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 ...

CHAP. VII.

• 2. CHRIST himselfe, and many bles∣sings by him are promised to the God∣ly,
  • 1. Redemption.
  • 2. Vocation.
  • 3. Iustifica∣tion, which hath two parts,
    • 1. Not im∣puting sin.
    • 2 Imputing righteousnes
  • 4. Reconciliation
  • 5. Adoption.

* 1.11. CHRIST is promised to the godly.

THe first promise made to man and the foundation of all other was th••t, Gen. 3.15. It shall bruise thy head, It or

He, that is, CHRIST, shall bruise thy head, that is, breake the power and dominion of Satan. The first Promise was made concer∣ning CHRIST, because GOD intended to make good every pro∣mise in CHRIST.

In all ages the LORD re∣newed this promise of sending CHRIST the promised seed, as immediately after the floud, Noah by prophesie blessing his two sonnes, said, GOD shall enlarge Iaphet, and hee shall dwell in the tents of Shem, Gen. 9.27. He mea∣neth that we the Gentiles should be called to be one body with the Jewes in CHRIST. The same was afterwards oft re∣newed to Abraham: In thy Seed (that is, CHRIST) thou thy selfe, and all the nations of the earth (that is, the faithfull in all nations) shall be blessed, Gen. 12.3. Gen. 13.14. & 15.4, 18. Gen. 17.4. & 22.

The like was after promised to Isaac, Gen. 26.4. and Iacob, Gen.

28.14. and Gen. 49.10. it is said, The Scepter shall not depart from Iuda untill Shiloh come,* 1.2 that is, the Messias come, for Shiloh signifieth the tunicle or skinne that lappeth the Infant in the Mothers wombe; called by Phy∣sitians the secundine, (because it grieves the woman that is with child the second time, as it were a second birth) in French arriere fais, in English the after-birth or after-burden: and by a kind of figure is put for the Sonne of GOD in the wombe of the Vir∣gin, made man; to note him to be of the flesh of Mary, and his birth to be like the birth of other children, sinne onely ex∣cepted. There shall come a Starre out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, Numb. 24.17.

In all succeeding ages, Moses and all the Prophets in their times foretold of CHRIST,* 1.3 Acts 3.24. & 10.43. The LORD thy GOD will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee,

of thy brethren like unto mee, un∣to him shall yee hearken,* 1.4 Deut. 18.15. like unto mee] both in the participation of nature and office, saith Iunius: a true man, and a true Mediator, CHRIST is there meant, Acts 3.22. & 7.37. That evangelicall Prophet Esay spake of him then as already come. For unto us a childe * 1.5 is borne, unto us a Sonne is given, and the Governement shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called, Wonderfull, Counsellor, the mighty GOD, the everlasting Fa∣ther, the Prince of Peace, Esay 9.6. See Esay 11.1.32.1, 2. & 53.2, 3, 4. Ezek 37.24. & 34.24. Ier. 33.15, 16. Ier. 23.5, 6. Micah 5.2. Zach. 3.8. & 6.12, 13. & 9.9, 10. He is called the messenger of the Covenant, Mal. 3.1. For in him GOD reconciled the world to himselfe, 2 Cor. 5.19.

There are multitudes of pro∣mises also concerning CHRIST,* 1.6 and the generall benefits by him in the New Testament.

1. That he shall save us: The Evangelist Matthew gives this reason of his name JESUS,* 1.7 For hee shall save his people from their sinnes, from the guiltinesse, power, and punishment of them. The Sonne of man is come to seeke and save that which was lost, Luke 19.10. GOD sent his Sonne into the world, that the world through him might be saved,* 1.8 Iohn 3.17. The Apostle with a vehe∣ment asseveration affirmeth this. This is a faithfull saying, and wor∣thy of all acceptation, that CHRIST JESUS came in∣to the world to save sinners, 1 Tim. 1.15. Hence CHRIST is often called our Saviour, Esay 49.26. Esay 60.16. Luke 2.11. 1 Tim. 1.1. 1 Tim. 2.3.

* 1.92. CHRIST is said to be A light to the Gentiles, Matth. 4.16. The light of the world, John 8.13. & 9.5. under this compari∣son of Light, all benefits which CHRIST brings us are contai∣ned,

light of knowledge, grace, and glory.

