The tryal & triumph of faith: or, An exposition of the history of Christs dispossessing of the daughter of the woman of Canaan Delivered in sermons; in which are opened, the victory of faith; the condition of those that are tempted; the excellency of Jesus Christ and free-grace; and some speciall grounds and principles of libertinisme and antinomian errors, discovered by Samuel Rutherfurd, professor of divinity in the University of St. Andrews. Published by authority.

SERMON VII.

SOn of David, O Lord, thou son of David:] In this compellation, consider why Christ is called the son of David, never the son of Adam▪ never the son of Abraham? Its true, he is called frequently the Son of man, but never when any prayeth to him: and he is reckoned in his Gene∣alogy, Davids son, Abrahams son, the son of Adam; but the son of David is his ordinary stile when prayers are directed to him in the days of his flesh. The Reasons are, 1. Christ had a spe∣ciall relation to Abraham being his seed, but more speciall to David, Because the Covenant was in a speciall maner established with David as a King, and the first King in whose hand the Church, the feeding thereof as Gods own flock, was as Gods depositum and pawn laid down; the Lord established the Covenant of Grace with

David, and his son Solomon, who was to build him a house, and promised to him an Eternall Kingdom, and Grace, and perseverance in Grace, and that by a sure Covenant, the sure mercies ef David, Esa. 55.3. 2 Sam. 7.8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. 1 Chron. 22.9, 10. 2 Sam. 23.5 Yet hath he made with me an everlasting cove∣nant, ordered in all things and sure, for (this is) all my salvation, and all my desire, Psal. 89.3. I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant. 4. Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy Throne to all generations, vers. 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27.28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37. Gabriel the An∣gel speaketh the same to Zacharias, Luk 1.32.33 So vers 68, 69. Acts 13.34, 35, 36, 37. Acts 2.30 Now it was necessary that Christ the Messiah should lineally descend of a King: Abraham was not a King, Adam was not formally a king by covenant as David was. 2. Christ chang∣eth names with David, as he never did with any man: Christ is never called Abraham, but Ezek. 34.23, 24. David my servant shall be a Prince among them, Hos. 3.5. They shall seek the Lord their God, and David their King: 3. David entred to a Typicall Throne against the heart of Jew and Gentile, Psal. 2.1.2. And so did Christ, Acts 4.25, 26. And did feed the people of God in the midst of many enemies, Psal. 110.1, 2. And so did Christ, Acts 2.34, 35, 36. Not so A∣braham, he was a befriended man in a strange Land.

That which I aime at is this, by the received Divinity of the Jews, and of the Gentiles who knew God, Christ was a King by the Covenant of Grace, and the speciall party of the new Co∣venant, as was David. This may be made more evident, if we enquire a little in the Covenant: 1. What it is: 2. Who be the parties. 3. What promises. 4. What condition. 5. What pro∣perties. 6. Some uses, with all Brevity: The Covenant is here a joynt and mutuall bargain between two, according to which they promise freely such and such things each to other; hence God and man made up a solemn bargain in Christ: 2. They both consent: Christ forced not his Spouse to marry against her will, nor was God forced to make a covenant. Love and Grace [ 1] was that which lead Christs hand at the pen, [ 2] in signing the covenant with his blood. 3. As a [ 3] cluster of Stars maketh a constellation, a body of Branches a Tree, so a masse of Promises con∣curreth in this Covenant. Where ever Christ is, clusters of Divine Promises groweth out of him, as the Motes, Rayes, and Beams from the Sun, and a family (as it were) and a society of Bran∣ches out of a Tree. 4. There is here giving and receiving; Christ offereth and giveth, such and [ 4] such favours, we receive all by beleeving, except the grace of Faith, which cannot be received by Faith, but by free favour and grace without us in God: Grace first and last was all our happi∣nesse; If there had not been a Saviour (to bor∣row

that expression) made all of Grace, grace it self, we could never have had dealing with God.

