A treatise of the divine promises in five bookes : in the first, a generall description of their nature, kinds, excellency, right use, properties, and the persons to whom they belong : in the foure last, a declaration of the covenant it selfe .../ by Edvvard Legh ...

3. The Promises are most firme and faithfull;

GOD is true in all his pro∣mises, be they never so great or wonderfull: heaven and earth shall sooner passe away, then one piece of his promise faile, Rom. 4.16. GOD cannot lie, Tit. 1.2. nor denie himselfe, 2 Tim. 2.13. He may as easily denie himselfe as his word. David often in 119. Psalme, giveth this epithite to GODS Word,* 1.1 Iust and righteous Word, 106, 123, 137, 144, verses. Paul often useth this preface, This is a true say∣ing, and of all men worthy to be beleeved; or, this is a faithfull saying, 1 Tim. 1.15. 1 Tim. 4.9. 2 Tim. 2.11. Tit. 3.8. Revel. 21.5. & 22.6. it is called The Word of truth, Iam. 1.18. Ephes. 1.13. Col. 1.5. The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver

tried in a fornace of earth, puri∣rified seven times, Psal. 12.6. Psal. 18.30. Psal. 119.140. Pro. 30.5. As the gold and silver that hath beene often tried doth never de∣ceive men, so the divine promi∣ses doe not deceive those that trust in them, because the truth and goodnesse of them hath beene continually tried by o∣thers, and graciously performed by GOD himselfe. His Cove∣nant is called a * 1.2 Covenant of salt, 2 Chron. 13.5. that is, a sta∣ble and sure Covenant, an ever∣lasting Covenant, Gen. 17.7. Esay 55.3. Ezek. 16.60. this phrase is frequently used in Scripture, GOD that keepeth Covenant, Deut. 7.9. Dan. 9.4. Nehem. 1.5. & 9.32. 2 Chron. 6.14, 15. Psal. 89.34.* 1.3 Esay 54.10. All the pro∣mises of GOD are Yea, and Amen, in CHRIST, 2 Cor. 1.20. Not onely Yea, but Yea and Amen. Not onely firme and faith∣full in themselves, but such as shall be made good to the soules

of GODS people in full per∣fection.

We may call in experience to witnesse this truth: GOD hath not onely made good his Covenant to his friends, but to his enemies and strangers, Deut. 2. Iosh. 23.5, 10, 14, 15. He kept touch with Iehu for the king∣dome, for foure generations * 1.4 ac∣cording to his promise. He is faithfull to those that deale per∣fidiously in the Covenant, Rom. 3.3▪ 4. He makes good his pro∣mises in the circumstances of them, keepes the very houre as it were, Gen. 15.13, 16. compared with Exod. 12.41. therefore this phrase is often used, as the LORD hath said, or as the LORD hath promised, Deut. 10.9. & 18.26. & 27.2. Ioel 2.32. Iosh. 23.5, 10.

We might instance in parti∣culars, and shew how the pro∣mises of GOD have still beene fulfilled, as that first promise of CHRIST, Gen. 3.15. we may

see fulfilled, Luke 1.68. to 73. Gal. 4.4. and that particular pro∣mise to preserve Noah in the Arke, Gen. 6.18. fulfilled, Gen. 8. those made to a 1.5 Abraham, b 1.6 Isaac, and c 1.7 Iacob. But I leave this to the observation of Chri∣stians themselves.

GODS Love and mercy is the onely reason of making pro∣mises; but his truth, justice, fi∣delity, power, and glory, are the reasons of fulfilling them. The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, saith Moses to Israel; because yee were more in number then any people; but because the LORD loved you; that is the ground of making the promise: and because hee would keepe the oath which he had sworne to your fathers, that was the ground of performing his promise. For thy words sake, and according to thine owne heart,* 1.8 saith David, hast thou done all these great things, according to thine owne heart, that is, ex

mero motu, out of pure and unexcited love thou didst give thy Word and promise, and for thy Word sake thou hast perfor∣med it. Thou wilt performe saith the Prophet, The truth to Ja∣cob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworne unto our fa∣ther from the daies of old.* 1.9 Why truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham? the promise after a sort began in Abraham (therefore hee is called the Father of the faith∣full) and when GOD makes a promise, it is onely out of mer∣cy; but the promise was conti∣nued unto Iacob, who being Abrahams seed, was an heire of the Promise, and so the inheri∣tance which was out of mercy given unto Abraham, did out of truth and fideli••y descend un∣to Iacob, the seed of Abraham;* 1.10 and therefore we shall find Cove∣nant, Mercy, and Oath, joyned together in the Scripture, Deut. 7.12. Luke 1.72, 73. to note un∣to us, both the ground of making

the Covenant, Mercy, and the ground of performing the Co∣venant made, the Truth and Fide∣lity of GOD.

