promises, prophecies, sacrifices, circumcifion, the paschal lamb, and other types and ordinances delivered to the people of the Jews, all fore-fignifying Christ to come, which were for that time sufficient and efficacious, through the operation of the Spirit, to instruct and build up the elect in faith in the promised, Messiah', by stones, was glorious, so that the children of Ifrael could not ftedfastly behold the face of Mofes, for the glory of his countenance, which glory was to be done away; -How shall not the ministration of the Spirit be rather glorious?-For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the rinitration of righteoufness exceed in glory. k Heb. 8.9, 10. chapters. Rom. 4. 11. And he received the sign of circumcifion, a feal of the righteousness of the faith, which he had yet, being uncircumcifed; that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteoufness might be imputed unto them also. Col. 2. 11. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcifion made without hands, in putting off the body of the fins of the flesh by the circumcifion of Christ. ver. 12. Buried with him in baptifm, wherein also ye are risen with him, through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 1 Cor. 5.7. Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lamp, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is facrificed for us. Col. 2. 17. Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Chrift. 1 1 Cor. 10. 1, 2, 3, 4. Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all paffed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Mofes in the cloud and in the fea. And did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them; and that rock was Christ. Heb. 11. 13. These all died in faith, not having received the promises; but having seen them afar off, and were perfuaded of them, and embraced them, and confefsed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. John 8.56. Your fa. ther Abraham rejoiced to fee my day; and he saw it, and was glad. whom they had full remission of fins, and eternal salvation; and is called the Old testamentTM. VI. Under the gospel, when Christ the substance", was exhibited, the ordinances in which this covenant is dispensed are the preaching of the word, and the administration of the facraments of baptifm and the Lord's supper; which though fewer in number, and administered with more simplicity and less outward glory, yet in them it is held forth in more fulness, evidence, m Gal. 3. 7, 8, 9, 14. Know ye therefore, that they which are of faith, the fame are the children of Abraham. And the fcripture forefeeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached be. fore the gofpel unto Abraham, faying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. That the bleffing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jefus Christ, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. VI. n Coloff. 2. 17. Which are a fhadow of things to come, but the body is of Chrift. o Mat. 28. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, bap tizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; -Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo, I am with you alway, éven unto the end of the world. Amen. 1 Cor. 23, 24, 25. For I have received of the Lord, that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the fame night in which he was betrayed, took bread. And when he had given thanks he brake it, and faid, Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of me. After the fame manner also, be took the cup, when he had fup. ped, saying, This cup is the New Testament in my blood; this do ye, as often as ye drink it in remembrance of me. Cor. 3. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones was glorious, so that the children of ifrael could not stedfastly behold the face of Mofes, for the glory of his countenance, which glory was to be done a. way; -How shall not the mi. nistration of the Spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness e. 2 4 and spiritual efficacy, to all nations, both Jews and Gentiles; and is called the New Testament'. There are not, therefore, two covenants of grace differing in substance, but one and the same under various dispensations. exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reafon of the glory that excel. leth-For if that which was done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. p Heb. 12. 22, to 28. See alfo Jer. 31. 33, 34. q See letter o and Matt- 28. 19. Eph. 2. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. Having abolished in his flesh, the enmity, even the law of commandments, contained in ordinances, for to make in himself, of twain, one new man, making peace:-And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having flain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. -Now therefore ye are no more ftran gers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the faints, and of the houshold of God. r Luke 22. 20. Likewife alfo the cup after supper faying, This cup is the New Tefta. ment in my blood, which is shed for you. Heb. 8. 7, 8, 9. f Gal. 3. 14, 16. That the blefling of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith:-Now to Abraham and his feed were the promises made. He faith not, And to feeds, as of many; but as of one, and to thy feed, which is Christ. Acts 15.11. But we believe, that through the grace of the Lord Jefus Chrift, we shall be saved even as they. Rom. 3. 30.Seeing it is one God which shall justify the circumcifion by faith, and uncircumcifion through faith. E3 CHAP. VIII. Of Christ the Mediator. T pleased God, in his eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, his only begotten Son, to be the mediator between God and man, the prophet, priest, and king; the head and saviour of his church, the heir of all things, and judge of the world"; unto whom he did from all eternity give a people to be his feed, and to be by him in time redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified'. I I. a Ifa. 42. Ι. Behold my fervant whom I uphold; mine elect; in whom my foul delighteth; I have put my Spirit upon him; he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. Pet. I. 19, 20.- But with the precious blood of Chrift, as of a lamb without blemish, and without spot.-Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you. I Tim. 2. 5. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. See alfo, John 3.16. b Acts 3. 22. For Mofes truly faid unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him hall ye hear in all things whatfoever he shall fay unto you. Deut. 18. 13. c Heb. 5.5, 6. So also Christ glorified not himself, to be made an high prieft; but he faid unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee: As he faith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchisodec. d Pfal. 2.6. Yet have I fet my king upon my holy hill of Zion, Luke 1. 33. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end. e Eph. 5. 23. For the huf. band is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church; and he is the faviour of the body. f Heb. 1. 2. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by bis Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things. g Acts 17. 31. Because he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness, by that man II. The Son of God, the second perfon in the Trinity, being very and eternal God, of one fubstance, and equal with the Father, did, when the fulness of time was come, take upon him man's nature, and all the essential properties and common infirmities thereof, yet without whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. h John 17. 6. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world; thine they were, and thou gavest them me, and they have kept thy word. Pfal. 22. 30. A feed shall ferve him, it shall be accounted unto the Lord for a generation. Ifai. 53. 10. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him, he hath put him to grief; when thou shalt make his foul an offering for fin, he shall see bis feed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall profper in his hand. i 1 Tim. 2. 6. Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Ifai. 55. 4,5. Behold I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and a commander to the people; Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee, because of the Lord thy God, and for the holy One of Ifrael; for he hath glorified thee. 1 Cor. 1. 30. But of him are ye in Chrift Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness, and fanctification and redemption. II. k John 1. 1, 14. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 1 John 5. 20. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an under. standing that we may know him that is true: and we are in him that is true; even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Phil. 2. 6. Who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God. Gal. 4. 4. But when the fulness of the time was come, God fent forth his Son made of a woman, made under the law. |