2. The parties of the Covenant are, God and Man; Oh how sweet! that such a Potter, and such a former of all things should come in terms of Bargaining with such clay, as is guilty before him! Now the parties heer, on the one part, is GOD; on the other, The Mediator Christ, and the children that the Lord gave him. Observe, 1. In the covenant of Nature and Works: God and his friend Adam were parties contracting: And in the second covenant, God and his fellow Christ, and all his are parties; a covenant of Peace cannot be between an Enemy and an E∣nemy as they are such; those who were Ene∣mies, must lay down wrath ere they enter into covenant; contraries as contraries cannot be united: God being the sole author of this co∣venant, did lay aside enmity first; Love must first send out love, as fire must cast out heat: Its true, this covenant is made with sinners, (as God made the covenant of nature with Adam▪ yet righteous) but an Union covenant wise could never have been, except God had in a manner bowed to us, and grace proved out of measure gracious.

Christ is the party here; so Christ hath a se∣ven fold relation: 1. As he is more then a crea∣ture, he is the Covenant it self: 2. As he deal∣eth between the parties, he is the Messenger of the Covenant: 3. As he saw and heard, and

testifieth all, he is the Witnesse of the Cove∣nant: 4. As he undertaketh for the parties at variance, he is the Surety of the Covenant: 5. As he standeth between the contrary parties, he is the Mediator of the Covenant: 6. As he signeth the Covenant, and closeth all the Ar∣ticles; he is the Testator of the Covenant: 7. As he is a side or the half of the Covenant; he is the Party contracting in the Covenant.

For the first, Isa. 42.6. I gave thee for a Covenant of the people, for a light of the Gen∣tiles, Isa. 49.8. I will preserve thee, and give thee for a Covenant of the people: Christ, God and man, is all the Covenant: 1. Because he is given to fulfill the Covenant on both sides: 2. He is the Covenant, In abstracto, he is very Peace and Reconciliation it self, Mic. 5.5. And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come unto our Land: As fire is hot for it self, and all things hot for it, and by participa∣tion: so thou art in so far in Covenant with Christ, as thou hast any thing of Christ, want Christ and want Peace and the Covenant.

2. Mal. 3.1. The Lord whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his Temple, even the Mes∣senger or Angel of the Covenant whom ye de∣light in: Christ travelleth with tidings between the parties: 1. He reporteth of God to us, that its his fathers will that we be saved, Joh. 6.39. 2. Christ reporteth of himself, for it setteth Christ, to be a Broker for Christ; and wisdom

to cry in the streets (who will have me) Prov 1.21, 22. Prov. 9.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. It became the Lord Jesus to praise himself, Joh. 6.48. Joh. 8.12. I am that bread of life, I am the light of the world, Joh. 10.9. I am the door, v. 11. I am the good Shepherd: 3. He praiseth his Father, Joh. 15. My Father is the good Husband-man. 4. He suiteth us in marriage, and commendeth his Father, and our father in law: You marry me, dear souls, O but my Father is a great per∣son, Joh. 14.2. In my Fathers house are many dwelling places: 2. He commendeth us to the Father, a Messenger making peace will do all this, Joh. 17.8. They have received thy words, and have known surely, that I came out from thee, and they have beleeved that thou didst send me. 25. O Righteous Father, the world have not known thee, but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me: Mi∣nisters cannot speak of Christ and his father, as he can do himself: O come hear Christ speak of Christ, and of his Father, and of heaven, for for he saw all: O sweet beleever, Christ giveth thee a good report in heaven, the Father and the Son are speaking of thee behinde-backs; A good report in Heaven is of much esteem; Christ spake more good of thee then thou art all worth; He telleth over again Ephraims prayers behinde his back, Jer. 30.18. O woe to thee, Christ is telling black tidings of thee in Heaven, Such a man will not beleeve in me, he

hateth me, and my cause, and my people: Christ cannot lye of any man.