Hitherto belong all such Scrip∣tures as shew CHRIST to be our Life,* 1.10 Col. 3.4. Iohn 6.33. Ioh. 14.6. CHRIST also cals him∣selfe The bread of life, Ioh. 6.35, 51.* 1.11 Compares himselfe to a Vine, Iohn 15.1. to teach, that as the branch hath his whole life from the stock, so we have all our life from him.

3. GOD is well pleased in CHRIST, Mat. 3.17. In whom, not with, by, or through whom, but a larger preposition then them all, which signifieth two things: 1. That GOD is well pleased with CHRIST: 2. In and through him with others; there∣fore it is said, Ephes. 1.3. GOD hath blessed us,* 1.12 with all spirituall blessings in CHRIST, verse 4. GOD hath chosen us in him, ver. 6. accepted us in the beloved, ver. 7.* 1.13 In him wee have redemption through his blood, the forgivenesse of sinnes, according to the riches of

his grace. It is said, Acts 13.34. I will give you the sure mer∣cies of David, that is, all those good things which were promi∣sed in CHRIST, who was of the seed of David.

2. Blessings by CHRIST to the Godly.

1. Redemption.

Who gave himselfe for us, that hee might redeeme us from all ini∣quity, Tit. 2.14. We have redemp∣tion through his blood.* 1.14 Ephes. 1.7. And he shall redeeme Israel from all his iniquitie, Psal. 130.8. He hath redeemed them from the curse of the law, by being made a curse for them, Gal. 3.13. CHRIST JESUS by his owne bloud entred into the holy place, having obtained eter∣nall redemption for us, Heb. 9.12.

CHRIST is made unto us Re∣demption, 1 Cor. 1.30.

2. Effectuall Calling; our par∣ticular

calling doth interest us in the promises of GOD, Acts 2.39. For the promise is unto you, and to your children,* 1.15 and to all that are a farre of, even to as many as the LORD our GOD shall call, there is the condition.

3. Justification.

By his knowledge, shall my righ∣teous servant iustifie many, Esay 53.11.

By him all that beleeve, are iu∣stified, Acts 13.39.

In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be iustified, Esay 45.25. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of GODS Elect? it is GOD that iustifieth, Rom. 8.33.

He iustifieth the ungodly, Rom. 4.5. that is, saith Beza, he makes him righteous in CHRIST, who is unrighteous in himselfe.

• 1. Justification consists of two parts,
  • 1. Not impu∣ting sinne, 2 Cor. 5.19.
  • 2. Imputing righteousnes, Gal. 3.6.

Promises of forgivenesse of sinnes.

This great benefit of forgive∣nesse of sinne by CHRIST, is plentifully proclaimed unto us miserable sinners.

* 1.16Behold the Lambe of GOD which taketh away the sinnes of the world, John 1.29. Hee shall beare their iniquities, Esay 53.11. Once in the end of the world hath hee appeared to put away sinne by the sacrifice of himselfe, Heb. 9.26. He was manifested to take away our sinnes, 1 Joh. 3.5. The blood of JESUS CHRIST cleanseth us from all sinne, 1 Joh. 1.7. He hath by himselfe purged our sins, Heb. 1.3. He bare our sinnes on the tree, 1 Pet. 2.24. He loved us and wa∣shed

us from our sinnes in his owne blood, Rev. 1.5. He is the propi∣tiation for our sinnes, 1 John 2.2.

Hereunto agreeth that invi∣tation of our Saviour: Come un∣to mee all yee,* 1.17 that are weary and heavie laden, and I will ease you, Mat. 11.28.

GOD of his rich grace and mercy in JESUS CHRIST doth make offer of free and full forgivenesse of sinnes, to every burdened, thirstie, and penitent soule.

Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him returne unto the LORD, and hee will have mercy upon him, and to our GOD, for hee will abundantly pardon, Esay 55.7. Returne thou backesliding Israel, saith the LORD, and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you, for I am mercifull, saith the LORD, and I will not keepe mine anger for ever, Jer. 3.22. I will cleanse

them from all their iniquity, where∣by they have sinned against me, and I will pardon all their iniquities whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed a∣gainst mee, Jer. 33.8.

GOD when he forgiveth us, so fully acquitteth us of our sins, as if we had committed no sinne at all.

This appeareth by many Me∣taphors used in the Scrip∣ture.

