out of him so the Church was hid in Christ formed and drawn out of Christ cast into the deep sleep of death Ezek. 47.11 John 19.34 O rejoyce in Christs Testament glory in his Riches Triumph in his Salvation that when sin reigns over most unto death grace should reign over you thro' the Righteousness of Christ unto Eternal life 2 Cor. III. 6. Who also hath made us Able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit For the Letter Killeth but the Spirit giveth Life IN the words 1. we have a Subject spoken of and that is the New Testament as it is distinguished from the Old Testament which was not the Covenant of Works but the Covenant of Grace wrapt up in Types and Figures more darkly Administred Galat. 3.18 2. The Apostle insists on this New Testament and commends it that it is Spirit and not Letter 1 John 17. that is the Holy Ghost doth eminently and signally manifest himself in this New Testament Dispensation It is Filled it is Enriched it is Ennacted by the Holy Ghost he doth so breath in it and worketh it that it may well be called Spirit and not Letter The Gospel is not a meer Literal Doctrine or Command but mightily animated by the Spirit if it were only Letter it would kill us frail and weak Greatures exacting Duty And requiring Obedience of us that are Impotent yea dead Creatures but it is Spirit and so it gives Life The Holy Ghost enlightens Blind Minds softens Hard Hearts and Quickens Dead Souls The effectual Workings of the Spirit are called the Law of the Spirit and this Law of the Spirit of Life is said to make free from the Law of sin and death Rom. 8.2 This is a Law that is all Power and consists wholly in Execution 3. The Apostle informs us of the Honour and Dignity of Gospel-Officers for they are Ministers of this New Testament 4. The Apostle glorifies God and instructs us how it is that Officers do become able Ministers of this New Testament It is God that made Paul and others Able Ministers of the New Testament The words afford us Three Doctrines 1st That there is a New Testament 2dly That Gospel Officers are Ministers of this New Testament 3dly That it is God that doth make Men able Ministers of the New Testament 1. Doctrine that there is a New Testament We may observe and admire the Wisdom of God that first there was a Promise then a Covenant then a Testament this last the best and most Noble Edition of the Covenant of Grace this is called the New Testament to distinguish it from the Old Testament First The Old Testament was made with one Nation in the day that the Lord took Israel by the hand to lead them out of the Land of Egypt but it is God's design by Christ and the New Testament to gather together into one all the Children of God that are scattered abroad John 6.52 Christ Preacheth now not onely to the Jews that were nigh but also to the Gentiles that were afar off Ephes 2.17 2. The First Testament had Moses for â Mediator Gal. 5.19 The Law was given by Moses but Grace and Truth comes by Jesus Christ 1 John 17. Jesus is the Madiator of the New Testament Heb. 9.15 The Old Testament was accompanied with Figures and Shadows of things to come 2 Col. 17. The Law had a shadow of good things to come and not the very Image of the Things that is Christ himself and the very Live Image of Spiritual things were not then exhibited Righteousness was not yet brought Atonement was not yet made the Fountain was not yet opened for sin and uncleanness The Law and Prophets Prophesied till John Matth. 1.13 they spake of Christ and foretold the Glorious things of the Gospel as yet to come but now the Kingdom of God is clearly discovered and is Preached as come Luke 7.16 I ourthly The Old Testament and the Ceremonial Law made nothing perfect Heb. 7.19 but did introduce the Hope of a better Priest and of a more Noble Sacrifice but Christ by one Offering hath perfected for ever them that are Sanctified On the day of Atonement there was a remembrance of all the Sins committed that year which did shew the weakness and imperfection of those Sacrifices in that there was a Remembrance again made of Sins But in this the Excellency and Perfection of Christ's Sacrifice appears in that it did purge and put away Sin and God on the account of it made that Promise Your Sins and Iniquities I will Remember no more Heb. 10.17 18. Fifthly The Old Testament was confirmed by the Blood of Beasts Moses killed Sacrifices and took the Blood of them and sprinkled it on the People saying behold the Blood of the Covenant that God hath made with you But the New Testament was confirmed with better Blood Christs Blood is the Blood of Sprinkling and the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant Heb. 12.24 Heb. 13.20 Sixthly The Old Testament was weak and faulty it did not it could not purge Conscience by the Blood of Brutish Sacrifices neither could it introduce the Law of God into the Soul and write it in the Heart but