to sins of greater enormity, as adultery and murder. But the Christian covenant purges away all sense of guilt from the conscience, and brings into the soul a peace that passeth all understanding : it extends to every sin that man can commit ; and assui-es the believer, that he shall in due time possess all the glory of heaven. There cannot be conceived any w^ant that the believer can feel, or any circumstances under which he may feel it, but there are promises in the Christian covenant precisely suited to his situation, and commensurate with his necessities: and all are to be apprehended simply by faith. Even the repentance which is necessary to fit the soul for the reception of the blessings, and the faith that is to apprehend them, are comprehended within the promises : they are not required of us in order that other blessings may be bestowed as a reward for them ; but they are promised to us, as vieans of introducing the soul to the possession of all other blessings. If we attempt to spin them, as it were, out of our own bowels, that we may be at rest in them, and make them a web whereby to catch other blessings, both they and we shall soon be swept away with the besom of destruction. But, if we go to God for them, then shall they be conferred upon us, and wrought in us by God as initiatory blessings, preparatory to the full bestowment of all the kingdom of heaven.
How much better then this covenant is than the Mosaic, must be obvious to the most superficial observer.
In order to a just understanding of the text, it will be proper yet further to inquire,]
3. In what sense is Christ " the Mediator of this better covenant?"
[Moses, in the first instance, and after him the Aaronic priests in succession, were the mediators of the old covenant. Every thing was transacted by, and through, them. Tliey offered the sacrifices, and carried in the blood of them before God, and offered incense before God in behalf of the people ; and then went forth from God to bless the people. So is the Lord Jesus Christ the Mediator of this better covenant. He is " the Daysman that lays his hand upon both parties'," and mediates between them. No man comes to God, but by him ; nor does God vouchsafe his blessings to any man, but through him.]
This part of our subject will be more fully opened, whilst we mark,
II. The excellency of his priesthood as connected with it —
i Job ix, 33.