I am hee that blotteth out thy transgressions, saith the LORD, Esay 43.25. It is a Metaphore taken from Creditors, who when they purpose never to exact a debt, will blot it out of their bookes:* 1.18 I have put away thy transgressions as a cloud, and thy sinnes as a mist, saith the same LORD, Esay 44.22. The clouds which are driven away by the windes appeare no more, nor the mist which is dried up by the Sunne; so the sinnes which GOD forgiveth, returne not

againe: thou hast cast all my sins behind thy backe, saith Hezekiah to GOD, Esay 38.17. that which a man would not look on or regard, that he casteth behind his backe.

Thou wilt cast all their sinnes into the depths of the Sea,* 1.19 saith Micah to the LORD. When a man would have a thing utterly forgotten, hee will cast it into the bottome of the Sea, from whence there is no fetching it againe.

The Psalmist pronounceth him blessed, whose sinne is covered, Psal. 32.1. A thing covered is not seene, hee hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, nor seene perversenesse in Israel, Numb. 23.21.

The same Psalmist pronoun∣ceth him blessed, to whom the LORD imputeth not sinne,* 1.20 Psal. 32.2. a sinne not imputed, is as not committed: as Merchants when they will forgive a debt, put it not into the reckoning, and so do not impute it.

GOD himselfe saith, I will forgive their iniquities,* 1.21 and I will remember * 1.22 their sinne no more, Ier. 31.34. the latter clause ex∣pounds the former; to forgive is to remember no more, that is, ne∣ver to call that to account, which was once remitted.

Thus GOD blotteth out our sinnes, that they condemne us not. Putteth them away, that they hurt us not. Casteth them behind his backe, as though he regarded them not. And into the Sea, that they drowne us not. Covers them, that they appeare not. Doth not impute them, as though they were not. Forgetteth them, so that he punisheth them not.

All the blessings in the new Covenant are given with remissi∣on of sinnes. When GOD for∣gives a mans sinnes, then hee gives him all other things, San∣ctification, and whatsoever else, as we see at large. Ezek. 36.26. The LORD there, after he had promised to forgive all their sins,

hee saith, hee will give them a new heart, hee will cause them to walke in his waies; and then hee comes with outward mer∣cies too, hee promiseth them deliverance from their ene∣mies, and other good things in the rest of the Chapter, but all other things come in with remission of sinnes, Acts 10.43. To him give all the Prophets witnesse, that through his name, we have re∣mission of sinnes. The Pro∣phets gave witnesse concerning CHRIST of many other things besides remiss••on of sins, that we have in his name, which wee have by him, but all other things come with this. GOD was in CHRIST reconciling the world to himselfe, 2 Cor. 5.19. a marvellous great mercy, it consists in this, that their sinnes were not imputed. The priviledges of the new Covenant are chained toge∣ther: Whom hee hath predestina∣ted, them also hee called, and whom he called, them also he iustified, and

whom hee iustified, them also hee glorified, Rom. 8.30.

2. Promises to make us righ∣teous.

As by one mans disobedience, many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one, shall many bee made righteous, Rom. 5.19. there∣fore we are said, to be the righ∣teousnesse of GOD in him, 2 Cor. 5.21. For this cause CHRIST is called The LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESSE, Ier. 23.6. & 33.16. CHRIST is made un∣to us righteousnesse, 1 Cor. 1.30. He is said to be the end of the law for righteousnesse, to every one that beleeveth, Rom. 10.4. and the Sa∣craments are said to be the Seales of the righteousnesse of faith. Rom. 4.11.

* 1.23He hath covered mee with a robe of righteousnesse, Abraham belee∣ved GOD, and it was imputed to him for righteousnesse, Gal. 3.6.

This imputed righteousnesse the Papists scoffe at,* 1.24 and call it a pu∣tative righteousnesse; and yet the phrase is used tenne times in one Chapter.

4. Reconciliation.

By CHRIST wee are re∣conciled to GOD.

GOD hath reconciled us to himselfe by JESUS CHRIST. GOD was in CHRIST, reconci∣ling the * 1.25 world unto himselfe, 2 Cor. 5.18, 19. CHRIST is our peace, who hath made both one, that he might reconcile both unto GOD, Ephes. 2.14, 16.* 1.26 You that were some∣time alienated, yet now hath he recon∣ciled, Col. 1.21.

5. Adoption. Promises 1. of it.

Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us,* 1.27 that we should be called the sonnes of

GOD, 1 Joh. 3.1, 2. But to as ma∣ny as received him, to them gave he power to become the sonnes of GOD, even to them that beleeve in his name, Iohn 1.12. That is a gra∣cious promise which the Apostle citeth out of the Prophet Hosea, Rom. 9.26. And it shall be in the place, where it was said unto them, yee are not my people, that there they shall be called the children of the living GOD. So the LORD promiseth to such as shall sepa∣rate themselves from the wicked, 2 Cor. 6.18. Hee that overcom∣meth shall inherit all things, and I will be his GOD, and hee shall be my sonne, Rev. 21.7. Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the sonnes of GOD, Mat. 5.9.

