that came to Salvation were ſaved, not from the Law or by that, but by the Goſpel and this new Covenant ; bur this was nor evidently exhibited, neither was the regenerating Grace of God to common under the time of the Law, as it hath been under the Go- ſpel, which maketh it look like a new covenant with Men, tho? it was the ſame Covenant which God was always in with his Peo- ple; for what difference is there between the terms of the Cove. nant as here recired, Chap. 24. 7. and 30. 22. and as made with . Abraham, Gen. 17. 7, Deut. 30. 6. It 15 further obſervable, that
* Ezek.
II, 19,26, 36. 2E, 270
2 Cor. 3.3,
the Circumciſion of the Heart and Spirit, ſpoken of, and pro- miſed by God, Dzut. 30. 6. x In the Times of the Goſpel God's Law 1s not abrogated and made void. Chrift himſelf came not to deſtroy the Law, but to tulfil it ; but it is written in the hearts of God's true Trae], by the finger of the Spirit, not in the Tables of Stone only ; aud they become obedient to it, not from compulſion and force, but from their ſecret approbation of it, and acknow- ledgment of it, as holy. juſt and good, the delight they take in it, ch1s after the inward man,Rem.30.9. But iome may obje&t,How was 2 New Covenant? Did not God of old write his Law inthe Hearts of his People ? Did not David, and other the Servants of Goo, (of whom we read in the OldTeſtament)ſerve God out of a principle of Love, and delight in his Law > Anſw. Undoubtedly David and others did fo, and the Law of God was writ in their hearts, but It was ver: ue of this New Coverant, from the free and efficacious Mr. Calvin I think judgeth right, that rhe Pro-
God maketh the writing the Law in Peoples Heart his own Work.
; There were no need of God's putting his Law into Mens inward
parts, if they had ſuch an inward power (as ſome talk of) of them-
lelvesto do it, and could write it there with a Pen of thetr own making. The Papijts allow God a ſhare in this Work, only give
Man himſelf the greateſt ſhare. Others indeed give God nothing
but the Honour of giving Man a reaſonable foul, farnifſhed with
luch a power, and that he hath done to the Heathens as well as thoſe within the Pale of the Church, and the Preaching of the G 0-
{pel and to thoſe within the Church, a further aid and aſſiſtance
to them than Heathens have, to uſe their natural. power. But let
any underſtanding perſon judge whether this be probably the {enſe of this Text, or comprehenfive of al! within the Covenan: ihich God hath made with his People; or ſuppoſing this were ©: ue, what that is which difforeth 012 Man living under the Goſpel from another, but himſelf; and wnether by this Dodtrine Man be not made a God to himlelf, rhat 1s the principal cauſe of all {piricual and eternal good 2 which how it comporteth with the Honour and Glory of God, or with this Text, and many others of like nature, I do not underſtand.
neighbour, and every man his brother, ſaying, Know the LORD z, for * racy ſhall all know me, from the leaſt of them unto the greatelt of them, ſaith the LORD #2, for * 1 will forgive their iniquity, and 1 will remember their {in no more 6.
7 This muſt not be ſo interpreted as if under the Goſpel, there
ſhould be no more need of miniſterial teaching, tor Chrift himſelf {ent out his Apoſtles to preach ; nor yet as if there ſhould be no
32 Not according to the covenant that I made With their fathers 1n the day that I took them by the hand to bring them our of the land of Egypt :,(which ny covenant they brake , || alchough 1 was an hus-
fignifying the increaſe of knowledge, and of the fear of the Lord, that ſhould be after the pouring out of the Spirit. We have ſuch expreſſions, 1 Fobn 2. 27. The Learned Author of our Engliſh Annotations thinks this Phraſe fignifies, that under the Golpel there ſhould be a greater meaſure of means of know-
band to them, ſaith the LORD w. )
t Not in ſubſtance differing from it, but in circumſtances vaſt- ly differing, as was ſhewed before, and is farther declared after- ward. The Covenant which God made witi the Fews when they came cut of the Land of Egype, was on God's part the Law which he gave them: with the Promiſesannexed to their oblervacion of it ; on their part (which made ita formal Covenant) their Pro- mile of Ove.!itence to it, of which fee Exod 24. 7, 8. Deut. 26.
ledge, and of knowledge got by that means, and of clearneſs of underſtanding in Perſons, or ability to concelve things revealed, and a greater number of Perſons ,that ſhould be enlightened with the ſaving knowledge of God : Others ſay, that by knowing the Lord 1s to be underſtood the firſt knowledge of (Got : Chriſtians ſhould not need to be raught the firſt Rudiments ; bur the Apoſtle ſpeaks otherwiſe, Heb. 5. 12» Others by know- l:dge underſtand the fear of the Lord. a God ſaith, They
17, 18. This Covenant God faith he made with them, when they wereen impotent, weak People, the care of whom he took upon him,and led them as a parent leadeth the feeble child by his hand
None mult imagine that this Covenant did not contain the Pro- | miſe of Pardon.through the Blood of the Meſſial), upon their ap- plication to him, for to what purpoſeelſe was it confirmed by Blood, Exod. 24.8. u Which Covenant they are faid to have bro- ten, not becauſe of every D:1obedierce to the Law of God, for fo every one daily breakethit,bur by their groſs and eminent finnings, fo oft repeate!, and continued in without Repentance, and more particularly by their [[dolatry which is compared to Whoredom, hich breaketh the Covenant and Bond of Marriage, and cauſeth £309 t6 lay unto a People, Lo Ammi, you are not my People.
ſhould all know him ; but it muſt not be underſtood of the ſame degree, and meaſure, but in a degree of ſufficiency for the Duties which God expected from them upon their no- tion and apprehenſion of God, ' b God makes the root of all this Grace to be the free pardon, aud remiſſion of their
fins.
35 | Thus faith the LORD, which giveth the ſun * for a light by day, ad the ordinances of the moon and of the ſtars for a light by night, which divideth the * ſea c when the waves thereof roar, the LORD
of hoſts zx his Name.
w Andth:is Cevenant-breaking is aggravated trom God's Kindnels
|
6 The
more need of Brotherly Teachings,by Inſtruction or Correption ; $4 ak ws the contrary 15 commanded, Col. 3. 16, It 1s only an expreſlion , ,
: Py * Tia, $1
34 And they ſhall teach no more every man his
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