3. Christ is an Eye-witnesse of the Cove∣nant, and heard and saw all; the whole Cove∣nant was a bloudy act, acted upon his person, Isa. 55.4. Behold I have given him for a wit∣nesse to the people, Rev. 1.5. The faithfull wit∣nesse, Rev. 3.14. The Amen, the faithfull and true witnesse. The Covenant saith, 1. The Son of man came to seek, and to save the lost, Luke 19.10. Amen, saith Christ, I can witnesse that to be true. 2. Christ dyed and rose again for [ 1] sinners; Amen, saith the witnesse, Joh. 1.18. I [ 2] was dead, and behold I live for evermore, Amen. Christ putteth his Seal to that; This is a true and faithfull saying, That Christ Jesus came into the world to die for sinners. I can swear that is true, saith Christ. 3. The world shall [ 3] have an end (saith the Covenant) and time shal be no more. By him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven and earth, (saith this Angel-witnesse; Rev. 10.6.) that is most true. Time shall be no more. Its a controversie to the world, if Eternity be comming: Christ endeth the controversie with an oath. 4. Christ shall judge the world, and all shall bow to me. This [ 4] Amen of God, saith that's true, Rom. 14.11. For as it is written, as I live saith the Lord every knee shall bow to me. The Covenant of Works had a promise; but because it was, 1. Conditionall. 2. To be broken and done away,

it had no oath of God as this hath. O doubt∣ing soul, thou sayest that thy salvation is not sure. Why? And its a sworn Article of the Co∣venant, thou hast Christs great Oath on it: Alas, God loveth not me: hast thou the Son? thou hast a true Testimony, its not so; and Pro. 14.5. A faithfull Witnesse will not lie: Christ has cause to remember that thou art saved, he beareth the marks of it in his body: Athiest! thou sayest who knoweth there's a heaven and hell? Why, the Witnesse of the Covenant saith, I was in both, and saw both.

4. Heb. 7.22. Christ is the surety of the bet∣ter Covenant: And in this the Father is surety for Christ, if he undertake for David, and He∣zekiah, Psal. 119.122. Isa. 38.14. Far more for his own Son; God hath given his word for Christ, he shall do the work, Isa. 52.13. Behold my righteous servant shall deal prudently, Isa. 50.9. Behold the Lord God will help me, and again, the Son is Surety to the Father; And the great undertaker, that God shall fulfill his part of the Covenant, that the Father shall give a Kingdom to his flock, Luke 12.32. Joh. 6.37 38, 39. 1. Christ as a Surety for us, hath payed a ransome for us. 2. Giveth a new heart to his [ 1] fellow-confederats. 3. And is ingaged to lose [ 2] none of them, Ioh. 17.12. But raise them up at [ 3] the last day, Joh. 6.39. If we could surrender ou•• selves to Christs undertaking, and get once •• word that he is become good to the Father for

us, all were well, woe to him who is that loose man, as he has not Christ under an Act, and band of Surety, that he shall keep him to the day of God: we make loose bargains in the be∣half of our souls.

5. As Christ standeth between the two Par∣ties, he is the great Lord Mediator of the new Covenant, Heb. 12.24. 1. Substantially, our Text calleth him Lord the Son of David, by condition of nature, he hath something of God, as being true God, and something of man as sha∣ring with us, hence is he Mediator by Office, and layeth his hands on both parties; As a days man doth, Job 9.33. In which he hath a three∣fold relation: 1. Of a friend to both, he hath Gods heart for man to be gracious, and satisfie mercy, and a mans heart for God to satisfie ju∣stice: 2. Of a reconciler to make two one, to [ 1] bring down God to a Treaty of Peace, to take [ 2] him off Law, and high demands of Law, which sought personall satisfaction of us, and in his bo∣dy to bring us up to God, by a ransome payed, and by giving us faith to draw near to his Fa∣ther; so he may say Sister and Spouse, come up now to my Father, and your Father, to my God, and your God; and Father come down to my Brethren, my kindred and flesh: 3. He is [ 3] a common servant to both: Gods servant, in a hard piece of service as ever was, Isa. 52.13. Isa. 42.1. Behold my servant, Isa. 53.11. My righteous servant; yea and our servant, Mat.

