performance of the next duty,
or the conquering of the next temptation; nor for the expediting thyself
out of the next difficulty; and why so? But that thou mayest learn to
live by continual dependence upon Jesus Christ, as Paul did, "The life
that I now live in the flesh, I live it by the faith of the Son of God."
Paul lived by fresh influence drawn from Christ by faith, every day and
hour; study that life, it is very mysterious, but exceeding precious.
Had we our stock before hand, we should quickly spend all, and prove
bankrupts: God hath laid up all our treasure of "wisdom, righteousness,
sanctification, and redemption in Jesus Christ," and will have us live
from hand to mouth, that so we might be safe, and God's free grace be
exalted: "It is of faith, that it might be by grace, to the end your
promise might be sure to all the seed." Wherefore, holy brethren,
partakers of this heavenly calling, look up to Jesus Christ, who is the
covenant of His Father, and your covenant; lo, He calls you. "Look unto
Me, and be ye saved all the ends of the earth." Surely they are worthy
to perish, who will not bestow a look upon salvation: oh, look humbly,
and look believingly, and look continually; look for interest, look for
influence, look for righteousness, look for strength; and let Jesus
Christ be all in all to thy soul: thou wilt never be any thing, nor do
any thing in Christianity, till thou comest to live in and upon Jesus
Christ, and Him only: humbly entreat the Lord, and give Him no rest,
that He will make a covenant with thee in Christ, which shall keep thee,
and then thou wilt be able to keep thy covenant: look up to Christ for
covenant grace, to keep covenant-engagement, and so shalt thou do this
service in a gospel sense, to acceptation, to perpetuity.

I have now done with these three queries; What? Why? How? How to (1)
Acceptation? and (2) Perpetuity? I know much more might be added, but
the work to which we are to address ourselves, will take up much time;
the Lord set home what hath been spoken.

Only give me leave to tell you thus much in a word, for the close of
all; as this covenant prospers with us, so we are like to prosper under
it; the welfare of the kingdom and of thy soul, is bound up now in this
covenant: for I remember what God speaks of the kingdom of Israel,
brought into covenant now with the king of Babylon, to serve him, and to
be his vassals; that "by keeping covenant it should stand." And the
br