Page:A Treatise of the Covenant of Grace (John Ball).djvu/16

 4 giving of some future good. Secondly, the retribution of some performance. The first without the second, is no more then a Promise: the second without the first is no lesse then a Law, though the Apostle, Gal. 3. 22. makes another opposition of Law and Promise, nature and faith, workes and Christ, for that is from a divers acceptation of the Promise. But when two persons upon these two parts concurre, it is that we call a Covenant properly: though tropically sometimes the Promise, and sometimes the stipulation only is noted by the Covenant. Psal. 50. 5. Nehem. 1. 9. Gen. 17. 7, 9. and sometimes the seale of the Covenant is called the Covenant. Gen. 17. 10, 11.

This distinction of the Covenant depends upon a distinction of Gods love; for there is a love of God towards the creature, whence all the good that is in the creature doth flow, and there is a love of God vouchsafed to the creature, and that for those things which it hath received, not of it selfe, but of God, as it was beloved with that first love. That we may call primary or antecedent (for distinction sake) this secondary or consequent love. From that flowes both the making and fulfilling of the Absolute Covenant: on this depends the fulfilling of the Covenant, whereunto a restipulation is annexed, but not the making thereof. For in the Absolute Covenant there is nothing in the creature that might move God, either to promise, or to performe what he hath promised: but in the Covenant to which a stipulation is annexed, God fulfils what he promised, because the creature exhibits what was exacted, although this that God hath entered into such a Covenant, and promised so great things unto him that performed such and such obedience, that wholly proceeds from the antecedent love, and free pleasure of Almighty God. The essence of the Covenant properly consisteth in the Promise and stipulation: But the words of the Covenant containe obedience required of God, and promised of them in Covenant, and so by a Metonymie are called the Covenant. Exod. 34. 27, 28. Deut. 29. 1. Jer. 11. 2, 3, 4. and 34. 13, 14. The Tables of the Law were the Tables of the Covenant. The Covenant and Law differ, as friendship and tables obligatory to friendship: he that violates these, is convinced to breake this: Heb. 8. 1, 2. and the tables of the Covenant of Law are called the Covenant or Testament, and the Book of the Covenant. Exod. 24. 4, 7. 2 King. 23. 2. A Covenant is made betwixt men