they, and they only, acknowledge Christ as their governor : they alone yield obedience to his laws, and they alone enjoy the privileges of his people. Now as the Gentiles were " aliens" from the commonwealth of the Jews, so are all uncon- verted men " aliens" from the commonwealth of the converted. They are governed by different laws ; following the customs, fashions, and erroneous maxims of the world : they are sepa- rated from them in heart and affection ; and though, from necessity, they must sometimes have intercourse with the godly, they never unite with them as one people, or desire to have one lot together with them.]
3. They are " strangers from the covenants of promise" —
[There is, strictly speaking, but one covenant of grace : but the Apostle speaks of it in the plural number ; because it was given at different times, and always with increasing fulness and perspicuity. Whether given to Adam, to Noah, to Abra- ham, or to Moses, it was always the same : only the promises annexed to it were more copious and explicit. It is called " the covenant of promise," to distinguish it from the covenant of works, which consisted only in requirements ; whereas this consists chiefly in promises : under the covenant of works, men were to do all; under the covenant of grace they were to receive all.
It is obvious that the Gentiles were " strangers" to this covenant : and though it is not alike obvious, it is equally true, that the unconverted are strangers to it also. We confess they are admitted into the external bond of it in their baptism : but they do not become partakers of the promised blessings till they sue for them in the excercise of faith and prayer. And we will venture to appeal to the generality of baptized persons, Whether they are not as much strangers to the cove- nant of promise, as if no such covenant existed ? Do they rest upon the promises? Do they treasure them up in their minds ? Do they plead them in prayer before God ? Do they found all their hopes of happiness upon them ? Alas ! they have little acquaintance with the nature of the covenant, and no submission to its terms : and consequently they are utter strangers to the covenant, and to the promises contained in it.]
4. They are without hope —
[The Gentile world are always represented as in a hopeless state ; and though we presume not to say, that God will not extend uncovenanted mercy to any, yet we have no warrant to affirm that he will. If indeed they perfectly fulfilled the law written in their hearts, there is reason to think God would
2100.] PRIVILEGES OF THE REGENERATE. -i05
have mercy on themc: but who amongst them does perfectly fulfil that law ? But, waving this, there is an absolute cer- tainty that the state of unconverted men under the Gospel is hopeless : no mercy can possibly be extended to them, if they continue unconverted : they must inevitably and eternally perish. For, how should they have any hope, when they are " without Christ" (who is the Head of all vital influence), and " aliens from the commonwealth of Israel" (to which alone any saving blessings are communicated), and " strangers from the covenant of promise" (which is the only channel by which those blessings are conveyed to us) ? From whence then can they derive any hope ? or what foundation can they have for it ?]
5. They are "without God in the world" —
[The gods of the heathen were no gods : therefore they to whom the God of Israel was unknown, were " without God in the world." And thus it is with the unconverted amongst ourselves : for though they acknowledge the being of a God, they know not what a just and holy God he is ; nor do they glorify him as God, by a conformity to his revealed will. They love not to hear of him : they endeavour to blot out the remembrance of him from their minds ; their whole conduct accords with that of Pharaoh, when he said, " Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice ? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel god." In a word, the language of their hearts is like that of the fool whom David speaks of, " No God ;" there is no God to controul or punish me ; or, if there be, I wish there were nonee.]