, O, what Compaffion and Goodness is here! that GOD fhould be pleased himself to appoint his own Son Mediator of that Covenant, which he entered into with Apoftate Creatures! Were it put to our choice, we could have defired nothing, that would

(b) Heb. vii. 26.

be