GODS very name JEHO∣VAH, declareth that he is con∣stant and will performe his pro∣mise, because as he giveth being to all things, so he makes that to be which he hath promised.* 1.11 By my Name JEHOVAH was I not knowne to them, Exod. 6.3. He meaneth, that though he made many promises to them, especially concerning their pos∣session of Canaan, yet he did not shew himselfe to be JEHOVAH an Accomplisher of his promi∣ses, that he reserved to future generations, ver. 8. Therefore whensoever in any of the Pro∣phets, GOD promiseth or threatneth any great matter, to assure us of the most certaine event of such his promise or threatning, he addes unto it his Name JEHOVAH, as Ezek. 5.17. Ier. 31.31. in which Chapter

being wholy promissorie con∣cerning the New Covenant of grace and free pardon of sinnes, which the Church obtaineth thorough CHRIST, it is repeated 33 times,

It was the end 1. Of CHRISTS Incarnation, to shew that GOD would be mindfull of his pro∣mise, Luke 1.72. 2. Of his Mi∣nistery, to assure and confirme the promises made before to the Fa∣thers, Romanes 15.8. 3. They are sealed with the blood of CHRIST the Testator, Heb. 9.16. and therefore are said to be all in him Yea and Amen, 2 Cor. 1.20. that is, sure and in∣fallible.

They are sealed in his Spirit, all beleevers are said to be sea∣led by the Spirit of promise, Ephes. 1.13. and this is GODS privie Seale.

GOD hath sealed to all his promises in the Sacraments, Rom. 4.11. which are given to us as GODS broad Seales to ratifie

his Covenant, and all his promi∣ses made unto his Church; they are outward pledges to confirme our faith, and make the promises (though not more sure, yet) more credible to us.

The promises are in some places called in the singular num∣ber, the promise, to assure us, that it is as easie for GOD to ful∣fill all that goodnesse con∣tained in all those Promises, as if they were but one onely Promise.

We promise and many times faile, either by the mutability of our will, the imbecillity of our power, or the scantnesse of our knowledge, not being able to foresee impediments.

But GOD is neither muta∣ble, weake, nor ignorant. His promises are made in heaven, where there is no inconstancie nor repentance. For I the LORD change not,* 1.12 therefore yee sonnes of Jacob are not con∣sumed, Mal. 3.6. as if hee had

said, I promised not to consume you, and you can tell I have kept promise with you, for yee are not consumed to this day, With him there is no variablenesse, nor shadow of turning, Iam. 1.17. GOD cannot lie, 1 Sam. 15.29. nor repent:* 1.13 He cannot lie in ma∣king a promise, nor repent in ful∣filling it.

GOD is also infinite in wis∣dome to contrive, and in power to bring about the execution of his owne will. Hee is onely wise, Rom. 16.27. 1 Tim. 1.17. The LORD knoweth,* 1.14 to deliver the righteous out of trouble.

GOD is able to accomplish what he hath promised, All things are possible to him, Mar. 10.27. Nothing is too hard for him, Ier. 32.27. Gen. 18 14. Num. 11.23. He c••nnot be hindered by weaknesse, Hee is Almighty, Re∣vel. 1.8. Hee that is able of stones to raise up children unto Abra∣ham, Matth. 3.9. is able to take away our stony heart, and give us

a heart of flesh. There is a pro∣mise made of calling the Jewes unto CHRIST,* 1.15 and cau∣sing them to turne from trans∣gression in Iacob, Esay 59.20. But he who should consider the ex∣treame obstinacie and stubborne∣nesse of that people against the Gospell would thinke it impossi∣ble, that they should ever be pul'd out of the snare of the Divell; therefore the Apostle makes GODS power the ground of certaintie in this promise, Rom. 11.23, 26. The HOLY GHOST also puts us in mind of GODS power to strengthen our faith in these promises fol∣lowing.* 1.16

1. The alteration of our corrupt nature, Marke 10.23.

2. All needfull grace, GOD is able to make all grace abound, 2 Cor. 9.8.

3. Perseverance to the end, Ioh. 10.28, 29.

4. Supply of all necessities, GOD that is able will supply

them, Philip. 4.19.

