And this was called a “ testament” for three reasons :—
[1.] Because it was confirmed by death; that is, the death of the sacrifices that were slain and offered at its solemn establishment. So saith our apostle, “The first testament was not dedicated without blood,” Heb. ix. 18. But there is more required hereunto; for even a covenant properly and strictly so called may be confirmed with sacrifices, Wherefore,—
[2.] God did therein make over and grant unto the church of Israel the good things of the land of Canaan, with the privileges of his worship.
[3.] The principal reason of this denomination, “the old testa- ment,” is taken from its being typically significative of the death _ and legacy of the great testator, as we have showed.
We have treated somewhat before concerning the nature of the
»» Aiadinn xo.
112 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. VIII.
new testament, as considered in distinction from and opposition unto the old. I shall here only briefly consider what concurreth unto the constitution of it, as it was then future, when this promise was given, and as it is here promised. And three things do concur here- unto :—
(1.) A recapitulation, collection, and confirmation of all the promises of grace that had been given unto the church from the beginning, even all that was spoken by the mouth of the holy pro- phets that had been since the world began, Luke i. 70. The first promise contained in it the whole essence and substance of the cove- nant of grace. All those afterwards given unto the church, on various occasions, were but explications and confirmations of it. In the whole of them there was a full declaration of the wisdom and love of God in sending his Son, and of his grace unto mankind thereby. And God solemnly confirmed them with his oath, namely, that they should be all accomplished in their appointed season. Whereas, therefore, the covenant here promised included the sending of Christ for the accomplishment of those promises, they are all gathered into one head therein. It is a constellation of all the promises of grace. |
(2.) All these promises were to be reduced into an actual covenant or testament two ways:—
[1.] In that, as unto the accomplishment of the grace principally — intended in them, they received it in the sending of Christ; and as to the confirmation and establishment of them for the communica- tion of grace unto the church, they received it in the death of Christ, as a sacrifice of agreement or atonement.
[2.] They are established as the rule and law of reconciliation and peace between God and man. This gives them the nature of a covenant; for a covenant is the solemn expression of the terms of peace between various parties, with the confirmation of them.
(3.) They are reduced unto such form of law, as to become the only rule of the ordinances of worship and divine service required of the church. Nothing unto these ends is now presented unto us, or required of us, but what belongeth immediately unto the admi- nistration of this covenant, and the grace thereof. But the reader must consult what hath been discoursed at large unto this purpose on the 6th verse. 7
And we may see from hence what it is that God here promiseth and foretelleth, as that which he would do in the “ days that were coming.” For whereas they had the promise before, and so virtu- ally the grace and mercy of the new covenant, it may be inquired, “What is yet wanting, that should be promised solemnly under the name of a covenant?’ For the full resolution of this question, I must, as before, refer the reader unto what hath been discoursed at large about the two covenants, and the difference between them, on verse 6.
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VER. 8 | EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 113
Here we may briefly name some few things, sufficient unto the ex- position of this place; as,— .
(1.) All those promises which had before been given out unto the church from the beginning of the world, were now reduced into the form of a covenant, or rather of a testament. The name of “a cove- nant” is indeed sometimes applied unto the promises of grace before or under the old testament; but M3, the word used in all those places, denoteth only “afree, gratuitous promise,” Gen. ix. 9, xvii. 4. But they were none of them, nor all of them together, reduced into the form of a testament; which they could not be but by the death of the testator. And what blessed privileges and benefits were in- cluded herein hath been showed before, and must yet further be insisted on in the exposition of the ninth chapter, if God permit.
(2.) There was another covenant superadded unto the promises, which was to be the immediate rule of the obedience and worship of the church. And according unto their observance of this super- added covenant, they were esteemed to have kept or broken cove- nant with God. This was the old covenant on Sinai, as hath been declared.. Wherefore the promises could not be in the form of a covenant unto the people, inasmuch as they could not be under the power of two covenants at once, and those, as it afterwards appeared, absolutely inconsistent. For this is that which our apostle proves in this place, namely, that when the promises were brought into the form and had the use of a covenant unto the church, the former covenant must needs disappear, or be disannulled. Only, they had their place and efficacy to convey the benefits of the grace of God in Christ unto them that did believe; but God here foretelleth that he will give them such an order and efficacy in the administration of his grace, as that all the fruits of it by Jesus Christ shall be be- queathed and made over unto the church in the way of a solemn covenant.