THE COVENANT OF GRACE. § 1. The Plan of Salvation is a Covenant.
The plan of salvation is presented under the form of a covenant. This is evident, —
First, from the constant use of the words n"'"i2 and SiaO^KT] in jeference to it. With regard to the former of these words, al- though it is sometimes used for a law, disposition, or arrangement in general, where the elements of a covenant strictly speaking are absent, yet there can be no doubt that according to its prevailing usage in the Old Testament, it means a mutual contract between two or more parties. It is very often used of compacts between individuals, and especially between kings and rulers. Abraham and Abimelech made a covenant. (Gen. xxi. 27.) Joshua made a cov- enant with the people. (Josh. xxiv. 25.) Jonathan and David made a covenant. (1 Sam. xviii, 3.) Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David. (1 Sam. xx. 16.) Ahab made a cov- enant with Benhadad. (1 Kings xx. 34.) So we find it constantly. There is therefore no room to doubt that the word il'^na when used of transactions between man and man means a mutual compact. We have no right to give it any other sense when used of trans- actions between God and man. Repeated mention is made of the covenant of God with Abraham, as in Gen. xv. 18 ; xvii. 13, and afterwards with Isaac and Jacob. Then with the Israelites at Mount Sinai. The Old Testament is founded on this idea of a covenant relation between God and the theocratic people.
The meaning of the word SLadrJKr] in the Greek Scriptures is just as certain and uniform. It is derived from the verb Stari^Ty/Ai, to arrange, and, therefoi-e, in ordinary Greek is used for any arrange- ment, or disposition. In the Scriptures it is almost uniformly used in the sense of a covenant. In the Septuagint it is the translation of n"*"]? in all the cases above referred to. It is the term always used in the New Testament to designate the covenant with Abra- ham, with the Israelites, and with believers. The old covenant and the new are presented in contrast. Both wei'e covenants. If