7. God promised unto Abraham, first, a numerous seed, the possession of the land of Canaan, and a blessing upon all nations in his seed, on this condition; that he and his seed should serve him: next, unto the seed of Abraham according to the flesh, _a priestly_ kingdom, a government most free, in which they were to be subject to no human power, on this condition; that they should serve the God of Abraham on that fashion which Moses should teach: lastly, both to them and to all nations, a heavenly and _eternal_ kingdom, on condition that they should serve the God of Abraham on that manner which Christ should teach. For by _the new_, that is to say, _the Christian covenant_, it is covenanted on men’s part, to serve the God of Abraham _on that manner which Jesus should teach_: on God’s part, _to pardon their sins, and bring them into his celestial kingdom_. We have already spoken of the quality of the _heavenly_ kingdom, above in art. 5; but it is usually called, sometimes the _kingdom of heaven_, sometimes the _kingdom of glory_, sometimes the _life eternal_. What is required on men’s part, namely, to serve God as Christ should teach, contains two things; _obedience to be performed to God_, (for this is to serve God); and _faith in Jesus_, to wit, that we believe _Jesus to be that Christ who was promised by God_; for that only is the cause why his doctrine is to be followed, rather than any other’s. Now in holy Scriptures, _repentance_ is often put instead of _obedience_; because Christ teacheth everywhere, that with God the will is taken for the deed; but _repentance_ is an infallible sign of an obedient mind. These things being understood, it will most evidently appear out of many places of sacred Scripture, that those are the conditions of _the Christian covenant_ which we have named; to wit, giving remission of sins and eternal life on God’s part; and repenting and believing in Jesus Christ, on men’s part. First, the words, (Mark i. 15): _The kingdom of God is at hand; Repent ye and believe the gospel_, contain the whole covenant. In like manner those (Luke xxiv. 46-47): _Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem._ And those (Acts iii. 19): _Repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come_, &c. And sometimes one part is expressly propounded, and the other understood, as here (John iii. 36): _He that believeth in the Son, hath everlasting life; He that believeth not the Son, shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him_: where _faith_ is expressed, _repentance_ not mentioned; and in Christ’s preaching (Matth. iv. 17): _Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand_: where _repentance_ is expressed, _faith_ is understood. But the parts of this _new contract_ are most manifestly and formally set