Christ and the covenant the work and way of meditation

But it is called a New Covenant, in opposition to the Covenant that was made with Adam, and with us in the state of innocency; — and in opposition to the Covenant which was made with the Jews in the time of the Old Testament.

First, New in opposition to the Covenant that was made with Adam in the state of innocency; for then, though God out of free love and grace, was pleased to condescend to enter into Covenant with man, yet then God did deal with us in a way of Supremacy and of Righteousness; and therefore there is mention made only of the Threatening, In the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt dye the death: But now God deals with us in this Covenant in a way of grace, and of great compassion; and therefore in this Covenant there is mention made only of the Promise.

First, New in opposition to the Covenant that was made with Adam in the state of innocency; for then, though God out of free love and grace, was pleased to condescend to enter into Covenant with man, yet then God did deal with us in a way of Supremacy and of Righteousness; and therefore there is mention made onely of the Threatning, In the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt dye the death: But now God deals with us in this Covenant in a way of grace, and of great compassion; and therefore in this Covenant there is mention made onely of the Promise.

Again, 2. Though God did enter into Covenant with Adam, and so with us, and promised eternal life in Heaven; not eternal life in this World only, as some would: For Hell was threatened in these words, In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt dye the death, and therefore Heaven and Salvation was promised on the contrary; yet I say (although God, when he entered into Covenant with us then, ⟨p. 62⟩did promise Heaven and Salvation) it was upon condition of our personal and perfect obedience, and therefore called a Covenant of works; But now our Covenant runs upon no such terms.

Again, 2. Though God did enter into Covenant with Adam, and so with us, and promised eternal life in Heaven; not eternal life in this World onely, as some would: For Hell was threatned in these words, In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt dye the death, and therefore Heaven and Salvation was promised on the contrary; yet I say (although God, when he entered into Covenant with us then, ⟨p. 62⟩did promise Heaven and Salvation) it was upon condition of our personal and perfect obedience, and therefore called a Covenant of works; But now our Covenant runs upon no such terms.

4. Then also the Lord gave Adam, and us, an• ability to stand, but he did not give a promise of perseverance in standing: But now the Lord doth, I will put my fear into your hearts, that you shall not depart from me, saith the Lord.

5. Then in that Covenant, there was no room for repentance, no room for remission: But as in a Court of mere Justice, the Question is not, whether a man doth repent of his Fact or no, but whether, I or No, hath such a Fact been done? So by the Covenant of works, the first Covenant, there is no Question whether a man doth repent or no, But whether the work were done, whether the sin were done: But now in this Covenant, there is room both for repentance, and for remission, (as by and by you shall hear.) And then

5. Then in that Covenant, there was no room for repentance, no room for remission: But as in a Court of meer Justice, the Question is not, whether a man doth repent of his Fact or no, but whether, I or No, hath such a Fact been done? So by the Covenant of works, the first Covenant, there is no Question whether a man doth repent or no, But whether the work were done, whether the sin were done: But now in this Covenant, there is room both for repentance, and for remission, (as by and by you shall hear.) And then

6. Though when God made that Covenant with Adam and with us, the tree of Life might be some shadow of Christ, yet then there was no Mediator, for there was no need, God and Man was not at variance, and so no need of a Mediator: But in this ⟨p. 63⟩Covenant that is now stricken, there is a Mediator, a Mediator of the New Covenant. So that thus you see this Covenant is New, in opposition to the Covenant that was made with Adam and us in the state of innocency.

6. Though when God made that Covenant with Adam and with us, the tree of Life might be some shaddow of Christ, yet then there was no Mediator, for there was no need, God and Man was not at variance, and so no need of a Mediator: But in this ⟨p. 63⟩Covenant that is now stricken, there is a Mediator, a Mediator of the New Covenant. So that thus you see this Covenant is New, in opposition to the Covenant that was made with Adam and us in the state of innocency.

And Secondly, As it is New in opposition to the Covenant that was made with Adam, the Covenant of works; so it is new also in opposition to the Covenant that was made with the Jews in the time of the Old Testament. For the clearing of this,

First of all we must inquire whether there be any difference between the Covenant made with the Jews in the day of the Old Testament, and the Covenant made with us now: — and in case there be, what is the difference, and wherein it lies.

First of all we must inquire whether there be any difference between the Covenant made with the Jews in the day of the Old Testament, and the Covenant made with us now: — and in case there be, what is the difference, and wherein it lyes.

And first, If you ask whether there be any difference.

