A COVENANT To walk with GOD IN An holy stedfastness to maintain the peace of our Spirits with God in CHRIST.

Solemnly entred into

By certain Persons resol­ving to live according to, and in the power of the life of Christ in them.

⟨8 ber 9 th⟩ LONDON: Printed by John Field for Philemon Stephens. 1646.

[...]

To my worthy FRIEND, M rs A.D.

THe oc­casion of this solemn engaging our selvs in Covenant with our God, you well remember, & the framing of this [Page]Model (as you know) was at first for your stay in an holy stedfastnes in the way and life of Christ (to which you had in some measure already attained) and for my own recovery after a long and bitter declining, (God in mercy gave an answera­ble [Page]success.) Those expressions of the way of life I have oft received from you, as the fruits of your own blessed Experience gave me the more confi­dence often to powr out my soul to you (a singular mercy to be interested in a faithful friend) in this I gained [Page]both ease and re­feshing to a trou­bled spirit (and some consolation in so sad a condition I am cast into) in sympathizing with me in these saving experimental pas­sages which I once enjoyed, though now (in bitter­nesse) have no­thing to stay my [Page]Spirit, but (it was once otherwise) I have now only one suit, to beseech you to accept this your own, as it was first composed for our particulars, and to improve these sweet and spiritual experiences of the love of Christ shed into your heart, & God shall commu­nicate [Page]unto you by his spirit daily, in your close walking with him, to esta­blish your spirit in assurance and im­mutable cleaving to him in all faithful stedfast­nesse, according to this our Cove­nant.

This is the daily prayers of [Page]him who will be ever found

Your faithful Friend And Servant, W. S.

A COVENANT made with GOD and our own Souls, and to be renewed daily, to maintain a constant peace in a Spiritual walking with our God.

SECT. 1. The occasion & ground of this Covenant.

VVEe seriously and in the sight of God, obser­ving that glorious [Page 2]and blessed condi­tion we have been called into, 1 Thess. 1.5. in the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ upon our Spirits in the power of the Gospel, and therein seeing

  • 1.
    Rom. 5.1, 2.
    The singular and infinite love of God, in revealing to us effectually the great mysteries of Christ through the Spirit, and thereby speaking peace to [Page 3]our Spirits, through the promise in his Son.
  • 2.
    Rom. 8.6
    And thence evidential union & communion with Christ resulting. We have truly found bestowed upon us

A Spirit of life, Gal. 5.25.to live the life of Christ.

A mysterious mer­cy we must needs acknowledge, Eph. 3.17, 18. and beyond imaginati­on, much more [Page 4]possibility of re­quital; especially in as much as we have found from thence, by blessed & happy experience commu­nicated freely unto us, that which may fit us in some pro­portion and com­fortable measure to enjoy communion with our God, as

  • 1.
    2 Pet. 1.4
    An holy frame of Spirit, answering to the holy nature of God in Christ in [Page 5]some happy mea­sure.
  • 2.
    Rom. 5.5
    Sensiblenesse of infinite love in God to us through Christ in that re­spect.

And from these two principles have had experience in our hearts of

1. 2 Cor. 5.14. An holy ten­dernes towards God in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Spiritual joy in God, 1 Pet. 1.8 as our portion [Page 6]now in Christ re­conciled to us.

3. 1 Ioh. 4.8. Love to, and sincere delight in him.

All which wee have found have been accompanyed with three special & prevailing fruits;

  • 1.
    Col. 3.1.
    The alienating of our Spirits from things here below, to favour, minde and taste spirituals.
  • 2.
    Rom. 7.15.
    The disappro­bation & disalow­ance [Page 7]of lust and sin dwelling in us.
  • 3.
    Rom. 8.10.
    The subjuga­ting of the power and strength of cor­ruption, that it raigned not, nor prevailed in our spi­rits nor wayes.

From all which blessed works of Christ in us, through the strength of this Spirit of life cast into us by his inha­bitation in us fol­lowed

Power in some measure to walk ac­ceptably to God in peace. Acts 9.31.

Frō these grounds and principles (be­sides the internal light of Faith, and the witness and seal of the Spirit) war­ranted by Scripture to be the lot and only portion of the Elect of God called to be Saints. We have concluded

We are now actu­ally [Page 9]in the state of grace, and partakers of the new Cove­nant in the Lord Jesus.

Therefore ha­ving these eviden­tial grounds, that this is the true grace of Christ, wherein we now stand we cannot but finde our Spirits

  • 1.
    Psal. 63.5.
    Very sensible of singular love in God towards us in Christ.
  • [Page 10]2.
    Psa. 116.12, 13.
    Widely enlar­ged answerably in love and thankful­nesse to God again for so much good­nesse.
    Eph. 1.13.