the New Testament is strong and powerful it makes those that were barren to bear and rejoyce Isa 54.1 And by it the Law of God is writ in the Heart and put into the inward parts and the Soul is Renewed and Transformed to walk with and live to God 7thly The Old Testament waxed old and did vanish away but the New Testament remains abides and is Everlasting Heb. 13.20 the Blood of Christ is still fresh and therefore his Testament is still new He offered one Sacrifice for Sins for ever Heb. 10.12 His Sacrifice is of an Everlasting Virtue and the way made by it to the true Holy of Holies is living and still new Heb. 10.19 and the Covenant and Testament built on this Everlasting Sacrifice must need be Everlasting This is God's last speaking to the World and it shall never give place to any other Covenant Heb. 7.1 This is a better Covenant or Testament established on better Promises than the Covenant of Works was Heb. 8.6 yea the Promises of the New Testament are clearer and exhibit more grace than the Promises of the Old Testament The Old Covenant is compared to and set forth by Hagar that was a young Woman and had Natural Strength to conceive and bare a Son Gal. 4.24 25. with Isa 54.1 but the New Testament is set forth by Sarah that was barren and was made fruitful by a supernatural power Acts 1.11 The Promises of the Law do respect the strength that God first put into Man and are built on the obedience to be performed by this strength but the New Testament is built on a Spiritual and Supernatural strength put into the Soul by the Holy Ghost For the opening and Explication of this New Testament I shall insist on these several
be mindful of his Covenant Psal 111.5 The Kingdom of God and his Righteousness is our chief good and true Happiness the main of Gods Covenant is wrapt up in this Matth. 6.33 yet Earthly and outward things are Promised as an advantage these shall be added to God's Children to supply their wants The Children of Israel had need of a Passage to Canaan the Country that God had given them Moses sent to Sihon to desire a passage through his Country unto Canaan Deut. 2.26 27 28 30. but he refused to let Israel pass through his Land so God gave him up to Israel to be destroyed Thus the People of God must have some Footing in and Possession of the World as it is a passage to the Heavenly Canaan that is their proper Country Heb. 11.15 16. 3. How do Christians become Heirs I answer By being effectually called None but such shall partake of the Eternal Inheritance Heb. 9.15 When Christ doth not only seek after straying Souls but doth apprehend them Phil. 3.12 Paul saith he was apprehended of Christ When the Lord of Glory doth not only knock but open the Heart Rev. 3.20 Acts 16.14 When the call of God is accompanied with gifts Rom. 11.29 The gifts and calling of God are without Repentance when God so calls that he gives an understanding to know him 1 John 5.20 and gives a Heart to love and fear him Deut. 30.6 Jer. 32.39 When God bestows a new Heart and a new Spirit then is the call effectual Ezek. 36.26 Fourthly Where there is a Testament there must be a Sanction Confirmation and Establishment of it Heb. 9.15 Where there is a Testament there must of necessity be the death of the Testator Heb. 9.16.17 The Civil Law saith as long as a Man lives voluntas est perambulatoria it is mutable and changeable but the Death of a Testator fixes things and gives force to his Will confirms and establishes all his Legacies How sweet are these words where there is a Testament there must be the Death of the Testator The Law speaks at another rate where there is a Crime the Criminal must be punished Where there is a Transgression the threatening must be put in force the Curse must be executed the Transgressor must be cut off but here is a New Testament established by the Blood of Jesus Christ This is my Blood of the New Testament Matth. 26.28 This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood 1 Cor. 11.25 Jeremiah did speak of God's making a New Covenant or Testament Jer. 31.31 but there is no mention made or discovery given of the Blood that this New Covenant was to be confirmed by but the Gospel teacheth us what the Blood is by which the New Testament is established God did put the threatenings and Curse of the Law in force by cutting off Christ Zech. 13.7 Isa 53.8 That he might put the Promises in force fulfill them to us and bestow the Eternal Inheritance on us Who could have imagined or thought of such a thing that the death of Sinners should be prevented and the death of a Testator should succeed and be in the place of their Sufferings and death Fifthly Where there is a Testament there must be an effectual way to execute it We read of the sure Mercies of David that is of Christ as the next Verse doth plainly evidence that it is Christ that is spoken of for he is said to be given as a Witness as a Leader and Commander