be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles,
that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth ;” where
“he is as fully promised unto the Gentiles, to be their “salvation,” as
ever he was unto Abraham or his posterity. See chap. li. 5, ii. 12. And on this account doth God call unto men in general to come
182 MESSIAH, THE DELIVERER FROM EVIL, [EXERC. VIII.
into his covenant, promising unto them an interest in the “ mercies of David,” and that because he hath given this Seed as a “ witness” unto them, as a “leader and commander,” or the “ captain of their salvation,” chap. lv. 1-4; the effect of which call, in the faith of the Gentiles, and their gathering unto the promised Seed, is expressed, verse 5. The like prophecies and predictions, of the Gentiles partak- ing in the redemption to be wrought, occur in all the prophets, espe- cially Ezekiel, Micah, Zechariah, and Malachi; but the instances already produced are sufficient unto our purpose.
32. There seems yet to be somewhat inconsistent with what we have declared in the words of the apostle, Eph. ii. 3, 5, 6, “ God by revelation made known unto me the mystery, which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it 1s now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.” The apostle seems to deny that this mystery, of the participation of the Gentiles in the blessing by the promised Seed, was revealed, or made known, before the time of its discovery in and by the gospel; and therefore could not be so declared by the prophets under the old testament as we have evinced. But indeed he doth not absolutely deny what is asserted ; only he prefers the excellency of the revelation then made above all the discoveries that were before made of the same thing. The mystery of it was intimated in many prophecies and predictions, though, before their accomplishment, they were attended with great obscurity; which now is wholly taken away. “ In former ages,” od« éyvapiody, “it was not,” saith he, “ fully, clearly, manifestly known,” Tog ulois ray dvdpiray, BIS °23?, “ to the sons of men,” in common and promiscuously, though it was intimated unto the prophets, and by them obscurely represented unto the church; but it was not made known a viv, with that clearness, evidence, and perspicuity, as it is now by the apostles, and preached unto all. It is only, then, the degrees of the manifestation of this mystery, as to openness, plain- ness, and evidence, that are asserted by the apostle above all of the same kind which went before; but the discovery of it absolutely is not denied. And thus much was necessary in our passage, to secure our own interest in the mercy treated about.
33. We may now return a little again unto the promise given unto Abraham. In the pursuit hereof his posterity was separated to be a peculiar people unto God. Their church-state, the whole constitution of their worship, their temple and sacrifices, were all of them assigned and appointed unto the confirmation of the promise, and to the explanation of the way whereby the blessed Seed should be brought forth, and of the work that he should perform for the re- moval of sin and the curse, and the bringing in of everlasting right-
rear
SECT. 82, 33.] PROMISED OF OLD, 183
eousness, as shall elsewhere be manifested. Moreover, unto this Deliverer, and the deliverance to be wrought by him, with the nature of it and the means of its accomplishment, by what he was to do and suffer, do all the prophets bear witness. The full manifesta- tion hereof, seeing it requires an explication of the whole doctrine of the Messiah, concerning his person, grace, and mediation, his offices, life, death, and intercession, the justification of sinners through his blood, and their sanctification by his Spirit, with all other articles of our Christian faith,—all which are taught and revealed, though obscurely, in the Old Testament,—would take up an entire volume, and be unsuitable unto our present design.
But three things in general the prophets give testimony unto him by:—First, By preferring the promised relief and remedy above all the present glory and worship of the church, directing it to look above all its enjoyments unto that which in all things was to have the pre-eminence. See Isa. ii. 2, iv. 2-6, vii. 18-15, ix. 6, 7, xi. 1-10, ete, xxxii. 1-4, xxxv. 1-10, xl. 1-5, 9-11, xlu. 1-4, xlix. 18,19; li. 4-7, lix. 20, 21, Ix., lxi. 1-8, ete, lxv. 17, 18; Jer. xxiii 5, 6, xxx. 9, xxxi. 31-34, xxxii. 40-42; Ezek. xl, etc.; Dan. vii. 27, ix, 24, xi. 1, 2; Hos. ii. 5; Joel ii. 18; Amos ix. 11-15; Obad. 21; Mice. iv. 1-4, v, 1-4; Hab. i. 14; Hag. ii. 6-9; Zech. ii, 8-12, iii. 8-10, vi. 12, 13, ix. 9-11, xiv. 3, 4, 20; Mal. i. 11, ii. 1-3, iv. 2; —which places, although but a few of those that occur in the pro- phets, are yet too many to be particularly insisted on. But this they all teach, with one consent, that there was in the promise which they assert and confirm an excellency of blessings far exceed- ing in glory and worth, and in advantage unto believers, all that which they outwardly enjoyed, in their peace, prosperity, kingdom, and temple-worship. Now, this can be nothing but the spiritual and eternal deliverance of their persons from sin, curse, and misery, with the enjoyment of the favour of God in this life, and blessed- ness hereafter in his presence for evermore. And this, in particular, is expressed and declared in many of the promises directed unto, especially those which concern the making and establishing of the new covenant, which is that we are in the demonstration of.