Therefore know­ing our selves here­by sealed up unto our full Redempti­on in the great day of Christ, and that the time of our abi­ding here is but short. Conclude it our duty

That we live the [Page 11]rest of our pilgri­mage wholly unto God, Rom. 6.4 in the power of that grace and spiritual life thus communicated to us from GOD in Christ. Eph. 4.17

And forasmuch as we carry still about with us a body of Death (and live in the world, although we are not of the world) that hauls back unto deadnesse and dulnesse in the [Page 12]way of Christ to the corruptions of our own natures, causing in us by woful experience to finde the bitternesse of our own folly in neglects, coolings, carelesnesse and un­steddiness of Spirit, often procuring ir­regularities and un­evennesse in our wayes, & sad events upon our Spirits. We finde our selves therefore bounden [Page 13]in all Spiritual wis­dom to tye our selves up

To keep a strict and close watch o­ver our hearts and wayes. 1 Cor. 1 [...].14.

SECT. 2. The COVENANT in general.

VVHereupon knowing the fickle and in­constant [Page 14]temper of our own variable Spirits, which through our cor­rupt nature are ve­ry false to us, and unlesse by strong hand kept under, and with a steddy eye watched and ob­served, grow perfi­dious and basely treacherous, lead­ing us to Apostacy, to our own unrest, and great dishonor to our God. [Page 15]

We conceive it our duty to make a COVENANT with God and our Souls in this respect, and therefore do hereby in the sight of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the sincerity of our own thoughts.

Enter into a So­lemn, Neh. 9.38.Peremptory and faithful Cove­nant with our God in Christ, Iob 31.1. Psa. 11 [...].106. through his strength promi­sed [Page 16]in the Covenant to live to God for ever hereafter, and to walk with him in all things.

And because all our strength herein to walk in commu­nion with him is derived from our Union and Fellow­ship with Christ our head, we there­fore resolve as our duty

To maintain the strength and sence [Page 17]of our union and communion with Christ, and the in­crease daily of it up­on us.

And therefore our resolutions are in the sight of our God, so far as we know our hearts to labor daily to finde

The power of Christ, 1 Pet. 5.10. and the sense of Spiritual life in us more and more, Eph. 3.16, 17.conveyed to us, strengthned in us, [Page 18]and working by us.

And because all our strength herein is derived from that principle of fulness in Christ, and this subordinately, by a knowing, believing in him, and close compliance to him.

Our Covenant is extended to these particulars.

SECT. 3. General Engagements as means to walk with GOD.

FOrasmuch there­fore as our in­tention is our daily growing up in the power and life of Christ our Lord, our care shall be ex­ercised in these par­ticulars:

1. To see and ob­serve more clearly [Page 20]daily in the Scri­pture, Col. 3.16. that infinite fulness that is in the Lord Jesus Christ, and the intent of God in him, to com­municate the same to us according to the Covenant.

2. Therefore to actuate our Faith in that Covenant, and the Promises we finde we have ob­tained interest in, and peculiarly in such special Truths [Page 21]as are revealed to that purpose, be­lieving we shall be possessors of the same.

3. To observe what quickening we receive from any passage in the Word of Promise concerning Christ; and herein

To gain esta­blishment of heart in Gods love through Christ to us.

4. In all Divine [Page 22]intercourses 'twixt God and our Spi­rits, to proceed in every Ordinance so as

  • 1. We get neerer communion with God, and experience of the power of Christ in us.
  • 2. To stir up the grace of Christ in us, not resting in the work onely done.

And to this pur­pose our diligent [Page 23]care shall be used to improve the means of Salvation in their Spiritual po­wer.

Knowing well that all we did be­fore our calling was but polluted, and no way accept­able, but rather pro­voking.

So all done by us when we were in Christ, and not by the strength of his Spirit in us, is no [Page 24]wayes acceptable. For,

  • 1. In him alone is our strength.
  • 2.
    Mat. 3. ult.
    In him alone are we acceptable.

5. To observe di­ligently how every promise is made good, and accom­plished upon us, e­specially if we begd it in prayer; and thence to see

  • 1. Gods faithful­nesse, in making good his promise, [Page 25]no small refreshing to our Spirit, and Establishment to our Faith, when we sensibly set to our Seal that God is true, not only in the thing promised,
    Ioh. 3.33
    but a Spiritual rel­lish of mercy in the same.
  • 2. To reflect up­on our own Spirits in the possession of the same, and love in Christ in its communication.

[Page 26] 6. To observe every glance of Gods love in Christ cast into our Spirits, and thence

  • 1. To gather up a Catalogue of ex­periments of Gods love in Christ.
  • 2. To take a strict observation of the graces of Christ dwelling in us:
    • 1. How they pro­ceed from Christ.
    • 2. How thence they give assurance [Page 27]of Gods love in Christ.

These things ob­served diligently by us in the constant course of our ways, our care shall be ex­tended

  • 1. To bee daily more Spiritual in every holy duty to God:
  • 2. To finde our Spirits more uni­versally determined unto Christ.

SECT. 4. Special daily walking with GOD.

§. 1.

