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—
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
particulars First Who is the Testator Answer This must needs be he that by his Death doth confirm and establish the Testament and this is proper to the Son of God he is the only Mediator of the New Testament He procured it and gave force to it by his Sufferings and Death Luke 22.29 Christ speaks of himself as bequeathing and acting as a Testator 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I bequeath I dispose unto you a Kingdom Budaeus in his Comnentary on the Greek Tongue doth confess and acknowledge that this is Verbum Testamentale a word commonly used by the Grecians in making their Wills The Father is said to dispose a Kingdom to the Son the Son to us The Father hath made Christ heir of all things Heb. 1.2 He hath given him a Name above every Name that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow But in this God hath an eye and a respect to the Humiliation and Sufferings and Death of Christ because he became obedient to the Death of the Cross therefore God hath exalted and glorified him The Death of Christ seems to be the ground of the Fathers legacy to Christ and of all that Jesus Christ bequeathes and disposes to us Secondly In a Testament there must be an Estate to be disposed of and the Testator must have propriety and be interested in this Estate else he cannot dispose it Christ saith All things that the Father hath are mine John 16.15 Therefore Christ hath good right to dispose of them Testators do dispose of two sorts of things Money and Goods and Houses and Lands the Graces Christ bestows may be compared to Money and Goods The Glory he bequeathes is set forth by an Eternal House 2 Cor. 5.1 with Heb. 9.15 and an Everlasting Inheritance First Jesus Christ bequeathes Grace and a new Nature A new Heart will I give unto you a new Spirit will I put within you Ezek. 36.26.31 I will put my Law into your inward parts and write it in your hearts Jer. 33. The Law is put deep into the Soul and it is written for Perpetuity never to be blotted out and it is diffused through the Soul it spreads into the understanding and it is rooted and prevails in the Will The Soul is poor blind dead and all its Faculties are perverted and disorderly without this new Heart without the Law of God written in the Mind and Will How full large and comprehensive is Christs Testament It doth not only make Heirs but also raises up Children which no other Testament doth or can do True Believers are Children of the Promise Rom. 9.8 Isaac was born of the free and powerful Promise of God This was the word of Promise At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a Son Rom. 9.9 God would make an effectual visit he would put forth his Power in an excellent and extraordinary way and so Sarah should conceive though barren and Isaac tho' old be born So God comes to Souls dead in sins and Trespasses he beams in light and breathes in life and so they are Regenerated and born to God The Covenant of Grace the Testament of Christ is Sarah a Mother of which we are born and as there are Children of Promise that derive Grace and a new Nature from the Promise so there are Heirs of Promise Heb. 6.17.19 That do inherit the Kingdom and Eternal Glory by virtue of the free Promise God is said to Promise the Kingdom and to Promise Eternal Life Jam. 2.5 Tit. 1.2 Here are the Riches and fulness of this Testament that Christians are Children of the Promise and so partake of Grace and are Heirs of the Promise and so do inherit the Kingdom of Glory Thirdly Where there is a Testament there must be Legatees and Heirs Jesus Christ is the Mediator of the New Testament that those that are called may receive the Promise of the Eternal Inheritance Heb. 9.15 The Civil Law gives this description of an Heir that he is vocatus ad hereditatem one that is called to the Inheritance by the Testament of a dead Man Vid pacium If Christ had not died as a Testator there would have been no Inheritance to be enjoyed and there would have been no call to a Heavenly House and Possession How many are there in the World that were never called at all and others are not effectually called the Jews at this day are like such as the Civil Law calls Abdicati such as for Provocations given are disinherited the Gentile Heathen World are like such as the Civil Law calls Praeteriti such as are passed by and slipt over but such may come in for a share in the Fathers Goods and lay claim to his Inheritance the blind desolate Heathen World shall be called and converted The desolate Cities shall be inhabited Isa 54.3 And the desolate Heritages shall be inherited Isa 49.8 For the clearer explication of things I shall shew 1. Who are the Heirs 2. What they are Heirs of 3. How they became Heirs 1. Who are Heirs I Answer The Sons the Children of God there are some that are predistinated to the Adoption of Children Ephes 1.5 Christ is to gather together into one that is into one Kingdom City Family Body the Children of God that are scattered abroad John 11.52 These Sons these Children shall be Heirs the Inheritance is limited and restrained unto them to sit on the right and on th◠left hand of Christ in his Kingdom is not his to give but to whom it is prepared of his Father Matth. 20.21.23 That supplement but it shall be given to them should be wholly left out and the words be thus rendred To sit at my right hand and my left is not mine to give but to those for whom it is prepared of my Father Christ would give places in his Kingdom but he was limited by the decree of the Father to give to those he had predistinated to the Adoption of Children and so had prepared the Inheritance and Kingdom for them 2. What are Christs People Heirs of I Answer 1. Of the Kingdom Tit. 2.5 2. Of the World Rom. 4.13 1. They are Heirs of the Kingdom they shall have a Mansion in God's House John 14.2 3. They shall have a Lot and Inheritance in the Heavenly Kingdom in Emmanuels Land and Country Dan. 12. last Col. 1.12 They shall sit in the Throne with Christ and Reign in Life for evermore Rev. 3.21 Rom. 5.17 2. They are Heirs of the World God gave Abraham the Land of Canaan by Promise and this was a pledge and earnest of all Earthly Portions and Possessions given to Believers by God's free grace and bounty Wicked Men may be Possessors of and dwellers in the World but it is Believers that are Heirs of the World and have a Spiritual Right and Title to it Godliness hath the Promise of the Life that now is and of that which is to come Tim. 1.4.8 He hath given meat to them that fear him He will ever