20.28. He came not to be served, but to serve, and give his life a ransome for many: Alas, both parties did smite him, Isa. 53.10. It pleased the Lord to bruise him, Rom. 8.32. God spared not his own Son, and the other party his own, smote him, Mat. 21.38. This is the heire come let us kill him (say they) and seize on the inhe∣ritance: This was cold incouragement to sweet Jesus: if it had been referred to us, for shame we could not have asked God to be a suffering Mediator for us, there's more love in Christ then Angels and men could fathom in their con∣ceptions.

6. The Covenant is the Testament of our dead friend Jesus, he died to confirme the Te∣stament, Heb. 9.16.17. Every blood could not seal the Covenant, Christs blood as dying sealed the everlasting Covenant, Heb. 13.20. It both expiated the sins of the Covenanters, and also brought back the great Shepheard of the sheep from death; For Christ having once paid blood and died, it was free to the Surety to come out of prison, when he had paid the sum.

7. The seventh relation of Christ maketh way to the parties, and here Christ cometh under a double consideration, one as God; so he is one with the Father and spirit, and the Lord and the Author of the Covenant. 2. As Mediator, and so he is on our side of the Covenant; Then is the Covenant made with Christ and all his heirs, and assignes principally with Christ, and with Abra∣hams

nature in him, but personally with belie∣vers: 1. The Scripture saith so, Gal. 3.16. The Promise (or Covenant) is made to Abraham and to his seed, he saith not, and to seeds, as of many, but as of one, and to thy seed, which is Christ. I grant, Beza, Piscator, and many expound Christ, for mysticall Christ; for (say they) it cannot be meant of Christ personally, for so it should fight with the scope of Paul, who proveth the Pro∣mise of life eternall to be made to all believers: 2. It should follow that life eternall is given to Christ only, but with leave this is not sure, for the truth is, the promise is neither made to Christs person singly considered, nor to Christ Mysticall; For 1. The promise is made to Christ in whom the Covenant was confirmed, v. 17. 2. In whom the Nations were blessed, 14. 3. In whom we receive the Promise of the Spirit through Faith. 14. Who was made a curse for us, ver. 13. Now not any of these can agree to Christ Mysticall, Christ Mysticall did not con∣firm the Covenant, nor give the Spirit, nor was he made a curse, but Christ Mediator is he, to whom the Promises are made, and in him to all his heirs and kindred; not simply in his person, but as a publike person and Mediator.

1. Because the Scripture saith to Abraham, and to his seed; that is, Christ was the Covenant made; and these words of the Covenant, Ps. 89.26. He shall cry to me, thou art my Father, my God, &c. are expounded, Heb. 1.5. And again I will be

to him a Father, and he shall be to me a son, and Joh. 20.17. Go to my brethren and say to them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, to my God, and to your God: So Christ the heir of all things, and the second heirs under him, are all but one confederate-Family. 2. The covenant made with David and his seed, and the Fathers, is fulfilled to Christ and his seed, Act. 13.34, 35. As concerning that, he raised him up from the dead, no more to see corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. 3. As the covenant of nature and works was made with Adam, and all his, and there were not two covenants; so here, the better covenant co∣ming in the place of the former, is made with the second Adam and his children, Rom. 5.18, 19. 1 Cor. 15.20, &c. 4. All that serveth to make a covenant are here, 1. God demandeth of his son, that he lay down his life; and for his labour he promiseth, that he shall see his seed, and God shall give him many children, Isa. 53.10. 2. The son consenteth to lay down his life, and saith, Here am I to do thy will, thou hast given me a body: This is the formality of a covenant, when Christ consenteth to the condition. Now this covenant was manifested in time between the Father and the Son, but it was transacted from eternity. This is comfortable, that the Father and Christ transacted a Bargain from eternity, concerning thee by Name. There was communing between the Father and Son concerning thy heaven, Fa∣ther,

