And these things belong unto the illustration of the comparison insisted on, although it be only one thing that the apostle argues from it, touching the necessity of the death of the testator. But notwithstanding these instances of agreement between the new tes- tament and the testaments of men, whereby it appears to have in it, in sundry respects, the nature of a testament, yet in many things there is also a disagreement between them, evidencing that it is _ also a covenant, and abideth so, notwithstanding what it hath of
the nature of a testament, from the death of the testator; as,—
(1.) A testator amongst men ceaseth to have any right in or use of the goods bequeathed by him, when once his testament is of force. And this is by reason of death, which destroys all title and use of them. But our testator divests himself neither of right nor possession, nor of the use of any of his goods. And this follows on a twofold difference, the one in the persons, the other in the goods or things bequeathed :—
[1.] In the persons. For a testator amongst men dieth absolutely ; he liyeth not again in this world, but “lieth down, and riseth not, until the heavens be no more.” Hereon all right unto, and all use of the goods of this life, cease for ever. Our testator died actually and really, to confirm his testament: but, 1st. He died not in his whole person; 2dly. In that nature wherein he died he lived again, “and is alive for evermore.” Hence all his goods are still in his own. power.
_ [2.] In the things themselves. For the goods bequeathed in the testaments of men are of that nature as that the propriety of them _ cannot be vested in many, so as that every one should have a right unto and the enjoyment of all, but in one only. But the spiritual
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342 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [ CHAP. IX.
good things of the new testament are such, as that in all the riches and fulness of them they may be in the possession of the testator, and of those also unto whom they are bequeathed. Christ parts with no grace from himself, he diminisheth not his own riches, nor exhausts any thing from his own fulness, by his communication of it unto others. Hence also,—
(2.) In the wills of men, if there be a bequeathment of goods made unto many, no one can enjoy the whole inheritance, but every one is to have his own share and portion only. But in and by the new testament, every one ts made heir to the whole inheritance. All have the same, and every one hath the whole; for God himself thence becomes their portion, who is all unto all, and all unto every one.
(3.) In human testaments, the goods bequeathed are such only as either descended unto the testators from their progenitors, or were acquired during their lives by their own industry. By their death they obtained no new right or title unto any thing; only what they had before is now disposed of according unto their wills. But our testator, according unto an antecedent contract between God the Father and him, purchased the whole inheritance by his own blood, “‘ obtaining for us eternal redemption.”
(4.) They differ principally in this, that a testament amongst men is no more but merely so; it is not moreover a solemn covenant, that needs a confirmation suited thereunto. The bare signification of the will of the testator, witnessed unto, is sufficient unto its con- - - stitution and confirmation. But in this mystery the testament is not merely so, but a covenant also. Hence it was not sufficient, unto its force and establishment, that the testator should die only, but it was also required that he should offer himself in sacrifice by the shedding of his blood, unto its confirmation. fi...
These things I have observed, because, as we shall see, the apostle in the progress of his discourse doth not confine himself unto this notion of a testament, but treats of it principally as it had the nature of a covenant. And we may here observe,—
Obs, I. It is a great and gracious condescension in the Holy Spitit to give encouragement aft confirmation unto our faith by a repre- sentation of the truth and reality of spiritual things in those which are temporal and agreeing with them in their general nature, whereby they are presented unto the common understanding of men,—This way of proceeding the apostle calls a speaking xa*’ évdpwrov, Gal, iii. 15, “after the manner of men.” Of the same kind were all the parables used by our Saviour; for it is all one whether these representations be taken from things real or from those which, according unto the same rule of reason and right, are framed on purpose for that end,
Obs. IL. There is an irrevocable grant of the whole inheritance of
VER. 18-22. | EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 343
grace and glory made unto the elect in the new covenant.—With- out this, it could not in any sense have the nature of a testament, nor that name given unto it. For a testament is such a free grant, and nothing else. And our best plea for them, for an interest in them, for a participation of them, before God, is from the free grant and donation of them in the testament of Jesus Clirist.