5. Assistance in all trouble, Psal. 89.13, 21, 22.23.

6. Deliverance out of all evill, Esay 50.2.

7. The resurrection of our bo∣dies, Ephes. 1.19, 20.

8. Eternall glorification, Phil. 3.21.

This motive taken from GODS Almighty power, is used often in Scripture, to stirre up men and women to beleeve the promises of GOD. It was used to Sarah, Gen. 18.14. to the Vir∣gin Mary, Luke 1.37. to Ieremy, Ier. 32.27. and to the Disciples of CHRIST, Marke 10.27.

Abraham looked to GODS power,* 1.17 and thereby was moved to beleeve that GOD would performe his promise, though Isaac in whom the promise was made, was to be sacrificed, Rom. 4.20, 21. Heb. 11.19. Iehosaphat al∣so by his faith did magnifie GODS power, 2 Chron. 20.12.

This was Iobs onely comfort upon the dunghill, that that GOD who would (after wormes had consumed his flesh) raise him up at the last day, and make him with those very eyes to see his Redeemer, had power enough to deliver him from that cala∣mity into which he cast him, and to revive his strength.

* 1.18GOD is likewise true, just, and faithfull, and therefore will performe his promises.

GOD the Father (who hath promised) is the God of truth, Psal. 31.5. the Gospell (in which his promises are made) is the word of truth, Ephes. 1.13. His Sonne (who hath declared and merited the promises) is a faithfull and true witnesse, Revel. 3.14. truth it selfe, Ioh. 14.6. His Spirit (which sea∣leth unto us the truth of the pro∣mises even in our hearts) is the Spirit of truth. Ioh. 14.17.

* 1.19GOD is iust and faithfull in accomplishing his promises, Rom. 3.3, 5.

David saith, LORD in thy faithfullnesse,* 1.20 or in thy Iustice an∣swer me, Psal. 143.1. that is, not in the justice of merit, but of promise or Covenant: for in his promises he maketh himselfe our Debtor, and what he owes by vertue of his blessed promise, we may challenge. If wee con∣fesse our sinnes hee is faithfull and iust to forgive us our sinnes. As if he should say,* 1.21 GOD of his infinite mercy hath promised to all true Penitents and Con∣fessors, that hee will forgive, and never remember their sinnes any more; he must stand to his Promises, or else he should be un∣faithfull: and he is iust, he doth not say he is mercifull but iust to forgive the sinnes of true belee∣vers, because they are all satisfi∣ed for, and GODS justice will not let him demand the same debt twice, of the surety and of the debter.

The righteous GOD shall give unto mee a Crowne of righteous∣nesse,

2 Tim. 4.8. righteousnesse as well as mercy, is the ground of salvation, not in relation or respect to merit in us, but to pro∣mise in GOD.

* 1.22For he is faithfull that promised, Heb. 10.23. Sarah iudged him faithfull who had promised, Heb. 11.11.

The Promise of GOD is our title to happinesse, Gal. 3.18. If some great man out of his boun∣ty give another an Inheritance of a hundred pounds per annum, upon his paying of a pepper∣corne for rent; when hee hath payd it, he may claime the pro∣fits and by law recover them, and his plea in the Law must be the bargaine and Covenant be∣tweene them; for betwixt the rent and revenue there is no proportion: so upon our scant obedience, and scarce appearing faith, we may challenge heaven, and GOD cannot denie it us; not because wee have deser∣ved it, but because he hath promi∣sed it.

