(4.) From the nature of the whole ministry of the law, which was the “ ministration of death” and “condemnation,” 2 Cor. iii. 7, 9; which declared the desert of every sin to be death, and denounced death unto every sinner, administering by itself no relief unto the minds and consciences of men. So was it the “ letter that killed” them that were under its power.
(5.) From the darkness of their own minds, in the means, ways, and causes of deliverance from all these things. It is true, they had a promise before of life and salvation, which was not abolished by this covenant, even the promise made unto Abraham; but this belonged not unto this covenant, and the way of its accomplish- ment, by the incarnation and mediation of the Son of God, was much hidden from them,—yea, from the prophets themselves who yet foretold them. ‘This left them under much bondage. For the principal cause and means of the liberty of believers under the gospel, ariseth from the clear light they have into the mystery of the love and grace of God in Christ. This knowledge and faith of his incarnation, humiliation, sufferings, and sacrifice, whereby he made atonement for sin, and brought in everlasting righteousness, is that which gives them liberty and boldness in their obedience, 2 Cor. iii. 17,18. Whilst they of old were in the dark as unto these things, they must needs have been kept under much bondage.
(6.) It was increased by the yoke of a multitude of laws, rites, and ceremonies, imposed on them; which made the whole of their wor- ship a burden unto them, and insupportable, Acts xv. 10.
In and by all these ways and means there was a spirit of bondage and fear administered unto them. And this God did, thus he dealt with them, to the end that they might not rest in that state, but continually look out after deliverance.
On the other hand, the new covenant gives liberty and boldness, the liberty and boldness of children, unto all believers. It is the Spirit of the Son in it that makes us free, or gives us universally all that liberty which is any way needful for us or useful unto us, For “ where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty ;” namely, to serve God, “not in the oldness of the letter, but in the newness of the spirit.” And it is declared that this was the great end of bringing in the new covenant, in the accomplishment of the promise made unto Abraham, namely, “that we being delivered out of the hand of our
VER. 6.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS, 93
enemies, might serve God without fear...... all the days of our life,” Luke i. 72-75. And we may briefly consider wherein this deliverance and liberty by the new covenant doth consist, which it doth in the things ensuing :—
(1.) In our freedom from the commanding power of the law, as to sinless, perfect obedience, in order unto righteousness and justi- fication before God. Its commands we are still subject unto, but not in order unto life and salvation; for unto these ends it is ful- filled in and by the mediator of the new covenant, who is “ the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth,” Rom. x. 4.
(2.) In our freedom from the condemning power of the law, and the sanction of it in the curse. This being undergone and answered by him who was “ made a curse for us,” we are freed from it, Rom. vii. 6; Gal. iii. 18,14. And therein also are we “delivered from the fear of death,” Heb. 11. 15, as it was penal and an entrance into judgment or condemnation, John v. 24.
(3.) In owr freedom from conscience of sin, Heb. x. 2,—that is, conscience disquieting, perplexing, and condemning our persons; the hearts of all that believe being “sprinkled from an evil conscience” by the blood of Christ.
(4.) In our freedom from the whole system of Mosaical worship, in all the rites, and ceremonies, and ordinances of it; which what a burden it was the apostles do declare, Acts xv., and our apostle at large in his epistle to the Galatians.
(5.) From all the laws of men in things appertaining unto the worship of God, 1 Cor. vii. 23.
And by all these, and the like instances of spiritual liberty, doth the gospel free believers from that “spirit of bondage unto fear,” which was administered under the old covenant.
It remains only that we point out the heads of those ways wherepy this liberty is communicated unto us under the new covenant. And it is done,—
(1.) Principally by the grant and communication of the Spirit of the Son as a Spirit of adoption, giving the freedom, boldness, and liberty of children, John i. 12; Rom. viii. 15-17; Gal. iv. 6, 7. From hence the apostle lays it down as a certain rule, that “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty,” 2 Cor. iii, 17. Let men pretend what they will, let them boast of the freedom of their outward condition in this world, and of the inward liberty or freedom of their wills, there is indeed no true liberty where the Spirit of God is not.. The ways whereby he giveth freedom, power, a sound mind, spiritual boldness, courage, contempt of the cross, holy confidence before God, a readiness for obedience, and enlargedness of heart in duties, with all other things wherein true liberty doth consist, or which any way belong unto it, I must not here divert to declare. The world judges that there is no bondage but where the Spirit of God is; for