6. What is the condition of this covenant on our part as we may gather it hence? The condition of this covenant is faith in Jesus, which is implied in the promise, I will be thy God, or I am the Lord thy God: and commanded in the precept built upon it, thou shalt have me to be thy God, or thou shalt have no other Gods before me. But where is faith in Jesus Christ mentioned either in promise or precept? I answer, if it be not expressed, it is very plainly intended, or meant: God is not the God of Israel, but in and through the Mediator: neither can Israel take God to be their God, but by faith in the Messiah. In the prophets we read frequently these exhortations,: trust in the Lord, commit thy self unto the Lord, lean upon the Lord, and roll, thy burden upon the Lord: but what the Prophets exhort unto, that is commanded in this expressure of the Covenant? and who can trust in the Lord, or commit himself to the Lord, or lean upon the Lord, or roll his burden on the Lord, if he be a sinner, unless it be in and through a Mediator? Israel must walk before God in all well-pleasing; and the Apostle tells us, that without faith it is impossible to please God. But to go further, what is the meaning of this first commandment in the affirmative part, but to have one God in Christ to be our God by faith? it is true,1 there is no mention made of Christ, or faith, but that is nothing; is there is no mention of Love, and yet our Saviour discovers and commands it there; when the Lawyer tempted Christ, Master, which is the great Commandment in the Law? you know Christs answer,2 thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, this is the first and great Commandment, Mat. 22, 36, 37, 38. Now as our Saviour discovers love there, so in like manner is faith and Christ there the necessary consequents. But you may object, what say we to obedience? is not that rather the condition of this covenant thus shining in the Law?
6. What is the condition of this covenant on our part as we may gather it hence? The condition of this covenant is faith in Jesus, which is implyed in the promise, I will be thy God, or I am the Lord thy God: and commanded in the precept built upon it, thou shalt have me to be thy God, or thou shalt have no other Gods before me. But where is faith in Jesus Christ mentioned either in promise or precept? I answer, if it be not expressed, it is very plainly intended, or meant: God is not the God of Israel, but in and through the Mediator: neither can Israel take God to be their God, but by faith in the Messiah. In the prophets we read frequently these exhortations,: trust in the Lord, commit thy self unto the Lord, lean upon the Lord, and roul, thy burden upon the Lord: but what the Prophets exhort unto, that is commanded in this expressure of the Covenant? and who can trust in the Lord, or commit himself to the Lord, or lean upon the Lord, or roul his burthen on the Lord, if he be a sinner, unless it be in and through a Mediator? Israel must walk before God in all well-pleasing; and the Apostle tells us, that without faith it is impossible to please God. But to go further, what is the meaning of this first commandment in the affirmative part, but to have one God in Christ to be our God by faith? it is true,1 there is no mention made of Christ, or faith, but that is nothing; is there is no mention of Love, and yet our Saviour discovers and commands it there; when the Lawyer tempted Christ, Master, which is the great Commandment in the Law? you know Christs answer,2 thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, this is the first and great Commandment, Mat. 22, 36, 37, 38. Now as our Saviour discovers love there, so in like manner is faith and Christ there the necessary consequents. But you may object, what say we to obedience? is not that rather the condition of this covenant thus shining in the Law?
- 1Heb. 11.6.
- 2Mat. 22.36, 37, 38.
