corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal."

2. Except you have an interest in these sure mercies, common mercies are accursed to you, nor indeed have you any real covenant title to any thing you enjoy, whatever right you may have before men,* yet, you are, in the court of heaven, † in a sense, usurpers or encroachers; you have forfeited all by actual rebellion, and have what you enjoy but as condemned prisoners or malefactors, to keep you alive till the execution of the righteous sentence of condemnation. O the woful condition of unconverted sinners! they are accursed with a gospel curse, and under a dreadful sentence of excommunication. ‡ There is a curse in their houses, on their actions, on their relations, as it respects them ; there is a curse upon their very blessings, Mal. ii. 2; there is a plague in their apparel, poison in their meat, and, we may say, death is in the pot as to all their enjoyments-my meaning is, nothing is truly sanctified or perfumed with covenant mercy, and if God give a commission, whatever they enjoy may be their bane; whithersoever they go, a curse goes with them; whatever they partake of, a curse meets them in it; whoever they are with, a curse attends them. O fearful state! it was sad to be under the curse of a mortal man -Ham found his father Noah's curse heavy; but oh how heavy is the curse of Almighty God, who, with a word, can send the soul into hell, and follow his stroke into another world! Dear friends, who would live in this dreadful state another hour? On the contrary, whosoever hath these mercies of the covenant hath all blessings blessed; yea, and also crosses, and even curses are turned into blessings. Who would not be covetous of such a state? But to hasten,

* In foro humano.

In foro Dei. 1 Cor. xvi. 22. Prov. iii. 33.

3. Without these covenant mercies the soul is not accepted in its best duties: neither person nor performance is owned by God; it is only upon a covenant account that any are accepted; indeed in the covenant of works the person was accepted for the work's sake, but in the covenant of grace, God accepts the person first, and then the work; if the man be in Christ, then the offering is taken in good part, though it be but a turtle-dove or young pigeon, though but a sigh or groan; God takes a posy of flowers (of sweet-smelling graces) though mixed with offensive weeds and pricking briars of vanity and corruption, gathered by a child, and perfumed by Christ's mediation, and is better pleased therewith, than with the most odoriferous gifts of unconverted souls, where the heart is destitute of covenant graces. Alas, "the sacrifice of the wicked is abomination to God;"* the great and jealous God challengeth the wicked man that hath not covenant mercies in his heart, for taking covenant promises into his mouth: "What hast thou to do ?" saith God;† as if he had said, thou poor, graceless sinner, thou profanest my holy name, and provokest the eyes of my glory in the works and worship by which thou thinkest thou dost most honour and please me: in the state wherein thou art, I cannot endure to look towards thee; I abhor thy offerings and performances, thy costly incense is a smoke in my nose; I can see thy inward deformity through thy painted beauty; thy gilded eloquence and rhetorical flourishes are no more to me than the roaring of bears or howling of dogs; get out of my sight, thou sorry whining hypocrite; all thy duties are ciphers, and signify nothing except the Mediator as the principal and only figure be set before them, and the Spirit of God write and indite them; which + Psalm 1. 16, 17.

* Prov. xv. 8.

are two of the greatest mercies of the new covenant. Ah sirs, God doth despise the most melodious tunes of wicked men, but "a broken and contrite heart he despiseth not;"* that makes sweet music in his ear, for a broken heart is a covenant mercy. These mercies are brave ornaments to believing souls, and render them lovely and amiable in the sight of God. Every penitent tear is a rich pearl; every prayer pierceth heaven and fetcheth down abundant incomes from the throne of grace. O what a difference do these mercies make in persons, performances, and acceptance with God!

4. Without these mercies you have no solid ground of peace, comfort, or satisfaction: for without these you are not only under a sentence of condemnation, but you have no real ground to hope that the sentence shall not be executed this very hour; it is a wonder to think that graceless souls should be so merry that are suspended over the pit of hell, but by the brittle thread of a mortal life. O how suddenly may this precarious thing be broken, and they are gone for ever! for aught they know, when they go to bed, God may say, (as once he did to one as rich and secure as they are,)"This night shall thy soul be required from thee." It is a wonder to me, how persons can rest quietly that are conscious to themselves, or have reason to suspect they are not in covenant with God; and so know not that they shall be another moment out of everlasting torments. But God leaves them to seared consciences; and Satan and the world join with their deceitful lusts to lull them asleep, till God awake them by true repentance or eternal vengeance. God, however, hath a time to shake the foundations of this bastard peace, and set the soul upon the sure bottom of covenant relation, and interest in Jesus Christ, which

* Psalm li. 17.

alone brings true content and comfort, peace that passeth understanding, joy in the Holy Ghost, and a sweet sabbath of refreshment to the agitated soul. Here the assured believer may, as it were, terminate his desires, and make his strongest faculties expatiate upon his only portion-a covenant God; and thence will result continual ground of triumph and exultation, for these mercies are suitable and adequate to the desires of the immortal soul, and will support it under the greatest outward pressures, and in the hour of death; therefore I may conclude this exhortation with verse 2, of this chapter,

"Wherefore do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness."

5. These mercies of the covenant will render your condition safe whatever befals you; we little know what may befal us betwixt this and the grave-who knows what a day will bring forth? Man is born to trouble, a saint is born again to more; bad news may come as Job's messengers, treading in each other's steps; losses and crosses may occasion us sad discouragements. O but now to have a covenant God, a Saviour and all the fore-mentioned covenant blessings to solace the soul-what mercy will this be! when the true Christian can say, "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine; my flesh and my heart fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.” Let the sea roar, men rage, heavens look black, and earth tremble, I lie at anchor in a sure port, I trust in

1

* Redite prævaricatores ad cor, et inhærete ei qui fecit vos: state cum eo et stabitis: requiescite in eo et quieti eritis. Quò itis in aspera? quò itis? bonum quod amatis ab illo est: sed quantum est ad illum bonum est et suave.-Vid. Aug. Conf. lib. 4. c. 12.

God, and fear no evil tidings from below; " God is my refuge and help, yea my present help in time of trouble; "* evils shall either miss me or mend me; all winds blow my soul nearer my haven, all dispensations hitch me a step nearer heaven, for all things work together for my good; my covenant God will teach me to profit by word and rod, by mercies and crosses, by ordinances and providences: God is my sun and shield, to enlighten me in times of darkness, to protect me in times of danger, he will command a guard of angels to attend me; yea, his wings shall cover me, his comforts shall refresh my soul; he will guide me here by his counsel, and afterwards receive me to glory. O happy man, that hath the God of Jacob for his God; and these covenant mercies for his portion: who can hurt such a person? But, oh the woful state of one that hath not the name of God as a tower or chamber to run unto when evils are approaching! how dreadful was Saul's state, when the Philistines were upon him and God had forsaken him! just such will be condition of a soul destitute of covenant mercies in the day of public or personal calamity; alas, all they bore up their carnal hearts with, is gone, and God is gone, and now their hearts either break with grief, or through despair they make themselves away, as Judas and Ahithophel. † Oh forlorn state of such as have not taken God for their God! sirs, think seriously of these things.

6. These covenant mercies will have a mighty influence upon your spirits in God's service, and in your conversation; an interest in the mercies of the covenant will make you fear God, and tremble to offend so gracious a Being; "there is forgiveness with him, that he may be feared," Psalm cxxx. 4; and fear to Psalm cxii. 7. Psalm xlvi. 1, 2. + Psalm lii. 7.