This in general was the time here designed for the making and establishing of the new covenant. But we must yet further inquire into the precise time of the accomplishment of this promise. And I say, the whole of it cannot be limited unto any one season abso- lutely, as though all that was intended in God’s making of this cove- nant did consist in any one individual act. The making of the old covenant with the fathers is said to be “in the day wherein God took them by the hand, to bring them out of the land of Egypt.” During the season intended there were many things that were pre-
VER. 10-12.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 141
paratory to the making of that covenant, or to the solemn establish- ment of it. So was it also in the making of the new covenant. It was gradually made and established, and that by sundry acts pre- paratory for it or confirmatory of it. And there are six degrees ob- servable in it,—
(1.) The first peculiar entrance into it was made by the ministry of John the Baptist. Him had God raised to send under the name and in the spirit and power of Elijah, to prepare the way of the Lord, Mal.iv. Hence is his ministry called “the beginning of the gospel,” Mark i. 1, 2. Until his coming, the people were bound absolutely and universally unto the covenant in Horeb, without alteration or addition in any ordinance of worship. But his ministry was designed to prepare them, and to cause them to look out after the accomplish- ment of this promise of making the new covenant, Mal. iv. 4-6. And those by whom his ministry was despised, did “reject the counsel of God against themselves,”—that is, unto their ruin; and made themselves liable to that utter excision with the threatening whereof the writings of the Old Testament are closed, Mal. iv. 6. He therefore called the people off from resting in or trusting unto the privileges of the first covenant, Matt. 11. 8-10; preached unto them a doctrine of repentance; and instituted a new ordinance of worship, whereby they might be initiated into a new state or con- dition, a new relation unto God. And in his whole ministry he pointed at, and directed and gave testimony unto Him who was then to come to establish this new covenant. This was the beginning of the accomplishment of this promise.
(2.) The coming in the flesh and personal ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ himself, was an eminent advance and degree therein. The dispensation of the old covenant did yet continue; for he himself, as “made of a woman,” was “made under the law,” yielding obedience unto it, observing all its precepts and institutions. But his coming in the flesh laid an axe unto the root of that whole dispensation; for therein the main end that God designed thereby towards that people was accomplished. The interposition of the law was now to be taken away, and the promise to become all unto the church. Hence upon his nativity this covenant was proclaimed from heaven, as that which was immediately to take place, Luke i. 13, 14. But it was more fully and evidently carried on in and by his personal ministry. The whole doctrine thereof was prepara- tory unto the immediate introduction of this covenant. But espe- cially there was therein and thereby, by the truth which he taught, by the manner of his teaching, by the miracles which he wrought, in conjunction with an open accomplishment of the prophecies con- cerning him, evidence given that he was the Messiah, the mediator of the new covenant. Herein was a declaration made of the person
142 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. VIII.
in and by whom it was to be established: and therefore he told them, that unless they believed it was he who was so promised, they should die in their sins.
(3.) The way for the introduction of this covenant being thus pre- pared, it was solemnly enacted and confirmed in and by his death ; for herein he offered that sacrifice to God whereby it was established. And hereby the promise properly became d:adjx9, a “ testament,” as our apostle proves at large, Heb. ix. 14-16. And he declares in the same place, that it answered those sacrifices whose blood was sprinkled on the people and the book of the law, in the confirmation of the first covenant; which things must be treated of afterwards. This was the centre wherein all the promises of grace did meet, and from whence they derived their efficacy. From henceforward the old covenant, and all its administrations, having received their full accomplishment, did abide only in the patience of God, to be taken down and removed out of the way in his own time and manner; for really and in themselves their force and authority did then cease, and was taken away. See Eph. ii. 14-16; Col. ii 14,15. But our obligation unto obedience and the observance of commands, though formally and ultimately it be resolved into the will of God, yet im- mediately it respects the revelation of it, by which we are directly obliged. Wherefore, although the causes of the removal of the old covenant had already been applied thereunto, yet the law and its institutions were still continued not only lawful but useful unto the worshippers, until the will of God concerning their abrogation was fully declared. ;