This will uphold the faith of a Christian: GOD hath promised, nay confirmed his promise with an oath, and sent his Sonne in the fullnesse of time, Gal. 4.4. in whom all the promises are Yea and Amen. What can be more Absolute? It is a maine pollicie of the Divell, to lay siege, to the truth of GODS Word, Yea hath GOD, said?* 1.23 so he would perswade us, that GOD will forget to be mercifull, and his promise will faile for ever∣more, Psal. 77.8, 9. Weake Chri∣stians in temptations and deserti∣ons are ready to distrust GOD, and to question the truth of his promises.* 1.24 The wicked hope he will change, where is the pro∣mise of his comming? 2 Pet. 3.4. the godly feare he will change: David complaineth, Psal. 69.3. I am weary of my crying, my throat is dried, mine eyes faile, while I waite for my GOD, Psal. 119.123. Mine eyes faile for thy salvation. I shall one day die (saith

he) by the hand of Saul, 1 Sam, 27.1. Psal. 73.13. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vaine, Psal. 116.11. I said in my haste, all men are lyars. Psal. 31.22. I said in my haste, I am cut off from be∣fore thine eyes. After that GOD had promised to Abraham that he would make of him a great nation, Gen. 12.2. and make his seed as the dust of the earth, Gen. 13.16. He and his wife being both old; he thus (as accounting GODS promises vaine) answered, LORD GOD, what wilt thou give mee, seeing I goe childlesse? Gen. 15.2.* 1.25 Sarah likewise hearing the promise GOD had made to her husband concerning a Sonne by her, laughed at it, Gen. 18.12. as if she should have said, that is a jest indeed. GOD told Adam in Paradise, That the seed of the woman should breake the serpents head, Gen. 3.15. He was long, but sure; for it was fulfilled at last. He that gave us CHRIST, how shall he not with him give us all things

also? Rom. 8.32. He that hath performed the promise concer∣ning CHRIST, wherein shall he faile? He hath hither∣to kept promise with nights and daies, as Ieremy saith, Ier. 33.20, 25. that one shall succeed the other, therefore much more will hee keepe his word with his people. Hee is worthy to be beleeved, who never failed to performe what he promised. If GOD have promised us pardon of sinne, Sanctification, Patience, Faith; wee should promise our selves these things, and rest confident, that we shall receive them. Shall we beleeve an honest man on his word, and yet not trust GOD upon his word, who is Almighty, and therefore able, a Father, and therefore willing to per∣forme his promises. GOD hath spoken in his holinesse (saith Da∣vid) I will reioyce therefore in his Word. I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth,

Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine, Ephraim also is the strength of mine head, Iudah is my law-gi∣ver, Moab is my washpot, Psal. 60.6, 7. Though then hee had little enough, yet he was con∣fident, hee should have all that, because he had GODS Word for it. So we may beleeve what GOD hath promised, since he hath said it, and sealed it, and sworne it. One in the Cove∣nant may lay hold on CHRIST, and say CHRIST is mine, on the Promise, and say forgive∣nesse is mine,* 1.26 on the Covenant, and say grace is mine.

The LORD will not be un∣mindfull of his Covenant with us, Psal. 111.5. nor unfaithfull in performance of his promise to us,* 1.27 if wee prove not un∣faithfull, but keepe covenant and promise with him, Psal. 103.17, 18. 2 Chron. 15.2. for the Covenant consists of two parts: in the one GOD bindes him∣selfe to be our GOD, in the

other we binde ourselves to be his people, Hos. 2.23. His is a Co∣venant of mercy, ours of obedi∣ence; He promiseth happinesse, we holinesse; He glory, we du∣ty; He hath tied himselfe by an oath, wee have bound our selves by the vow of baptisme, Hee will not forget his part, let us remember ours. Let it never be said of us, as it was of a Pope and his Nephew, that the one never spake as he thought, the other never performed what he spake. The Carthaginians were infamous for covenant-breaking, and slipperinesse in their promi∣ses, so that it grew a proverbe, Punica fides, Poeni foedifragi sem∣per habiti, saith Plautus; and the Athenians were renowned for faithfullnesse in all their cove∣nants, agreements, and promi∣ses; which gave occasion to those proverbes, Attica fides, and Atticus testis, used for one that still keepes touch. Fidelity in keeping promise is a fruit of

the Spirit, called by the Apo∣stle faith, Gal. 5.22. and a pro∣perty of him that a 1.28 must rest on GODS holy mountaine. Therefore wee should imitate, the Athenians, shall I say? nay rather GOD himselfe, expres∣sing faithfullnesse in all our words, workes, and waies; wee should b 1.29 keepe our covenant with GOD, and c 1.30 pay our vowes un∣to the most High, Psal. 25.10. Psal. 103.18. we should also be constant in the performance of our promises to men, for promi∣ses are due debts. And non in promissione sed in consummatione virtus est, vertue doth not con∣sist in promise, but in perfor∣mance.

