A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein every word and particle in the original is explained ... : being the substance of thirty years Wednesdayes lectures at Black-fryers, London / by that holy and learned divine Wiliam Gouge ... : before which is prefixed a narrative of his life and death : whereunto is added two alphabeticall tables ...

§. 42. Of the covenant of workes.

II. I There are two distinct kinds of divine covenants which God made with* 1.1 man. One of works. The other of grace. These the Apostle expresly calleth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 covenants, Gal. 4. 24.* 1.2

This distinction of a covenant of works and grace, is according to the means whereby the benefit of the covenant is obtained. For in the first covenant life was to be obtained by works: but in the latter by grace.

The covenant of works is Gods agreement with man to enjoy life upon perfect* 1.3 obedience.

In setting forth this covenant we will distinctly consider.

• 1. The author of it.
• 2. The ground.
• 3. The parties with whom it was made.
• 4. The good promised.
• 5. The duty to be performed.
• 6. Mans ability therein.
• 7. The seales thereof.
• 8. The ends of it.
• 9. The extent.
• 10. The restraint thereof.* 1.4

• 1. The Author was God considered as mans Creator and supreme Lord: who had power to require what service it pleased him of man: and to appoint man what condition he would. Thus the Author of that covenant stood no way obliged un∣to man, further then it pleased him to bind himself.
• 2. The ground of that covenant was the good pleasure of the foresaid Lord.* 1.5 Though, after God had entred into covenant with man, justice required that the promised reward should be given upon performance of the condition: yet to en∣joyn such a condition for attaining the reward, was meer pleasure and will, yea, and grace too. The performing of the condition could not merit such a reward as was promised. Besides the ability to perform the condition, was given by him that promised the reward.
• 3. The party with whom God made that covenant was the first man, the Father* 1.6 of all man-kind: to whom God gave a dominion over all his creatures here below: who among all Gods works was his master-piece, made after Gods own Image: and who of all was most bound to God.
• 4. The good promised on Gods part was life: a most happy life, free from all* 1.7 misery, and everlasting. This is evidenced by that tree of life, which God set in the midst of the garden, Gen. 2. 9.
• 5. The duty required on mans part, was perfect obedience to the law of works,* 1.8 and that in his own person. This Moses thus expresseth, which if a man do he shall li•…•…e in them, Lev. 18. 5. By a man he meaneth a man himself, in his own person, not by a surety. By doing, he meaneth a full and perfect performing of all that was required, in every part, point, and degree thereof: Hereupon the contrary is thus expressed, Cursed is he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them, Deut. 27. 26. The Apostle setteth forth the like perfection of that obedience, both affirmatively, Gal. 3. 12. Rom. 10. 5. and also negatively, Gal. 3. 10.

Quest. How was this condition made known to man?

Answ.

• 1. It was written in mans heart, Rom. 2. 15.
• 2. It was further manifested to him by externall evidences, and signes: namely, by the two sacramentall trees planted in Eden. Gen. 2. 9.
• 3. By the commination annexed to the transgression of the latter, Gen. 2. 17.

• 6. Man had ability given him to observe the condition to the full at the very in∣stant* 1.9 of his creation. This is implyed under this phrase, God created man in his own image, Gen. 1. 27. That image of God is expounded to be
  • 1. Knowledge, Col. 3. 10. Knowledge of all things that were requisite for him to know, for serving and honouring his Creator; and for continuing in that happy estate wherein God made him.
  • 2. Righteousnesse and holinesse of truth, Eph. 4. 24. In this respect it is said that God made man upright, Eccles. 7. 29. As God made man perfect in purity, so he made the frame, bent, and inclination of man wholly to good: and withall he gave man power and ability so to continue: onely he made him alterable, and left it in his power and free-will to stand or fall: that there might be thereby made a more thorough tryall of his voluntary obedience.
• ...

  7. The Seals of the covenant of works, were the two forementioned signes: the* 1.10 two trees planted in the midst of Eden.

  The former seal was to assure him of the accomplishment of the promise upon observing the condition. It is hereupon supposed that if Adam had eaten of the tree of life, before he eat of the other tree, he should for ever have been established. Thus much is gathered out of this phrase. Take of the tree of life, and eat and live for ever, Gen. 3. 22.

  The latter seal was added for further triall of his obedience, whether he would be subject to the good will of his Creator in every thing that he should command him: though it were not naturall, and as the morall law written in his heart: but, as it might seem, circumstantiall meerly upon the will of his Lord. For the fruit of that tree, before it was forbidden, was as lawfull for him to eat of, as the fruit of any other tree in Eden: and it is said that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, Gen. 3. 6.

• ...

  8. The ends of this covenant were partly on Gods part, and partly on mans.* 1.11

  On Gods part the most high supreme end of all was his glory, manifested in sundry of his divine excellencies: as his supreme sovera•…•…gnty, unsearcha∣ble wisdome, incomprehensible goodnesse, perfect justice, both in giving reward according to compact, and also in taking revenge according to de∣sert.

  On mans part one especiall end was. To make man the more carefull in observing the condition, the more watchfull against transgression, and the more confident in expecting the reward.

  There was also another end both on Gods part and mans, which was to make way for the covenant of grace, that thereby, the mercy, pitty, com∣passion, goodnesse, and bounty of God might be more manifested to man, and that man might have his heart the more enlarged to magnifie God.

• 9. The extent of the covenant of works reached to Adam and all his posterity.* 1.12 This is evident by the extent of the punishment to all man-kind, Rom. 5. 17. Had Adam in his person fulfilled the condition, his posterity had been established, and en∣joyed everlasting life.
• 10. The restraint of this covenant was such, as, the condition not observed, but broken in any point, no way was left for repentance by virtue of that covenant. E∣very transgression brought a curse, Deut. 27. 26.

Only God reserved to himself liberty to enter into another covenant.

Quest. Why was this covenant promulged after mans fall, and openly proclain•…•…d* 1.13 on Mount Sinai (Exod. 20.) and called a covenant made with Israel in Horeb, (Deut. 5. 2.) and the word of the covenant (Exod. 34. 28.) and tables of the covenant, (Deut. 9. 11.) and Ark of the covenant. (Deut. 10. 8.) Was man able after his fall to keep this covenant?

Answ. No, For the law was weak through the flesh, Rom. 8. 3. Thereupon it is said, that no man is justified by the law, Gal. 3. 11. Yet are there many reasons for pro∣mulging and reviving the same. As

• 1. That every mouth might be stopped, Rom. 3. 19.
• 2. That it might be a School-master to drive us unto Christ, Gal. 3. 24.
• 3. That we might have a plat-form of true righteousnesse to endevour after it, 1 Tim. 1. 8.
• ...

• 4. That sin might be more throroughly known, (Rom. 3. 20. and 7. 7.) and that both in the vile nature, and also in the bitter fruits thereof.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Two Cove∣nants.
• * 1.2

  One of works. The other of Grace.
• * 1.3

  What the Co∣venant of works is.
• * 1.4

  1. The Au∣thor of it.
• * 1.5

  2. The Ground thereof.
• * 1.6

  3. With whom it was made.
• * 1.7

  4. What was promised therein.
• * 1.8

  5. What was required thereby.
• * 1.9

  6. Mans abi∣lity to do what was re∣quited.
• * 1.10

  •…•…. The Seals of it.
• * 1.11

  8. The Ends thereof.
• * 1.12

  9. The Extent of it.
• * 1.13

  Why it was proclaimed after mans fall.