(6.) The manner on the part of the people of entering into cove- nant with God, was in two acts before mentioned: [1.] In a previous approbation of the matter of it; [2.] In a solemn engagement into it. And this was the foundation of the church of Israel.
This is that covenant whereof there is afterwards in the Scrip- ture such frequent mention, between God and that people, the sole foundation of all especial relation between him and them. For they took the observation of its terms on themselves for their posterity in all generations, until the end should be. On their obedience here- unto, or neglect hereof, depended their life or death in the land of Canaan. No farther did the precepts and promises of it in itself extend. But whereas it did not disannul the promise that was made unto Abraham, and confirmed with the oath of God, four hundred years before, and had annexed unto it many institutions and ordi- nances prefigurative and significant of heavenly things, the people under it had a right unto, and directions for the attaining of an. eternal inheritance. And something we may hence observe.
Obs. I. The foundation of a church-state among any people, wherein God is to be honoured in ordinances of instituted worship, is laid in a solemn covenant between him and them.—So it was with this church of Israel. Before this they served God in their families, by virtue of the promise made unto Abraham; but now the whole people were gathered into a church-state, to worship him ac- cording to the terms, institutions, and ordinances of the covenant. Nor doth God oblige any unto instituted worship but by virtue of a covenant. Unto natural worship and obedience we are all obliged, by virtue of the law of creation and what belongs thereunto. And God may, by a mere act of sovereignty, prescribe unto us the obser- vation of what rites and ordinances in divine service he pleaseth. But he will have all our obedience to be voluntary, and all our ser-
VER. 18-22.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 553
vice to be reasonable. Wherefore, although the prescription of such’
rites be an act of sovereign pleasure, yet God will not oblige us unto the observance of them but by virtue of a covenant between him and us, wherein we voluntarily consent unto and accept of the terms of it, whereby those ordinances of worship. are prescribed unto us. And it will hence follow,—
(1.) That men mistake themselves, when they suppose that they are interested in a church-state by tradition, custom, or as it were by chance,—they know not how. There is nothing but covenanting with God that will instate us in this privilege. And therein we do take upon ourselves the observance of all the terms of the new co- venant. And they are of two sorts: [1.] Internal and moral, in faith, repentance, and obedience; [2.] Such as concern the external worship of the gospel, in the ordinances and institutions of it.
_ Without such a covenant formally or virtually made, there can be
no church-state. I speak not at all of any such covenants as men may make or have made among themselves, and with God, upon a mixture of things sacred, civil and political, with such sanctions as they find out and agree upon among themselves. For whatever may be the nature, use, or end of such covenants, they no way be- long unto that concerning which we treat. For no terms are to be brought hereinto but such as belong directly unto the obedience and ordinances of the new testament. Nor was there any thing to be added unto or taken from the express terms of the old covenant, whereby the church-state of Israel was constituted. And this was
~ the entire rule of God’s dealing with them. The only question con-
cerning them was, whether they had kept the terms of the covenant or no. And when things fell into disorder among them, as they did frequently, as the sum of God’s charge against them was that they had broken his covenant, so the reformation of things attempted by their godly kings before, and others after the captivity, was by in-
ducing the people to renew this covenant, without any addition,
alteration, or mixture of things of another nature. (2.) That so much disorder in the worship of God under the gos-
_pel hath entered into many churches, and that there is so much negligence in all sorts of persons about the observance of evange-
lical institutions, so little conscientious care about them, or reverence in the use of them, or benefit received by them; it is all much from hence, that men understand not aright the foundation of that obe- dience unto God which is required in them and by them. This, indeed, is no other but that solemn covenant between God and the whole chureh, wherein the church takes upon itself their due ob- servance. This renders our obedience in them and by them no less necessary than any duties of moral obedience whatever. But this
being not considered as it ought, men have used their supposed res 3
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554 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [ CHAP. Ix.
or rather, fallen into great licentiousness in the use of them, and few have that conscientious regard unto them which it is their duty to have.