The manner, how GOD performeth his promises is not alwaies one and the selfe∣same: sometimes hee gives the very particular thing pro∣mised, as unto the children of Israell deliverance out of Aegypt, David from Saul, Iacob from

Esau. Hee restored unto Heze∣kiah his health according to his promise, and removed the host of the Assyrians, which besie∣ged Jerusalem; sometime hee gives that which is equivalent or better.* 1.31 Thus in the 5. Com∣mandement, obedient children are promised long life; yet Iosiah, 2 Kings 23.29. and Abiah, 1 King. 14.13. were ta∣ken away in their best age; therefore for temporall life, they had eternall: * 1.32 so GOD pro∣mised Abraham the land of Canaan, and hee had the true Canaan, the Kingdome of Hea∣ven. GOD here breaketh not promise, but changeth in melius.* 1.33 So in taking away wealth from his children, he giveth them more store of grace, in restraining li∣berty of body, He giveth free∣dome of con••cience, with afflicti∣on, He giveth patience. It was promised Iosiah, 2 Kings 22.20. that hee should be gathered to his grave in peace; yet hee died a

violent death, for he was slaine by the hands of his enemies, 2 King. 23.29. the next words therefore doe expound it, And thine eyes shall not see all the evill which I will bring upon this place.* 1.34 He died in peace comparative∣ly with a worse state of life, for hee lived not to see the misery of succeeding a∣ges, Esay 57.1. Some inter∣pret it thus, hee was gathered to the Spirits of his Fathers, who enjoyed peace.

GOD doth not alwaies per∣forme his promises to the same parties, and yet most truly per∣formeth them, Psal. 97.11. Light is sowne for the righteous. Often∣times the Father soweth and dieth ere the harvest, and so the Sonne reapes: so Abraham in∣herited Canaan in his posterity.* 1.35 So GOD promised to send his Sonne: this promise was made to the Fathers, and GOD fulfil∣led it to the children, Acts 13.32, 33.

The time of accomplishing GODS promises is uncertaine to us, Acts 1.7,* 1.36 though it shall not be over-passed, The vision is for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speake and not lie. All visions and words of GOD, whether of promise or of threat∣ning, let them seeme to lie lea and void never so long, yet shall be not onely certainely fulfilled, but in the period of time,* 1.37 which the wisedome of GOD hath impropriated to them. Some∣times GODS promises have a limited time; as that,* 1.38 Gen. 17.21 & 18.14. and then they are fulfilled in that very time, ex∣prest, as Gen. 21.1, 2. Some∣times hee expresseth not the time.

GOD in the beginning made a promise to our first Parents concerning the seed of the Wo∣man,* 1.39 and deferred it almost 4000. yeares, and yet at length accomplished it. There have passed about 5000. yeares since

the time of the glorious com∣ming of CHRIST unto judgement was promised,* 1.40 and it is not knowne when it shall be accomplished.* 1.41 Abraham was childlesse till he was 70. yeares old, and at those yeares the LORD promised him issue. But this promise was not accom∣plished till a long time after, when hee was an 100. yeares old. David had a promise to be King of Ierusalem and Iuda, but the LORD exercised him by many and grievous afflictions, before he came to the Crowne; insomuch that he saies of him∣selfe, Psal. 119.82. Mine eyes faile for thy Word. The promise which was made unto Simeon,* 1.42 was not accomplished till hee was an old man ready to die, yet he continued to waite. The deliverance of Israel was promi∣sed 400. yeares before it was ful∣filled, Gen. 15.13.

GOD many times takes day,

1. ••ither his children are not ready for it.* 1.43

2. Or hee doth it to exercise their faith and patience, Heb. 6.15. to prove whether they can beleeve when they see not, Deut. 8.2.

