Book excerpt: According to Dr Mark Dever, 'This little booklet is a devotional classic.' It contains a 'gospel map' that reveals the way to the 'riches of the covenant.' With great skill and an almost encyclopaedic knowledge of Scripture, Joseph Alleine (c.1634-68) conveys the 'exceeding great and precious promises' of God, and sets them forth in such a way as to bring encouragement and delight to the Christian believer. He demonstrates how, by embracing these promises, the believer is enabled to overcome all the assaults of unbelief. 'Faith, ' he says, 'makes its claim to all the benefits of the covenant, and stirs up the soul to joy and thankfulness.' It is little wonder to learn that Alleine's treatment of God's precious promises has proved an effective balm to countless weary souls for more than 300 years.