VER. 10-12.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 137
before another. “ Many are called, but few are chosen ;” and what hath any one that he hath not received ?
[3.] He actually takes some into the grace of tne covenant whilst they are engaged in an opposition unto the outward dispen- sation of it. An example of this grace he gave in Paul.
(5.) It is evident that the first grace of the covenant, or God’s putting his law in our hearts, can depend on no condition on our part. For whatever is antecedent thereunto, being only a work or act of corrupted nature, can be no condition whereon the dispensa- tion of spiritual grace is superadded. And this is the great ground of them who absolutely deny the covenant of grace to be conditional ; namely, that the first grace is absolutely promised, whereon and its exercise the whole of it doth depend.
(6.) Unto a full and complete interest in all the promises of the covenant, faith on our part, from which evangelical repentance is inseparable, is required. But whereas these also are wrought in us by virtue of that promise and grace of the covenant which are abso- lute, it is a mere strife about words to contend whether they may be called conditions or no. Let it be granted on the one hand, that we cannot have an actual participation of the relative grace of this covenant in adoption and justification, without faith or believing; and on the other, that this faith is wrought in us, given unto us, bestowed upon us, by that grace of the covenant which depends on no condition in us as unto its discriminating administration, and I shall not concern myself what men will call it.
(7.) Though there are no conditions properly so called of the whole grace of the covenant, yet there are conditions in the cove- nant, taking that term, in a large sense, for that which by the order of divine constitution precedeth some other things, and hath an in- fluence into their existence; for God requireth many things of them whom he actually takes into covenant, and makes partakers of the promises and benefits of it. Of this nature is that whole obedience which is prescribed unto us in the gospel, in our walking before God in uprightness; and there being an order in the things that belong hereunto, some acts, duties, and parts of our gracious obedience, _ being appointed to be means of the further additional supplies of the grace and mercies of the covenant, they may be called conditions required of us in the covenant, as well as duties prescribed unto us.
(8.) The benefits of the covenant are of two sorts: [1.] The grace and mercy which it doth collate. [2.] The future reward of glory which it doth promise. Those of the former sort are all of them means appointed of God, which we are to use and improve unto the obtaining of the latter, and so may be called conditions required on our part. They are only collated on us, but conditions as used and improved by us.
138 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. VIII.
(9.) Although 6/6427, the word here used, may signify and be rightly rendered a “covenant,” in the same manner as 1”2 doth, yet that which is intended is properly a “testament,” or a “ testa- mentary disposition” of good things. It is the will of God in and by Jesus Christ, his death and bloodshedding, to give freely unto us the whole inheritance of grace and glory. And under this notion the covenant hath no condition, nor are any such either expressed or intimated in this place.
Obs. I. The covenant of grace, as reduced into the form of a testament, confirmed by the blood of Christ, doth not depend on any condition or qualification in our persons, but on a free grant and donation of God; and so do all the good things prepared in it.
Obs. II. The precepts of the old covenant are turned all of them into promises under the new.—Their preceptive, commanding power is not taken away, but grace is promised for the performance of them. So the apostle having declared that the people brake the old covenant, adds that grace , shall be supplied in the new for all the duties of obedience that are required of us.
Obs. III. All things in the new covenant being proposed unto us by the way of promise, it is faith alone whereby we may attain a
participation of them.—For faith only is the grace we ought to ex- ercise, the duty we ought to perform, to render the promises of God effectual to us, Heb. iv. 1, 2.
Obs. IV. Sense of the loss of an interest in and participation of the benefits of the old covenant, is the best preparation for receiving the mercies of the new.
8. The author of this covenant is God himself: “I will make it, saith the Lord.” This is the third time that this ex- pression, “Saith the Lord,” is repeated in this testi- mony. The work expressed, in both the parts of it, the disannulling of the old covenant and the establishment of the new, is such as calls for this solemn interposition of the authority, veracity, and grace of God. “I will do it, saith the Lord.” And the mention hereof is thus frequently inculcated, to beget a reverence in us of the work which he so emphatically assumes unto himself. And it teacheth us that,—