(3.) Notwithstanding the promises which they had received, yet the whole system of their worship sprang from, and related unto the covenant made at Sinai. But now God promiseth a new state of spiritual worship, relating only unto the promises of grace as brought into the form of a covenant.
Obs. VIII. The new covenant, as re-collecting into one all the promises of grace given from the foundation of the world, accom- plished in the actual exhibition of Christ, and confirmed in his death, and by the sacrifice of his blood, thereby becoming the sole rule of new spiritual ordinances of worship suited thereunto, was the great object of the faith of the saints of the old testament, and is the great foundation of all our present mercies.
All these things were contained in that new covenant, as such, which God here promiseth to make. For,—
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114 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. VIII.
(1.) There was in it a recapitulation of all the promises of grace. God had not made any promise, any intimation of his love or grace unto the church in-general, nor unto any particular believer, but he brought it all into this covenant, so.as that they should be esteemed, all and every one of them, to be given and spoken unto every indi- vidual person that hath an interest in this covenant. Hence all the promises made unto Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the other patriarchs, and the oath of God whereby they were confirmed, are all of them made unto us, and do belong unto us no less than they did unto them to whom they were first given, if we are made partakers of this covenant. Hereof the apostle gives an instance in the singular promise made unto Joshua, which he applies unto be- lievers, Heb, xiii, 5. There was nothing of love or grace in any of them but was gathered up into this covenant.
(2.) The actual exhibition of Christ in the flesh belonged unto this promise of making a new covenant; for without it, it could not have been made. This was the desire of all the faithful from the foundation of the world; this they longed after, and fervently prayed for continually. And the prospect of it was the sole ground of their joy and consolation. “ Abraham saw his day, and rejoiced.” This was the great privilege which God granted unto them that walked uprightly before him; such an one, saith he, “ shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munition of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off,” Isa. xxxll. 16, 17. That prospect they had by faith of the King of saints in his beauty and glory, though yet at a, great distance, was their relief and their reward in their sincere obedience. And those who understand not the glory of this privilege of the new covenant, in the incarnation of the Son of God, or his exhibition in the flesh, wherein the depths of the counsels and wisdom of God, in the way of grace, mercy, and love, opened themselves unto the church, are strangers unto the things of God.
(3.) It was confirmed and ratified by the death and bloodshed- ding of Christ, and therefore included in it the whole work of his mediation. This is the spring of the life of the church; and until it was opened, great darkness was upon the minds of believers them- selves, What peace, what assurance, what light, what joy, depend hereon, and proceed from it, no tongue can express.
(4) All ordinances of worship do belong hereunto. What is the benefit of them, what are the advantages which believers receive by them, we must declare when we come to consider that comparison that the apostle makes between them and the carnal ordinances of the law, chap. ix.
Whereas, therefore, all these things were contained in the new
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covenant, as here promised of God, it is evident how great was the coneernment of the saints under the old testament to have it intro- duced ; and how great also ours is in it, now it is established.
5. The author or maker of this covenant is expressed in the words, as also those with whom it was made:—
(1.) The first is included in the person of the verb, “I will make;” “T will make, saith the Lord.” It is God himself that makes this covenant, and he takes it upon himself so to do. He is the prin- cipal party covenanting: “I will make a covenant.” God hath made a covenant: “He hath made with me an everlasting covenant.” And sundry things are we taught therein :—
[1.] The freedom of this covenant, without respect unto any merit, worth, or condignity in them with whom it is made. What God doth, he doth freely,—“ ex mera gratia et voluntate.’ There was no cause without himself for which he should make this cove- nant, or which should move him so to do, And this we are eminently taught in this place, where he expresseth no other occa- sion of his making this covenant but the sins of the people in breaking that which he formerly made with them. And it is ex- pressed on purpose to declare the free and sovereign grace, the goodness, love, and mercy, which alone were the absolute springs of this covenant.