A view of the covenant of grace by Thomas Boston (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue the Third Head by reading up to the heading 'Period I'.
My summary
Now Boston begins to teach us about the second part of the covenant, namely, the promissory part.
Firstly, after explaining the importance of the promises as part of the covenant, Boston considers the promises in general. We see:
(i) the general kinds of the promises;
(ii) to whom the promises are made.
Secondly Boston begins to consider the promises in particular. We learn about the promises peculiar to:
(i) Christ (promise of assistance, acceptance and reward);
(ii) the common elect (eternal life).
The last subpoint about the promises peculiar to the elect Boston speaks of generally and particularly. In general, the promise speaks to all true happiness and everlasting happiness. But in particular, the promise of eternal life to the elect may also be considered in three periods:
(i) before their union with Christ;
(ii) from their union with Christ until death;
(iii) from death, through eternity.
Those three period will be explored in subsequent readings.
What grabbed me
I liked the point that if Christ receives the promises, then we need to come to God through him: 'The true way to plead the promises, is to come to God in the name of Christ, and plead the fulfilling of them to us for his sake...To ask in Christ's name, believing, is to present one's self before the Lord, as a member of Christ, joined and cleaving to him offered unto us in the gospel; and for the sake of the head, to implore the free favour of the promise, relying on his merit for obtaining it.'
There are no promises available outside of Christ.
Next week's reading
Continue the Third Head by reading up to the heading 'III. The promise of sanctification'.
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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