what shall be given to thy Justice to ran∣som such a one, Iohn, Anna, &c. And Christ from eternity did binde for such a person, he shall be∣lieve in time. The Redemption of Sinners, is not a work of yesterday, or a businesse of chance, it was well advised, and in infinite wisdom contri∣ved, therefore put not Christ to be challenged of his ingagement, by refusing the Gospel, when thou believest thou makest Christs word good; he that believeth not, maketh God a liar, though in another sense; and for ought he knoweth, even in this, that he frustrateth Christs undertaking in the covenant; Men believe the Gospel to be a cunningly devised Fable, 2 Pet. 1.16. The Father and Christ are both in this businesse; Heaven, Hell, Justice, Mercy, Souls, and deep Wisdom, are all in this rare piece, and yet men think more of a Farm, and an Oxe, Luke 14.18.19. and of a Pin in the State, or a Straw, or of the bones of a crazy livelyhood, or a House.

3. Touching the Promises, 1. There is no good thing, but it is ours by free promise, and not by simple donation only; this covenant turns over Heaven, Earth, Sea, Land, Bread, garments, sleep, the World, Life, Death, into free grace; yea it maketh Sin and crosses, golden Sins and crosses by accident, through the acts of supernaturall providence toward us, 1 Cor. 3.21. Rom. 8.28. working on and about our sins. 2. All good cometh to us now, not immediatly, but through the hands of a free Redeemer; and though he

be a man who redeemed us, yet because he is God, there is more of God, and Heaven, and free Love, in all our good things, then if we received them immediatly from God, as Ravens have their food from God, without a Mediator, and devils have their being only by creature-right, not by covenant-right.

Now for the promises, they flow from God to us, but all along they fall first on Christ; they are of two sorts, 1. Some only given to Christ, not to us; as the Name above all names to be adored, and set at the right hand of God, is properly promised to Christ, Angels share not with him in this Chaire, Phil. 2.9.10. Heb. 1.5.13. There is promised to Christ a seed a wil∣ling people, the ends of the earth for his inheri∣tance, Isa. 53.10. Psal. 110.2. Psal. 2.8, 9. Christs locks and his hair are bushy and thick. Cant. 5.11. He is not bald, nor gray hair'd, but he hath a seed like the Stars for multitude that no man can number, Rev. 7.9. but all those hairs grow out of a head of gold; and his off-spring of children is as numerous as the dew of the morning dawning, Psal. 110.3. Mica. 5.7. though the devils locks be more numerous; but its wofull, that Christ and his children standing upon Mount Sion, being a huge Army, and a pleasant sight, yet thou art none of that nume∣rous house, all round about thee, are graced of him, and thou livest and diest in the house, but lay not in the womb of the morning, and shall not abide in the house with the sons.

But there be other promises which go along with Christ and his seed, and these of two sorts, Generall, speciall: generall, the Mother Pro∣mise, I will be thy God, is made both to Christ, Psal. 89.26. He shall cry to me thou art my Fa∣ther, my God, Joh. 20.17. Psal. 22.1. And to us (I will be your God) how sweet is it, that Christ having God to his Father by eternall birth-right, would take a new Covenant-right to God for our cause? Oh what a honour it is to be within the Covenant with the first heir?

Quest. But why are all the promises inclosed in this one, I'le be your God? Ans. 1. Because as Christ hath Covenant-right to the Promises, by this Mother right, that God is his God by covenant, so we first must have God under the relation of a God made ours in a Covenant, a Father, a Husband, and then by Law, all his are ours.

