A history of the work of redemption. Containing the outlines of a body of…

The other word here used is salvation. Of these two, God's righteousness and his salvation, the one is the cause, of which the other is the effect. God's righteousness, or covenant-mercy, ⟨p. 8⟩is the root of which his salvation is the faith. Both of them relate to the covenant of grace. The one is God's covenant-mercy and faithfulness, the other intends that work of God by which this covenant-mercy is accomplished in the fruits of it. For salvation is the sum of all those works of God by which the benefits that are by the covenant of grace are procured and bestowed.

(2) We may observe its continuance, signified here by two expressions; for ever, and from generation to generation. The latter seems to be explanatory of the former. The phrase for ever, is variously used in scripture. Sometimes hereby is meant as long as a man lives. So it is said, the servant that has his ear bored through with an awl to the door of his master, shall be his for ever. Sometimes thereby is meant during the continuance of the Jewish state. So of many of the ceremonial and Levitical laws it is said that they should be statues for ever. Sometimes it means as long as the world shall stand, or to the end of the generations of men. So it is said, Eccles. i.4. "One generation passeth away and another cometh; but the earth abideth forever." Sometimes thereby is meant to all eternity. So it is said, "God is blessed for ever," Rom. i 15. And so it is said, John vi, 51. "If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever."—Which of these senses is here to be understood, the next words determine, viz. to the end of the world, or to the end of the generations of men. It is said in the next words, "and my salvation from generation to generation." Indeed the fruits of God's salvation shall remain after the end of the world, as appears by the 6th verse: "Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner, but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished." But the work of salvation itself towards the church shall continue to be wrought till then: till the end of the world, God will go on to accomplish deliverance and salvation for the church, from all her enemies; for that is what the prophet is here speaking of; till the end of the world; till her enemies cease to be, as to any power to molest the church. This expression, from generation to generation may determine us as to the time which God continues to carry on the work of salvation for his church, both with respect to the beginning and end. It is from generation to generation, i. e. throughout all generations; beginning with the geeration of men on earth, and not ending till these generations end, at the end of the world.—Therefore we deduce from these words th