The copy of the covenant of grace With a true discovery of several false pretenders to that eternal inheritance, and of the right heir thereunto. Together with such safe instructions as will inable him to clear his title, and to make it unquestionable. Exactly evidenced by many perspicuous and unconstrained testimonies of scripture. Penned, and published upon mature deliberation, and good advise. / By Robert Bidwel, a servant, and minister of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

PRoceed we now to the second point, or Member contained in this Copy of the Covenant of Grace: Being the Consideration, or motive that invited the Lord to con∣tract this Covenant: which we finde to be his Love: God so loved the World: So loved: A vehement forcible expression: So: So a∣bundantly, So infinitely. Indeed, we may not conceive that any other, but an infinite Love should proceed from an infinite God: For Love in God is not accidental, but essen∣tial: And therefore it is attributed unto him in the abstract by that beloved Disci∣ple: God is Love (saith he) 1 Joh. 4. 8. Love it self.

It is impossible for any creature sufficient∣ly to commend the Love of God: because we are not able to comprehend the love of God.

Yet we may commend it for a great love, wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins. According to St. Pauls expression, Ephes. 2. 4. And according to the Lords own example.

For God comemndeth his love towards us, in that, when we were yet sinners Christ died for us, Rom. 5. 8.

Neither doth this commendation of the Love of God the Father from the mouth of

God the Son fall any thing short of either of the former.

God so loved the world, that he gave his one∣ly begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

But you will say: how doth it appear, that the Love of God was the onely Conside∣ration, or motive that procured him to con∣clude this Covenant of Grace.

We must understand and consider: That God being Love it self: As having the very pure and perfect substance of love in him∣self essentially: He loveth himself by the necessity of his nature: And his Creatures by the liberty of his will.

And so resolving to create the World, with every particular therein contained; he looked on them with a general love, as being his good Creatures, Gen. 1. 31.

But on man he looked with a more pecu∣liar affection: First, In respect, that man was the onely Creature, by whom the Lord in∣tended to advance his own immortal glory, Isa. 43. 7.

Secondly, For that the Lord intended to create him in his own Image: As well in re∣gard of the substance of his Soul, being im∣mortal and immaterial, Gen. 2. 7. As also in

regard of the perfections of his Soul, consi∣sting of Righteousnesse and true Holinesse, Eph. 4. 24.

But then foreseeing mans accursed fall, procured wholly by his own default: The God of goodnesse looks upon him, then even, with the love of pity and compassion: which so prevailed in his Son Christ Jesus: That, He gave himself for us, an offering, and a sa∣crifice to God for a sweet smelling savour, Eph. 5. 2. In whom our gracious God was ful∣ly pleased, Math. 3. 17.

Which so increased and confirm'd his love: that he concludes this Covenant of Grace.

And certainly (there being no possibility to be expected from decayed mankinde for the repairing of themselves, either by de∣sert, satisfaction, intercession, or any other way, or means whatsoever) we must needs conceive, consider, and assure our Souls: That whatsoever God, or Christ, or God in Christ, or God for Christ his sake, either did, do, or shall do, in order unto Mans salvati∣on, or whatsoever else may truely be called a blessing; They did, do, and shall do it, meer∣ly by virtue of that undeserved Love, which they vouchsafed in this Covenant.

Had not that prevailed, man had been de∣stroyed:

and God had lost the glory of his grace, which shines most clearly through mans Redemption.

Without doubt, it is in reference to this e∣ternal Covenant; That our Redemption is said to be eternal; Hebr. 9. 12. our Salvation eter∣nal; Hebr. 5. 9.

And our Inheritance eternal, Hebr. 9. 15.

And the onely Consideration, or Motive, that procured all this, was Gods eternal, or everlasting Love, wherewith he loved us, Jer. 31. 3.

He loved us generally as his Creatures: He loved us particularly as those Creatures, by whom he intended chiefly to advance his glory.

He loved us more especially, as bearing his own Image. He loved us compassionately, as foreseeing our fall in Adam our old Grand-Father.

But he loved us most effectually upon the intercession of Christ his own dear Son.

And thus God so loved the World.

But that this truth may gain our full be∣lief, let us surveigh his gift, his onely Son. For, God so loved the World, that he gave his onely begotten Son. This is the next branch, which in the third place sets forth it self un∣to us in this Copy of the Covenant of Grace.

Being the Gift, or Grant conveyed, assigned, and set over by the said Covenant, or Deed of Gift.