2. Christ God is more then grace, pardon, ho∣linesse, then created glory, as the Husband is ex∣cellenter then his Marriage Robe, Bracelets, Rings; and we are to lay our love and faith prin∣cipally upon the Father and the Son, more then all created graces; the Well and Fountain of Life is of more excellency then the streams, and the Tree of Life then the Apples of the Tree of Life: Christ himself, the objective happinesse, is far above a created and formall beatitude, which issueth from him, as the whole is excel∣lenter then the part, the cause then the effect.

Speciall Promises are made first to Christ, and then by proportion to us; and they be these, 1. God promiseth to grace his Son above his fel∣lows, that he may die and suffer, and merit to us grace answerable to this: A new heart, and a new spirit, Jer. 32.39. Ezek. 36.26.27. For out of his fulnesse we receive, and grace for grace, Joh. 1.16. 2. Justification is promised to [ 2] Christ, not personall, as if he needed a pardon for sin, but of his Cause, there is a cautionary or Surety-righteousnesse due to the Surety when he hath paid the debt of the broken man, and commeth out of prison free by Law, so he came out of the Grave for our righteousnesse, but having first the righteousnesse of his Cause, in his own person, Isaiah 50.8. He is neer that justifieth me (saith Christ) who shall contend with me? 1 Tim. 3.16. Justified in the Spirit. So have we Justification of our persons, and Re∣mission in his blood, Eph. 1.7. and that by Co∣venant, Jer. 31.32.33. 3. Victory and domini∣on [ 3] is promised to Christ, Psal. 110.1.2. Psal. 89.21. &c. 1 Cor. 15.25. He must raign till he put all his Enemies under his feet, and victory over all our Enemies is promised to us, Iohn 16.33. and 14.30. Rom. 6.14.15. Gal. 3.13. Col. 2.14.15. 4. The Kingdom and glory is sought by Christ, [ 4] Ioh. 17.5. from his Father; then he had a word of Promise from his Father for it, Philip. 2.9.10 and we have that also, Luke 12.32. Ioh. 17.24. [ 5] Ioh. 14.1.2.3. 5. Christ had a word of Promise,

when he went down to the grave, as some Fa∣vourite by Law goeth to Prison, but hath in his bosome from his Prince, a Bill of Grace, that within three dayes he shall come out to enjoy all his wonted Honours and Court, Psal. 16.10.11. so have we the like, Ioh. 11.26. & 6.38.39. [ 1]

Notes

• Why Christ is frequent∣ly called the son of David, not the son of Adam, &c.
• The Co∣venant. Christ a King by Cove∣nant.
• What the Crve∣nant of Grace is, and what things are in it.
• Parties in the Cove∣nant.
• Christ h••••h a seven fold relation in the Cove∣nant of Grace.
• 1. Christ the Cove∣nant it self.
• 2. Christ the Mes∣senger of the Co∣venant.
• Christ as Mes∣senger of the Cove∣nant, ma∣keth re∣port to us of his Fa∣thers ••il.
• 2. Of himse••f.
• 3. Of his father to us. 4. Of us to the father.
• 3. Christ the wit∣nesse of the Cove∣nant.
• Christ witnes∣seth espe∣cially 4. things.
• 4 Christ the Sure∣ty of the covenant
• Christ a Surety.
• 5. Christ is the me∣diator of the Co∣venant.
• Christ hath a threefold relation as a me∣diator
• Christ Gods ser∣vant, and our ser∣vant, and smitten of both.
• 6. Christ confirmed & sealed the Te∣stament.
• 7. Christ the prin∣cipal con∣federate party of the Co∣venant.
• The Co∣venant made with Christ personal∣ly Gal 3 16. Pro∣ved from reasons out of the Text.
• A Cove∣nant be∣tween the Father and the Son, pr••∣ved.
• Of the promises
• Two sorts of promises.
• Jer. 32.38. Zach. 13.9.
• Christ took a new Co∣venant-right to GOD.
• Five sorts of promises made to Christ, and by proporti∣on to us in him.