ANd forasmuch as our daily walking close with GOD is a special means to maintain a constant peace in our hearts in a sweet and Spiritual fel­lowship with our God, shining out upon us in the face [Page 28]of Christ.

Our Covenant with God shall be thus daily

  • 1.
    Heb. 12.15.
    To keep a con­stant watch against every root of bit­ternesse or lust that may creep into our hearts, or be nou­rished, that may sad the Spirit, or damp that vigorous heat of the life of Christ, that may disturb that peace God hath brought our Spirits unto.
  • [Page 30]2.
    Psa. 51.5 Rom. 7.24.
    To keep a sen­sible tendernesse of our corrupt nature, and to bewail it before God, to be humbled that we carry about with us such a body of death, yet so, as that we see
    • 1.
      Mal. 4.2. Zac. 14.1.
      Healing here­of in Christ.
    • 2. That we quickē our faith and love to the Lord Jesus Christ, who hath delivered us
  • [Page 31]3.
    2 Cor. 7.9, 10. Rev. 2.5.
    To renew our repentance daily for sins and failings, begging for assu­rance of pardon in the Lord Christ.
  • 4.
    Acts 2.38, 39.
    To believe the pardon of our sins when ever we beg it, and that in full assurance, waiting with a vigorous & longing expectati­on of soul, until God shine out in peace, sealing a par­don by the Spirit.
  • [Page 32]5.
    1 Cor. 13 16.
    To watch a­gainst every tem­ptation, knowing we are accompanied with snares, so to shun all appearance of evil.
  • 6.
    1 Thess. 5, 6.
    To observe the falsness & treachery of our hearts,
    • 1. Suggesting to us the firmnesse of our standing, when we do not know our own hearts
    • 2. Engaging us in temptation that [Page 33]they may ensnare us.
  • 7. To resolve and binde our selves up, to prevent occasion of sin that may steal upon us.
  • 8. That we labor daily to redeem our time,
    Col. 4.5.
    and keep an accompt how we spend every day.

§. 2.

AND therefore we covenant our daily care shall be to spend the day [Page 34]in these particulars, in a

  • 1. Constant course of prayer, reading, meditation in the power of Christ, with expectation of a blessing, and la­boring for commu­nion with Christ therein.
  • 2. Diligence and constancy in our lawful callings.
  • 1. With heavenly mindes, and in obe­dience to Christ.
  • [Page 35]2. Waiting by faith upon God, for a blessing upon our subsistency.
  • 3. Improving e­very opportunity of doing good to others, especially in Spirituall things, ministring grace to the hearers.
  • 4. Holding a con­stant endeared and loving correspon­dence with the Saints,
    Heb. 10.24, 25.
    and commu­nicating with expe­rimental [Page 36]christians in their experiences of Christ working and dwelling in them.
  • 5. Every morn­ing to work our hearts to an holy frame and sensible activeness towards God, that we may taste of it all the day after.
  • 6. Above all e­very morning to labor our hearts to a sensiblenesse of [Page 37]Gods love to us in Christ, and an en­flamed love to him again.
  • 7.
    Hab. 2.4. Heb. 10.37.
    To live that glo­rious life of faith in an holy depen­dance upon him in all conditions.
  • 8. Every night to review the whole day, with observa­tion of
    • 1. Our own wants and sins, and to be humbled for them.
    • 2. Gods care and [Page 38]provision for and of us, and to be en­larged in a loving and tender thank­fulnesse to him.
  • 9. In all things to maintain a sen­sible communion betwixt God and our Spirits.

This is the Co­venant of our con­stant daily walking with God. Yet in all we make this

Conclusion.

1. THis Cove­nant to be enlarged daily, as our experience shall administer occasiō, and the manifold intercourses betwixt God and our own souls present them­selves to us.

2. Every Saturday at night, we con­ceive it our duty, as very convenient,

[Page 40] 1. To examine this Covenant with our hearts, to observe our proceedings: Herein how

  • 1. Our resolutions are more unreser­ved.
  • 2. Our Spirits more thoroughly brought over to Christ.
  • 3. And therein to be
    • 1. Humbled for decayes.
    • 2. Thankful for [Page 41]improvement.

2. To renew the Covenant with God with more deep, so­lemn and perem­ptory Vows, ob­serving the great peace we gain daily herein.

Wherein we con­ceive it our duty, to be very observant of two things which we shall take as cautions.

Cautions.

1. TO look for more oppo­sition & wayward disturbances in our hearts then wee founds before we set upon this course to hinder us therein.

Yet herein, not­withstanding op­position, we resolve

  • 1. Not to be dis­couraged.
  • 2. But to seek [Page 43]strength and suffi­ciency in Christ.

2. To be very tender, lest constan­cy herein make us customary and for­mal: So our care shall bee, ever to maintain our hearts active and warm in all things.

This Covenant in the presence and sight of our God, for our steddy and constant walking with him, we [Page 44]make, write, and seal to it.

W. S.
FINIS.
Ian. 5. 1646.

Jmprimatur

JOHN DOWNAMI.

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