,er. 10.-Law and love in the new covenant. "For this is the covenant that I will make," etc. The paragraph from which our text is taken is a. quotation from Jer. xxxi. 31--3<l. It is said that the Lord "will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;" but this is spoken, not of Israel accord- ing to the flesh, but of the spiritual Israel-the spiritual seed of Abraham (of. Rom, ii. 2S, 29; ix. 6--8; Gal. iii. 7-9). Notice- I. TnE REVELATION OF LAW IN THE NEW COVENANT. One of the great distinctions between the two covenants nri~es from the materiality of the old one and the spiritu• ality of the new one, In nothing is this more manifest than in the matter of Law. Law is present in both of them. Dut in the old it was engraved upon tables of stone; in the new it is "Titten upon the hearts of men. Under the old the people were led "by the hand," guided by visible symbols; under the new they are led by the heart, guided by spiritual influences. Our text sets forth certain aspects of Law in the new covenant. 1. Law present in the mind. "I will put my laws into their mind." In the former dispensation Law was spoken to the outward ear, it was made visible to the hodily e~·e; and so given, it was ofteu soon neglected and forgotten. But in the present dispensation, to those who have by faith entered into covenant relation witn God, Law is given as a possession of their spiritual nature. It is not external to them, but is present witliin their minds as a rule of action and as a. theme for meditation. 2. Law treasured in the heart. "And on their heart also will I write them." When a thing is highly esteemed by us, or when a ea.use has awakened our deep interest, we say with propriety that it lies near our heart. With greater emphasis and deeper significance do we say the same of one whom we love. So in the ne". covenant Law holds a high pince; it is prized and loved. It is loved as being good in itself. "The Law is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good." It is loved, also, as being the expression of our Father's will. There were instances under the old covenant in which the Law was loved and delighted in, but they were rare exceptions to the geneml rule. Under the new covenant the Law of the Lord will be increa8ingly prized and loved and obeyed. 3. Law embodied in the life. " Out of the heart are tbe issues of life." ·writing the Law upon the heart is a pictorial way of expressing tbe inspiration of a disposition to obey Law, God will give his people courage to profess his laws, "and power to put them in practice; the whole habit and frame of their souls shall be a. table and transcript of the Law of God." The Law which they love in their heart they will express in their lives. This is the highest revelation of Law. lt is most effective in relation to the individual; it is most clear in relation to others, and most influential also. '!'his revelation is the work of the Holy Soirit. It is ho who illumines the mind, inspires the heart, etc. IL 'fm,: EXPilESSlON OF LOVE IN THE NEW COVENANT. "And I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people." We do not mean to imply that the giving of 1 he Law unto the minds and hearts of God's people was not an expression of bis love; for such in truth it was. But here is a brighter manifestation of his love. Notice 1. God'~ relation to tl,e Christian. "I will be to them a God." He will be to them o.ll that they uould desire and expect to find in their God. He gives himself as tle cliitf blessing of the new covenant. He will be to his people" as great, as wise, B.'I powerful, as good as he is in himself." We have all things in him (1 Uor. iii. 21-23). \\' e have his wisdom for our direction, his power for our protection, his love for ou, op1ritual satisfaction aod joy, his Spirit for our instruction, consolation, and sanr.tilic11- tiu11, his heaveu for our abiding and blessed home. A whole library dealing with the~e words could uot Jully express the number and preciousness of the blessings which are c"mpreherH.ic·d 1u them-" l will be to them a God." 2. 'l'he Christian's rtlat:on to liurl. ".Aud they shall be to me a people," 'l'his is set forth as our privilege; and tllt. vUI. 1-13.) THE EPISTLE TO 'l'HE HEilREWS. 217
a great ono it is. But tho privilege has its obligations. If by faith in Jesus Christ we have entered into this covenant relation with God, we have the riaht 0 to expect its blessings from him, and we aro solemnly bound to fulfil its duties to him. Our duty to wh_ich the _covenant binds us includ~s (l) su~reme a_ffection to God; (2) reverent worslnp of him; (3) hearty consecration to h18 service; (4) cheerful compliance with hie will. May we be enabled both to perform the duties and to enjoy the privileges of this gracious covenant.-W. J.