It was GODS promise to David concerning Salomon, 2 Sam. 7.14. I will be his father, and hee shall be my sonne. Where∣upon David much affected and ravished, saith, verse 18. O LORD GOD, what am I, or my

fathers house, that thou shouldst vouchsafe me so great honour and happinesse, as to finde my childe, yea to take him for thine owne, and to become his Father?

See that excellent place, Gal. 4.4, 5, 6, 7. & Rom. 8.17.

2. To it, paternity promiseth all blessings, Mat. 7.11. and all forbearance, Psal. 103.13. Heb. 12.5, 6.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The world it selfe was no sooner begun, but the promise also began of sending Christ into the world, Gen 3.15 Yet this promise was in generall termes, neither shewing what seede, neither shewing what kind of woman, or of what people this seed should be. A second promise was made to Abraham, and it was a little more lightsome then this, for it shewed of what people he should be, viz of the Iewes, Gen 22.8. A third pro∣mise was more lightsome then this too, for it shewes of what Tribe he should be, viz of the Tribe of Iuda, Gen. 49 ••0. A fourth promise was yet more lightsome, for it shewed of what family He should be, viz of the family of David, 2 Sam 7 16 The fifth, and six, and seventh promises were much more lightsome then this, for the fift declared the party that should bring him into the world, viz a Virgin, Esay 7 17 The sixt the place he should be borne in, viz. Bethlehem, a City of Iudah, Micah 5.2 These youth declared the time, viz. seventy weekes of yeeres from the time the Prophet Daniel lived in, that is, foure hundred foure score and ten yeeres, Dan. 9 24. Days first Sermon of our Savi∣ours Nativity.
• * 1.2

  Shilo secun∣dae eius, id in que involvi∣tur partus in utero existēs, Metonymia rei continen∣t••s pro recon¦tenta, ut in∣quit ••remel. See Cart∣wright his confutation of the Rhe¦mish Testa∣ment, on Mat. 1.23 and Perkins on the Creed.
• * 1.3

  Rom 1.2.
• * 1.4

  Christ was promised to come of th•• seede of Da¦vid, Acts 1••.23. See Psal 8••.35.36 & 131, 11, 12, 13 14 Esay 16.5.
• * 1.5

  That is, Iesus Christ, of whom he prophesied, Chap. 7 14 Behold a Virgin shall conceive, and heare a Sonne, and shall call hu¦mane Im∣manuel.
• * 1.6

  Luke 1.32.
• * 1.7

  Mat. 1.21. Luke 3.6.
• * 1.8

  Ioh. 12.4••.
• * 1.9

  Esay 49 6. 1 Ioh. 19.
• * 1.10

  2 Tim. 1.10
• * 1.11

  He is said to be the Head of the body.
• * 1.12

  Rom. 8.32.
• * 1.13

  Ephes. 3.25.
• * 1.14

  Col. 1.14
• * 1.15

  Rom 8 28.30.
• * 1.16

  See Luk. 14 47. Act 5.31.10.43. & 13.38.
• * 1.17

  He came to call sinners, Luk. 5 21.
• * 1.18

  Col. 2.14.
• * 1.19

  Micah. 7.19. As if hee should say, looke as God subdu∣ed Pharaoh and all his hoast in the bottome of the Sea; so he will cast and put a∣way the sins of his people. Psal. 85.2.
• * 1.20

  Rom 4.7, 8.
• * 1.21

  Heb. 8, 12. & 10.17.
• * 1.22

  That which the Heathen Orator spoke flat∣teringly of Iuliu•• Caesar, is most true of God, nihil obli••iset so let, nisi iniu¦rias, He for∣gets nothing but the sins of penitent suppliants.
• * 1.23

  Esay 61.10. Zach. 3.3, 4,
• * 1.24

  Rom. 4.3, 5, 6 8, 9, 10, 11, 22, 23, 24.
• * 1.25

  That is, all belee∣vers tho∣rough the whole world.
• * 1.26

  See Rom. 5.1.10.
• * 1.27

  For yee are all the chil¦dren of God by faith in Christ Iesus Gal. 1 20. Ephes. 1.••.