3. Or hee lets them waite, that they may more esteeme the blessings when they have them, but never any could taxe him for promise-breaking. GOD as he doth out-vie all for the largenesse of his promises, so is he unmatchable for faithfullnesse in fulfilling his promises.* 1.44 We reade of some that have pro∣mised halfe their kingdomes, nay the Divell promised * 1.45 all the kingdomes of the world to our Saviour; but GOD pro∣miseth yet more, and perfor∣meth better then any of them. First, he doth not promise by halves, but he promiseth a whole Kingdome, and such a one, as is more worth then all the king∣domes of the world, and

excelleth them in foure proper∣ties, as the Apostle Peter shew∣eth.* 1.46 Nay one kingdome or one world is too little for him to give, he promiseth to give to all the faithfull two worlds, 1 Cor. 3.22, 23. Things present, and things to come, all are yours, both worlds are yours. He per∣formeth better also, what hee hath promised, then those be∣fore mentioned. For the first of them were but men, which of∣ten promise mountaines, and performe * 1.47 mole-hills: in this sence it may be said, Let GOD be true and every man a lier; and for the Divels promise, that great All which he made pro∣fer on, was just nothing, but shadowes and representations of things. He went about to coo∣zen CHRIST with meere words, for the kingdomes of the world were not in his power to give; but GOD is both able and willing to performe, whatsoever he hath promised,

his servants have often found him better, * 1.48 never any worse then his word: therefore wee should waite with patience for the fulfilling of his promises, not limiting him to time, manner, or meanes of accomplishment.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Nehem. 9.8.
• * 1.2

  A firme sate and un∣corruptible Covenant which lasts for ever, Num 18.19 Decretum ab omni corrup∣tione tutum perpetuum{que}, saith Iunius.
• * 1.3

  Every word of his mouth is exactly performed, a•• his people by experi∣ence have found and confessed, Iosh. 21 45. 1 King 8.56.
• * 1.4

  2 King, 10.30.
• a 1.5

  The pro∣mise, Gen 12 2, 3. perfor∣mance, Gen. 13.26.24.1.35. the pro¦mise, Gen. 15.5. fulfil∣led, Deut. 10.22. the pro∣mise, Gen. 17 16, 9. fulfil∣led, Gen. 21.1, 2.
• b 1.6

  Promise to Isaac, Gen 26.3 fulfi••led, 12, 13. verses.
• c 1.7

  To Iacob, Gen. 24.15 fulfilled, Gen. ••5 3. His love move•• him to promise, his truth binds him to performe. Deut. 7 7, 8.
• * 1.8

  2 Sam. 7.18, 21.
• * 1.9

  Micah 7 20.
• * 1.10

  The promi∣ses run all upon mercy, Exod 20.6. & 34 7. Deut. 5.10 Luk. 1 50 Psal. 103 17, 18. Mat. 5 7. Psal. 62 2.
• * 1.11

  Every one of Gods promises is as sure as himselfe, be∣ing confir∣med with his owne oath, Heb. 17 18. Luk. 1.7•• Esay 54.9. D. Benefield on Amos 1.2
• * 1.12

  Psal. 119.89 152. Psal. 33.11.
• * 1.13

  Num. 13.19
• * 1.14

  2 Pet. 29. It is not Gods power simply, but with relati¦on to his promise which se∣cures our faith. Luk. 1.37. Psal, 1••5 3. & 135▪ 6. In Dei p••o∣missis nulla falsit is est, quia in faci∣e••dis nulla omnipotent•• est difficultas, Fulgentius.
• * 1.15

  God having made a pro∣mise unto Israel, to re∣store them out of that great Cap∣tivity of Ba∣bylon, and it seeming to them incre¦dible, he ac∣quainteth them with his power together with his pro∣mises, Ezek. 37.11, 13.
• * 1.16

  Where the Holy Ghost intreats of the doctrine of repen∣tance and faith, the word create is metapho∣rically use••▪ to assure us that God will per∣forme his promise, though it were as hard a worke as to create all things at first; Thus hee hath promised to create a clean heart, Ps 51. and to create the fruite of lips to be peace, Esay 57.9. and to create upon every place, &c. Esa 4.5 and to create light and de¦li••erance out of afflictions, Esa. 45 7.
• * 1.17

  God perfor∣meth his promise when there is no ground nor possibili∣ty in nature for it•• not∣withstanding all the media incongru••i & dissimilia. Iob 15.25, 26, ••7.
• * 1.18

  All the pro∣mises are as true, as truth it selfe

  The pro¦mises are called su••e, Rom 4 16. Prom••ssa tua sunt De∣us, & qua falit timeat, cum promit∣tii veritas.

  August. Con∣fes. l. 12. c. 10.
• * 1.19

  His words are as deeds, his promises as perfor∣mances.
• * 1.20

  The land which was onely pro∣m••sed to Abraham is said Gen. ••5.12. to be gi∣ven him, Promittendo se fecit debi∣torem. Austen. 1 Ioh. 1.9.
• * 1.21

  Verba illa [Iust••s & fidelis] refe∣runtur ad promissionem divinam. Bellar. de poenitent. l. 3. c. 6.