If I should answer with Divines ordinarily (wherein they speak the truth) I must say, that the Covenant which God made with the Jews, was for substance the same, though different in administration; but give me leave to express my own sense in my own terms, thus,

1. It is plain and clear, that the Jews that were saved in the time of the Old Testament, were saved by the same Covenant, that we now are saved by; for they were saved by the Covenant that God made with Abraham, so are we, Luke 11. Rom. 4. Gal. 3. Circumcision then was the Seal of the Covenant; and what was Circumcision, but a seal of the Righteousness of Faith? The Ceremonies, Types and Sacrifices, did not belong to the Covenant of works, they were Types of Christ, and therefore it ⟨p. 64⟩must needs be the same Covenant, for it was a Covenant of works that was made with the Jews, God should have brought them from better to worse for the Covenant of Grace was made with Abraham; but though the Law was added after the Promise, it could not disannul the Promise, saith the Apostle in the 3. of Gal. So that its plain and clea• the Jews that were then saved, were saved by th• same Covenant that we now are: But

1. It is plain and clear, that the Jews that were saved in the time of the Old Testament, were saved by the same Covenant, that we now are saved by; for they were saved by the Covenant that God made with Abraham, so are we, Luke 11. Rom. 4. Gal. 3. Circumcision then was the Seal of the Covenant; and what was Circumcision, but a seal of the Righteousness of Faith? The Ceremonies, Types and Sacrifices, did not belong to the Covenant of works, they were Types of Christ, and therefore it ⟨p. 64⟩must needs be the same Covenant, for it was a Covenant of works that was made with the Jews, God should have brought them from better to worse for the Covenant of Grace was made with Abraham; but though the Law was added after the Promise, it could not disanul the Promise, saith the Apostle in the 3. of Gal. So that its plain and clea• the Jews that were then saved, were saved by th• same Covenant that we now are: But

2. Though those Jews that were saved, wer• saved by the same Covenant that we now are saved by, yet notwithstanding the Covenant o• works was declared, and promulged among th• Jews; Wherefore then was the Law added, saith th• Apostle? Added then it was. As Sarah and Hagar made types of the two Testaments by the Apostle Were at once in Abraham's house; So the Old Covenant of Works, and the New Covenant of Grace, wer• at once in the Jewish Church: But

2. Though those Jews that were saved, wer• saved by the same Covenant that we now are saved by, yet notwithstanding the Covenant o• works was declared, and promulged among th• Jews; Wherefore then was the Law added, saith th• Apostle? Added then it was. As Sarah and Hagar made types of the two Testaments by the Apostle Were at once in Abrahams house; So the Old Covenant of Works, and the New Covenant of Grace, wer• at once in the Jewish Church: But

3. Though both these Covenants were at once in the Jewish Church, the one declared, and the other made with them; though Hagar was in the same house, yet it was in subserviency unto Sarah; and though the Covenant of works was declared, and was there at the same time, yet it was in subserviency unto the Covenant of Grace; it was added, wherefore? saith the Apostle, because of transgression, to be a School Master to bring to Christ. It was there in subserviency, and upon a Gospel design: But then

3. Though both these Covenants were at onc• in the Jewish Church, the one declared, and the other made with them; though Hagar was in the same house, yet it was in subserviency unto Sarah; and though the Covenant of works was declared, and was there at the same time, yet it was in subserviency unto the Covenant of Grace; it was added, wherefore? saith the Apostle, because of transgression, to be a School Master to bring to Christ. It was there in subserviency, and upon a Gospel design: But then

4. Though both these Covenants were thus joined together, the Covenant of Works, and the Covenant of Grace both joined together in one state, yet both together did not make a third and ⟨p. 65⟩distinct Covenant; I am no ways of Camero's •ind, that there were three Covenants, but of the Apostles mind clearly, in the 4. of the Galatians, where he speaks expressly, that there are two Te•aments, and no more; so that though both were upon the ground together (one declared then to •ake them sensible of their sins, and to bring them •o the other Covenant) yet both did not make up a third and distinct Covenant: But

4. Though both these Covenants were thus joyned together, the Covenant of Works, and the Covenant of Grace both joyned together in one state, yet both together did not make a third and ⟨p. 65⟩distinct Covenant; I am no wayes of Camero's •ind, that there were three Covenants, but of the Apostles mind clearly, in the 4. of the Galathians, where he speaks expresly, that there are two Te•aments, and no more; so that though both were •pon the ground together (one declared then to •ake them sensible of their sins, and to bring them •o the other Covenant) yet both did not make up a •hird and distinct Covenant: But

5. Because the Commandment lay uppermost, the •hole dispensation was called Law, although the Promise and the Gospel lay at the bottom; As now, be•use the Promise lies uppermost, the whole of the covenant is called the Promise, though the Commandment lies at the bottom.

5. Because the Commandment lay uppermost, the •hole dispensation was called Law, although the Pro•ise and the Gospel lay at the bottom; As now, be•use the Promise lyes uppermost, the whole of the •ovenant is called the Promise, though the Com•andment lyes at the bottom.