- effected by the ministry of angels, but the new by the immediate operation of the Holy Ghost himself. But this difference princi- pally consists herein, that under the new testament the Holy Ghost hath graciously condescended to bear the office of the comforter of the church. That this unspeakable privilege is peculiar unto the new testament, is evident from all the promises of his being sent as a comforter made by our Saviour, John xiv.-xviL; especially by that
? See vol. iii. p. 125, of his miscellaneous works. —Ep.
96 : AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. VIII.
wherein he assures his disciples that “unless he went away” (in which going away he confirmed the new covenant) “the Comforter would not come; but if he so went away, he would send him from the Father,” chap. xvi. 7. And the difference between the two covenants which ensued hereon is inexpressible.
13. They differ in the declaration made in them of the kingdom of God. It is the observation of Augustine, that the very name of “the kingdom of heaven” is peculiar unto the new testament. It is true, God reigned in and over the church under the old testa- ment; but his rule was such, and had such a relation unto secular - things, especially with respect unto the land of Canaan, and the flourishing condition of the people therein, as that it had an ap- pearance of a kingdom of this world. And that it was so, and was so to be, consisting in empire, power, victory, wealth, and peace, was so deeply fixed on the minds of the generality of the people, that the disciples of Christ themselves could not free themselves of that apprehension, until the new testament was fully established. But now in the gospel, the nature of the kingdom of God, where it is, and wherein it consists, is plainly and evidently declared, unto the unspeakable consolation of believers. For whereas it is now known and experienced to be internal, spiritual, and heavenly, they have no less assured interest.in it and advantage by it, in all the troubles which they may undergo in this world, than they could have in the fullest possession of all earthly enjoyments.
14, They differ in their substance and end. The old covenant was typical, shadowy, and removable, Heb. x.1. The new covenant is substantial and permanent, as containing the body, which is Christ. Now, consider the old covenant comparatively with the new, and this part of its nature, that it was typical and shadowy, is a great debasement of it. But consider it absolutely, and the things wherein it was so were its greatest glory and excellency; for in these things alone was it a token and pledge of the love and grace of God. For those things in the old covenant which had most of bondage in their use and practice, had most of light and grace in their signifi- cation. This was the design of God in all the ordinances of worship belonging unto that covenant, namely, to typify, shadow, and repre- sent the heavenly, substantial things of the new covenant, or the Lord Christ and the work of his mediation. This the tabernacle, ark, altar, priests, and sacrifices did do; and it was their glory that so they did. However, compared with the substance in the new covenant, they have no glory.
15. They differ in the extent of their administration, according unto the will of God. The first was confined unto the posterity of Abraham according to the flesh, and unto them especially in the land of Canaan, Deut. v. 8, with some few proselytes that were
VER. 6.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 97
joined unto them, excluding all others from the participation of the benefits of it. And hence it was, that whereas the personal ministry of our Saviour himself, in preaching of the gospel, was to precede the introduction of the new covenant, it was confined unto the people of Israel, Matt. xv. 24. And he was the “minister of the circumcision,” Rom. xv. 8. Such narrow bounds and limits had the administration of this covenant affixed unto it by the will and pleasure of God, Ps. cxlvii. 19, 20. But the administration of the new covenant is extended unto all nations under heaven; none being excluded, on the account of tongue, language, family, nation, or place of habitation. All have an equal interest in the rising Sun. The partition wall is broken down, and the gates of the new Jerusa- lem are set open unto all comers upon the gospel invitation. This is frequently taken notice of in the Scripture. See Matt. xxviii. 19; Mark xvi. 15; John xi. 51, 52, xii. 832; Acts xi. 18, xvii. 30; Gal. v. 6; Eph. 1. 11-16, ii, 8-10; Col. ii. 10, 11; 1 John ii. 2; Rev. v. 9. This is the grand charter of the poor wandering Gentiles. Having wilfully fallen off from God, he was pleased, in his holiness and severity, to leave all our ancestors for many generations to serve and worship the devil. And the mystery of our recovery was “hid in God from the beginning of the world,” Eph. iii. 8-10. And although it was so foretold, so prophesied of, so promised under the old testament, yet, such was the pride, blindness, and obstinacy, of the greatest part of the church of the Jews, that its accomplishment was one great part of that stumbling-block whereat they fell; yea, the greatness and glory of this mystery was such, that the disciples of Christ themselves comprehended it not, until if was testified unto them by the pouring out of the Holy Ghost, the great promise of the new covenant, upon some of those poor Gentiles, Acts xi. 18.