  God is as just in per∣forming the mercy which he promi∣seth, as in executing the venge∣ance which he threat∣neth.
• * 1.22

  2 Tim. 2.13. 1 Thess. 5.24.
• * 1.23

  Gen. 3, 1.
• * 1.24

  Moses be∣wrayed his infidelity, Num. 11.1••, 14.15. Christs Disciples and othe••s that believed in him, accoun∣ted the pro∣mises of his resurrection to be vaine. Luk. 24.11, 25.

  Psal. 105.24.
• * 1.25

  Luk. 1. 18, 20
• * 1.26

  The Cove∣nant is mu∣tuall be∣tweene God and us. 1 King. 8.23.
• * 1.27

  God hath said that he will be All-sufficient to us; but he re∣quires then on our part that we be Altogether his, Cant. 2.16. In mar∣riage the woman must take the may for her hus∣band as well as he her for his wife. True faiths appre∣hension of Christ is mu¦tuall, it laies hold on Christ, as we use to do in our salutatiōs when we im∣brace one another, there is mu¦tuall hold on both sides. Whence the act of the Patriarkes faith appre∣hending the promises, Heb. 11.13. is elegantly set out, by the meta∣phor of salu∣ting; They saluted the promises. True faith kissing Christ, is kis¦sed of him, embracing Christ, is re∣imbraced of him, Phil. 3.12
• a 1.28

  Psal. 15.4,
• b 1.29

  When we receive this command from God, keepe my covenant, we should pray with Austen, Da Dominc, quod iubes, & iube quid vu, or as the Church tea¦cheth us, when wee heare the 10. Commā∣dements, Lord have mercy on us, and incline our hearts to keep this law
• c 1.30

  Exod. 19 5
• * 1.31

  Deut. 5.16. Is a good exposition of this place. So farre as long life may be a benefit to Gods children, so far he giveth it to them, Gen. 25.8.
• * 1.32

  He promi∣sed ••itam 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••ongatam, and gave vitam perpe∣uatam for it.
• * 1.33

  In Coelis re∣p••sita est ma∣ior compen∣satio. Calvin.
• * 1.34

  1 Chron. 34.28.
• * 1.35

  Acts 7.5. Tibi dabo & semini tuo, Gen. 13.15. Particula et videtur exe∣getica, Pareus in locum.
• * 1.36

  God delay∣eth the ful∣filling of his promises, Hab. 2.3. Goodnesse makes the promise, truth per∣formes it, and wisdome observes the fittest time.
• * 1.37

  Esay 60.22.
• * 1.38

  2 King. 4.16, 17.
• * 1.39

  Gen. 3.15.
• * 1.40

  Iude 14.
• * 1.41

  The Amo∣rites coun∣trey is by promise gi∣ven to Ab••a∣hams see i••, Gen. 12 7. & 13.15. and 15.18. and Abrahams seede in the posterity of Iacob posses∣sed it, Amos 2, 10. but some 400 & seventy yeares after the promise.
• * 1.42

  Luke 2.••5.
• * 1.43

  Alwaies some di∣stance of time passeth be••weene promises & ••erfo••man∣ces.
• * 1.44

  Polliciti•• di∣ve•• quilibet este potest. Ovid.
• * 1.45

  Matth. 4. Excels•• fro 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in ex∣celso.

  On a moun∣taine, he pro∣miseth moū∣taines.
• * 1.46

  1 Pet. 1.4.
• * 1.47

  Like the man in Eras∣mus his nau∣fragium, who in a storme pro∣mised the Virgin a picture of wax as big as S. Christo¦pher, but when hee came to sh••re, would not give a tallow can∣dle.

  Heb. 6.12, 15 Psal. 130.7, 8
• * 1.48

  He pro∣mised the c••ildren of Israel onely the land of Canaan, but hee gave them, be∣sides the whole l••nd of Canaan, two other kingdomes which he never promised; and to Zachary (for his unbeleefe stricken dumbe) he promi∣sed to give his speech at the birth of the child, but besides he gave him also the gift of prophecy. God prevents his people with his blessings, Psal. 2••.3. He is bountifull to them afore they aske ver. 3. and above their requests, ver. 4.