grace is moft grace when it is extended to the most unworthy. Thus, I fay, draw encouragement from the name of him that fits upon the throne within the rainbow.

7. It is for the honour and glory of God, that you improve the rainbow of the covenant for your fecurity against the deluge of wrath, and for obtaining the bleffings that lie within the bofom thereof; hereby ye glorify his power, being perfuaded, that he is able to make good what he has promifed; hereby you glorify his holinefs, which is pledged to the great covenant-head, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness; pledged in the covenant to him and his feed: Hereby you glorify his juftice by acquiefcing in that righteoufnefs or juftice, which is the foundation of his throne; hereby you glorify his mercy, and join with him in saying, Mercy fhall be built up for ever; hereby you glorify his truth and faithfulness, by fetting to the feal that God is true: In a word, you give him the glory of your falvation, faying, Salvation to him that fitteth upon the throne, and to the lamb for ever and ever; the language of faith is, Not to us, not to us: but to thy name be the glory.

Thus you fee that there is noble encouragement, and the best warrants in the world for believing, or coming within this bow of the covenant: O then, firs, for the Lord's fake, and for your own foul's fake, flee in within the rainbow that is about the throne; believe in Chrift by virtue of the covenant of grace and promife; and if after all you will not comply, I will declare in the name of God, that the bow of God's covenant shall stand you in no ftead. The faithfulness of God that is engaged to fave the

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finner that believes, or takes hold of his covenant, is engaged to damn the foul that continues in unbelief; for as he that believeth shall be saved, so be that believeth not shall be damned. The fountains of the great depth of God's wrath will inevitably sweep you away: And he who is the God of falvation has faid, That he will wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy fcalp of them that go on in their trefpasses.

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The fifth thing propofed was to roll away fome impediments, or ftumbling ftones, that lie in the of finners, and which have a fatal influence in discouraging them to take the benefit of the rainbow of the covenant, which furrounds the throne of grace. There are fome things on God's part, that appear as great and ftrong bars against the finner, and tend mightily to difcourage him from looking either to the throne or the bow that furrounds it, viz. the law of God, the juftice of God, the holinefs of God, and the decree of God.

1. The law of God. O, fays the finner, I am condemned already by God's law, and how then fhall I look towards God's covenant, or take hold of it for my safety against the deluge of wrath? Anfw. If thou had not broken the divine law, thou would not stand in need of the grace of God's covenant; the law is fo far from being against the promife in the business of falvation, that that moment thou takes hold of Chrift by virtue of the covenant or promife, the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in thee; For Chrift is the end of the law for righteoufnefs to every one that believeth. Chrift was made under the law, to redeem them that were under the Jaw,

2. But O, fays the finner, the justice of God is against me, the thoughts of incenfed juftice make my heart to tremble within me. Anf. The throne of grace that is furrounded with the bow of the covenant is founded upon juftice fatsified and judgment executed upon the furety; and that moment thou comes within the bond of the covenant, justice becomes thy friend, affoiling thee on the ground of Chrift's fatisfaction: For God has fet forth Chrift to be a propitiation thro' faith in his blood, to fhew forth his righteoufnefs for the remiffion of fins, that he might be juft, and the justifier of him that believeth in Jefus.

3. The holiness of God fometimes fcares the finner to look toward the throne of grace, or covenant of grace. But, firs, I tell you, that that moment you come within the bow of the covenant, you are made partakers of his holiness, and the holinefs of God being laid in pledge for the fulfilling of the promise, ftands up for its own intereft in the finner's behalf. And befide, by the blood of Jefus, the filth of fin is covered from the eyes of unfpotted holinefs, as well as the guilt of it hid from the eye of incensed justice.

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4. The finner is ready to be fcared from taking hold of God's covenant, and his faithfulness engaged therein on the account of the decrees of God. will the finner fay, it is true, if I were among the number of the elect, I might meddle with God's covenant: But alas, I think I am none of thefe, and therefore I need not think of taking hold of Christ by virtue of his covenant. But, firs, let me tell you, that fecret things belong to the Lord, but things that are revealed to us and to our children: let God's de

crees, alone, you have no more business with them in the matter of believing, than you have to trouble yourself with what they are doing in Mexico or Peru. Meddle you with the things that are revealed, for these are the things that belong to us and to our children. Now what are the things that are revealed? Christ is revealed, the covenant and the promises are revealed as the ground of faith, the command of God enjoining you to believe is revealed; God's good-will to man upon earth is revealed; thefe are the things that belong to you, and therefore meddle you with these, and let not the devil and your own ill heart together brangle and confound you, by telling you that you do not know if you be elected, for

that moment you come within the bond of God's covenant, you know your. election, and that God hath loved you with an everlasting love: And no other way can you poffibly know it. But befides all this, let me tell you, that God's promife registered in his word, is but an extract of the eternal thought and purpose of his heart; fo that by believing his promife immediately you may know that you are the called according to his purpose.

But may the finner fay, though there be no bar on God's part, yet there are many bars and impediments on my part. I fhall endeavour to roll away thefe alfo, by answering the following objections of unbelief.

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Objection 1. "I am a poor unworthy creature, I "dare not think of meddling with God's covenant." Anfwer, It is a bastard devilish humility, that keeps you from believing, for the more unworthy you are of the grace and favour of God, the more fit you are for receiving the grace of God at a throne of

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grace by virtue of the covenant of grace; grace is only calculated for the unworthy finner, and not for those that think themselves worthy of it.

Object. 2. My fins are like the great mountains, and I fear the grace of God will never level them. Anfwer, Take hold of God's covenant and you shall find these mountains removed, and caft into the midst of the fea. Ifa. i. 18. Come and let us reafon together, faith the Lord, tho' your fins be as scarlet and crimson, I will make them white as fnow and as wool.

Object. 3. I want a law-work, I am not weary and heavy laden, and therefore am not fit to take hold of God's covenant. Answer, If thou think to make a law-work and humiliation a price in your hand to recommend you to Chrift, and fit you for him; I tell you, that inftead of fitting yourself for Chrift, you are building up a wall between Christ and you, that you shall never get over. If you fee an abfolute need of Chrift, and that you are undone without him, do not stand to seek more law-work: for that moment you close with Christ by virtue of the covenant of grace, the law has gotten its end, Christ being the end of the law to every one that believeth. It is the weary and heavy laden that are called; but that is not to exclude others, who cannot find that difpofition in themselves; and they are mentioned in particular in the call, because they are most ready to exclude themselves from having any concern in Chrift or his covenant.

Object. 4. I am afraid to take hold of God's covenant, in case I turn away from his commandments, and fo render myself unworthy of a covenant-relation to him. Anfwer, If you really take hold of his

covenant,