to the People Isa 55.3 4. This is observable that all the Riches Blessings and Benefits of the Covenant are Christ's Mercies He is a Priest of good things Heb. 9.11 he purchases he procures them and it is he also that distributes and gives them out In Isaiah there is only mention made of the sure Mereies of David but in the Acts Acts 13.34 it is thus expressed I will give you the sure Mercies of David and this Promise is grounded on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ who is now no more to return to Corruption Acts 13.33 34. As Christ died as a Testator so he rose again to be the Executor of his own Testament he is not alive to Violate or Disanul but to fulfil his Testament So we are said to be saved by his Life Rom. 5.10 Heb. 7.25 Jesus Christ discharges all his Offices by executing of his Testament 1. Jesus Christ executes his Prophetical Office No Man hath seen God but the only begotten that is in the Bosom of the Father hath declared him to us 1 John 18. Luke 1.7 8. Isa 9.6 Mal. 3. last He is the Day spring from on high the Wonderful Counsellor the Messenger of the Covenant he Preached Righteousness and declared God's Faithfulness and Salvation Psal 40.9 10. 2. Jesus Christ executes his Priestly Office in Sprinkling his Blood as clean Water to Purifie from Uncleanness and to Wash Men from their Sins Ezek. 36.28 Rev. 1.5 6. And Jesus as Priest Intercedes that his Legacies may be bestow'd and his Blood cries for the Execution of his Testament Heb. 7.25 He ever lives to make Intercession John 17.19.24 Heb. 12.24 3. Jesus Christ as King executes his Office he writes his Doctrine and Laws in the hearts of his Subjects and gives them new hearts Jer. 31.33 Ezra 36.56 1. Vse This may inform us of the wonderful Grace of God that there should be a New Testament Did Fallen Man ever imagine or conceive such a thing that Christ's Goods should be Dispensed and his Inheritance be derived to and setled on Sinful Creatures by a Testament Ratified by his own Blood and Death 1. We deserved to be stript and deprived of all External and Temporal Enjoyments that the Wine-press and the Corn-floor should not feed us Hos 9.2 That God should return and take away his Corn Wool and Flax from us Hos 2.9 and that the things that God hath given us shall pass away from us Jer. 8.13 God might by the Execution of his Threatnings have impoverished and destroy'd us and what Grace is this that he should make a Testament to save and inrich us 2. The Covenant of Works doth exact perfect and perpetual Obedience it requires the full Debt without any abatement of us poor Insolvent Creatures and threatens us with Eternal Punishment and Perdition for any defect failure or default in our Obedience And what Grace is this that a New Testament should be made that forgives the Guilty and gives to the Poor The Law was given by Moses but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ John 1.17 3. Consider how dear it cost Jesus Christ to be a Testator 1. He was obliged to put on our Humane Nature that he might have a Body to offer up a Life to lay down Blood to shed a Soul to pour out to the Death 2. Jesus Christ must be a Surety Heb. 7.22 or else he could not have been a Testator he must bear our sins pay our Debt discharge our Ransom he must buy and purchase all
into Heaven it self by the Blood of Christ The invisible World is more discovered 2. This Covenant and Testament is ordered in all things 2 Sam. 23.5 it is so wisely ordered as that it meets with all our Objections and may silence them It meets with our doubts and fears and may banish them It meets with all our wants and supplies them It is so ordered that there is a Legacy suited to all the Noble and Principal faculties of our Souls 1. God Promises concerning his Elect People that they shall all know him from the greatest to the least Isa 31.34 Here is a Legacy of Light and Knowledg to the understanding 2. God promises Pardon that he will be merciful to Unrighteousness and will remember Sins and Iniquities no more in the same Text. Here is a Legacy to the Conscience It is Pardon that doth quite Conscience and establish its peace 3. There is a further Legacy that God will write his Law in the Heart and put it into the inward parts this is a pretious and noble Legacy to the Will to renew byass and rectify it 3. This Testament hath the strongest confirmation Of old God gave his Oath to shew the immutability of his Counsel Heb. 6.17 19. That the Heirs of Promise might have strong Consolations but now the Son of God hath bled and his Testament is established by his own death Heb. â— 15 4. What can we look for if we are not interested in this Testament A day of Wrath Vengeance and Destruction will be our portion We shall be stript and deprived of all Good and be loaded and burthened with all Evil We shall be felled down as barren Trees for the Fire be vinnowed as chaff out of the Floor into the Furnace and be silled up as Vessels of Wrath. 