- and the church remained in a peculiar manner. But whereas they all originally sprang from Abraham, who received the promise and sign of circumcision for them all, and because they were all equally in their forefather brought into the bond of the old covenant, they are here mentioned distinctly, that none of the seed of Abraham might be excluded from the tender of this covenant. Unto the whole seed of Abraham according to the flesh it was that the terms and grace of this covenant were first to be offered. So Peter tells them, in his first sermon, that “the promise was unto them and their children” who were then present,—that is, the house of Judah; and “to all that were afar off,’—that is, the house of Israel in their dispersions, Acts ii. 39. So again he expresseth the order of the dis- pensation of this covenant with respect to the promise made to Abraham, Acts iii. 25, 26, “ Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be
- blessed. Unto you first, God having raised his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you;” namely, in the preaching of the gospel. So our apostle, in his sermon unto them, affirmed that “it was necessary
* that the word should be first spoken unto them,” Acts xiii. 46. And this was all the privilege that was now left unto them; for the parti- tion-wall was now broken down, and all obstacles against the Gentiles taken out of the way. Wherefore this house of Israel and house of Judah may be considered two ways: [1.] As that people were the whole entire posterity of Abraham. [2.] As they were typical, and mystically significant of the whole church of God. Hence alone it is that the promises of grace under the old testament are given unto the church under these names, because they were types of them who should really and effectually be made partakers of them.
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118 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. VIII.
[1.] In the first sense, God made this covenant with them, and this on sundry accounts:—
1st. Because He in and through whom alone it was to be established and made effectual was to be brought forth amongst them of the seed of Abraham, as the apostle Peter plainly declares, Acts iii. 25.
2dly. Because all things that belonged unto the ratification of it were to be transacted amongst them.
3dly. Because, in the Aer dispensation of it, the terms and grace of it were first in the counsel of God to be tendered unto them.
4thly. Because by them, by the ministry of men of their posterity, the dispensation of it was to be carried unto all nations, as they were to be blessed in the seed of Abraham; which was done by the apostles and other disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. So the law of the Redeemer went forth from Zion, By this means “the cove- nant was confirmed with many” of them “ for one week,” before the calling of the Gentiles, Dan. ix. 27. And because these things be- longed equally unto them all, mention is made distinctly of “the house of Israel, and the house of Judah.” For the house of Judah was, at the time of the giving of this promise, in the sole possession of all the privileges of the old covenant; Israel having cut off them- selves, by their revolt from the house of David; being cast out also, for their sins, amongst the heathen, But God, to declare that the covenant he designed had no respect unto those carnal privileges which were then in the possession of Judah alone, but only unto the promise made unto Abraham, he equals all his seed with respect unto the mercy of this covenant.
[2.] In the second sense the whole church of elect believers is intended under these denominations, being typified by them. These are they alone, being one made of twain, namely, Jews and Gentiles, with whom the covenant is really made and established, and unto whom the grace of it is actually communicated, For all those with whom this coyenant is made shall as really have the law of God written in their hearts, and their sins pardoned, according unto the promise of it, as the people of old were brought into the land of Canaan by virtue of the covenant made with Abraham. These are the true Israel and Judah, prevailing with God, and confessing unto his name.
Obs. X. The covenant of grace in Christ is made only with the Israel of God, the church of the elect—For by the making of this covenant with any, the effectual communication of the grace of it unto them is principally intended. Nor can that covenant be said, to be made absolutely with any but those whose sins are pardoned by virtue thereof, and in whose hearts the law of God is written; which are the express promises of it. And it was with respect unto those of this sort among that people that the covenant was promised to be made with them. See Rom, ix. 27-33, xi. 7. But in respect of the outward dispensation of the covenant, it is extended beyond
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