Page:Faith's plea upon God's covenant (2).pdf/3

 Doctrine.—That one of faith's strong pleas, with God is, that he would have respect to the Covenant,

If we would deal with God for mercy, or plead with him for favour, or look to him for any good at this occasion, let us expect it only upon this ground, the respect he hath to the Covenant, and plead upon his argument.

The method we would observe, as the Lord shall assist, for briefly handling this subject, shall be the following.

I. Shew what Covenant it is he will have a respect to.

II. What it is for God to have a respect to the Covenant.

III. What it is in the Covenant he have a respect to.

IV. What kind of a respect he hath to it.

V. Why he hath a respect to it, and so why it is a suitable plea and argument in suing for mercy.

VI. Make some application of the whole.

I. We are then first to show what Covenant it is he will have respect to. The Covenant here spoken of, is the Covenant of Grace and Promise made in Christ Jesus before the world began, and published in his gospel to sinners, Jer. xxxii. 39. 40. "And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their child ren after them. And I will make an everlasting Covenant with them. That I will not turn away from them to do them good, but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not