1. Vse Of Information This shews us how Excellent and Honourable the Office of Christs Ministers is that they are imployed and conversant about the Testament of the Son of God that they are to open its Fulness Explain and discover its Riches and to urge and press Men to lay hold of it They are to warn Men of their danger out of Christ and to press Men to fly into the City of Refuge and sit down under the shadow of Christ and so to flee from the wrath to come They are to beseech Men through the Mediator to be Reconciled to God and to woo Men to be Espoused to Christ 2 Col. 13. They are to set forth the free Grace of God in forgiving giving all Trespasses and in giving liberally and largely according to his Divine Power he gives all things that appertain to Life and Godliness 2 Pet. 13. Rom. 8.32 And freely with Christ gives all things also 2. Vse If Gospel-officers are Ministers of the New Testament this may Reprove such as call themselves and would be accounted Ministers of the New Testament yet only Preach and press Moral Duties and build up a Natural Religion but seldom or very little touch on the great Principles and Truths of the Gospel as if there were no Testator or New Testament They urge Duty but they little themselves understand and therefore are very unable to Reveal to others How Men shall recover Life and Righteousness attain Power and Strength and to partake of the Eternal Inheritance They Treat of the New Covenant as if it were only a Mistress to command Work and not as a Mother to give Life and Strength As if Christ was little more than a Political Head to make Laws and exact Obedience to them and not a Natural Head to give Life and influences to his Members to enablthem to obey 3. Vse Are Christs Officers Ministers of the New Testament Then 1. This should encourage Ministers to Preach and People also to Hear 1. This should encourage Ministers to Preach the Gospel cannot be wholly Preached in vain Jesus Christ must have Sons to bear up his Name Psal 72.17 and Heirs to possess his Goods and Inheritance He that sowed in Tears must reap in Joy he must see his seed and the Travel of his Soul and be satisfied God's Promises to Christ must be fulfilled and executed that he shall have the Heathen for his Inheritance the utmost parts of the Earth for his Possession God's great Servant must receive a great and glorious Reward for his Work All King's must fall down before him as Worshippers all Nations must serve him Psal 72.10 11. When Ministers Preach the Gospel the Hand of the Lord is with them Acts 11.21 to open hearts to break the Rock in pieces to draw Men to Christ to subdue them to his Kingdom and Government As Christ speaks in so he works with his Ministers when they Preach Christ ingrafts the Word 2 Cor. 13.3 with Mark 16. last Jam. 1.21 And when they Teach the Spirit writes an Epistle and powerfully impresses the Doctrine of the Gospel on Mens Souls the Wilderness must be manured and Sowed The Meal of Men must be Levened Christ will come forth as a deliverer and turn Men from Ungodliness Rom. 11.26 He will Circumcise the Heart to love him and Baptize with the Spirit make Men free from the Law of Sin and Death 2 Col. 11. Matth. 3.9 Rom. 8.2 Psal 110.3 and render them a willing People in the day of his Power Isa 9.6 He will beget a Holy seed as an Everlasting Father and quicken Souls dead in Sins and Trespasses as he is the Resurrection and the Life 2. This should perswade and incourage Men to hear and listen to the Ministers of the New Testament It is very necessary that Men should bâ— rescned and delivered from the Covenant oâ— Works from a killing Letter and a Ministry oâ— Condemnation O listen to the Ministers of thâ— New Testament lay hold of it do not makâ— light of all that Christ hath purchased and bequeathed Do not continue Spiritually poor oâ— be shut out of the Kingdom and come short of thâ— Glory of God Do not satisfy your selves witâ— momentary Enjoyments till you are driven out 〈◊〉 this Earth and turned into Hell Attend on thâ— dispensation of the Gospel it is clothed and anâ—mated with the Spirit this is a Seed so powerful that is changes the Soul It is a writing thaâ— alters the Table and turns a Heart of Stone inâ—â— a Heart of Flesh 2 Cor. 3.3 The Gospel is 〈◊〉 Glass that changes the Spectators and transformâ— them into the glorious Image of God 2 Cor. 〈◊〉 last The Holy Ghost is as a Tongue of fire oâ— them so that they do not speak cold words bâ—â— they throw Coals into the bosomes of Sinners anâ— cast chaines of light and love about Souls Cant. 6 7. Isa 45.14 They sow but God makes tâ—â— Seed to take root and grow 2 Cor. 3.6 7. Minâ—sters do call Sinners to come out of their Prisoâ— but Christ opens the door Acts 16.14 They bâ— Sinners to rise and come out of their Graves Epâ— 5.1 but it is Christ that breathes Life into theâ—