What he hath done for his people on the new covenant account, consists especially in these two things.
1. He loved them freely, and that while they were enemies: a wonderful mercy indeed! He loved them before they were, and so before they had any love to him, Eph. 2:4-5. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ. Note, Gods love was a great love to his people, even when they were dead in sin. Hence it is that God saith, Jer. 31:3 I have loved thee with an everlasting love.
2. He gave Jesus Christ freely for them, this is new covenant mercy, Jesus Christ given for us, Isa. 9:6. Unto us a Son is given, and Jesus Christ is the gift of God, for and to his people, John 3:16. God so loved the World, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Jesus Christ was not only a gift, but a great gift, a new covenant gift, such a new covenant gift as without which the new covenant could not have been established; for the covenant is established in him, and with him, and by him for us, and God having given him for us.
Thomas Collier, A Discourse Of the true Gospel Blessedness IN THE NEW COVENANT, or The distinction of the two Covenants, New and Old, First and Second (London: H.Hills, 1659), p. 48.
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