Page:A Treatise of the Covenant of Grace (John Ball).djvu/21

 Rh speciall consideration of the subject with whom it was made, scil. the Covenant made with Adam in the state of Innocencie, or with man after the Fall. We reade not in Scripture, the Covenant of works, or of grace totidem syllabis: the neerest we come to it is is Rom. 3, 27. the Law of works opposed to the Law of faith; which holds out as much as the Covenant of workes, and the Covenant of Grace. For there the Apostle is disputing about justification, and by consequent eternall Salvation, which is Gods part to give under a Covenant. But of this hereafter. The Covenant which God made with our first parents, is that mutuall contract or agreement, wherein God promised eternall happinesse to man upon condition of intire and perfect obedience to be performed in his owne person.

The Author of this Covenant was God his Creator and Soveraigne, who had bestowed many and great blessings upon man, furnished him with excellent abilities, and enriched him with singular priviledges. This Covenant God made in Justice; yet so as it was of Grace likewise to make such a free promise, and to bestow so great things upon man for his obedience. God did in strict justice require obedience, promise a reward, and threaten punishment: but yet as bountifull and gratious unto his creature, intire and perfect, if he should so continue. God did in justice proportion the reward and the worke, the weight of the blessing promised, and the work of obedience required: but yet I cannot thinke it had been injustice in God to have given lesse, or not to have continued so great things to man, so long as he continued his obedience: No, God was pleased to manifest his goodnesse to man continuing in obedience, no lesse then his justice, as formerly in creation he had shewed himselfe exceeding gratious to man, above other visible and corporall creatures.

This Covenant God made with man without a Mediatour: for there needed no middle person to bring man into favour and friendship with God, because man did beare the image of God, and had not offended: nor to procure acceptance to mans service, because it was pure and spotlesse. God did love man being made after his Image: and promised to accept of his obedience performed freely, willingly, intirely, according to his Commandement. The forme of this Covenant stood in the speciall Promise of good to be received from justice as a reward for his work,