The Difference Between the Old and New Covenants, Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
Of the Oneneſs of the Covenant with Jeſus Chriſt and us.
THe Covenant of grace was made or eſtabliſhed not only with us, but joyntly with Jeſus Chriſt and us in him ſo as both are within one and the ſame Covenant. For, the great tranſactions with Jeſus, yea even the giving and ſending of him, and his accepting the office of a Redeemer and undertaking for us, theſe are all of grace, as well as what is promiſed to us through him, therefore the Covenant of grace, muſt take in all that conduceth (otherwiſe than by a meer Decree) to our reſtoration and eternal Salvation. And in Iſa. 42. 6. the Father is contracting with the Son, I will [give thee] for a Covenant of the people; therefore that with the Son and with the people belong to one and the ſame Covenant.
Indeed as that which partaketh of the nature, or is a part, is put for the whole, ſo that with the people alone, even here, beareth the name of a Covenant, as being within the grand contract with Jeſus Chriſt as a branch and parcel thereof, yet both together make up that one Covenant of grace, as appeareth thus.
1. There is no Scripture Evidence for making theſe, two Covenants, one of Surety ſhip or redemption with Jeſus Chriſt, and another of grace and reconciliation made with us: that diſtinction which ſome uſe, is improper, for the parts of it are coincident, ſeeing that as with Jeſus Chriſt was out of meer grace alſo: John 3. 16. And it is promiſed that Jeſus Chriſt ſhould be given for a Covenant, therefore it is of grace that we are redeemed by him, 2 Tim. 1. 9. There was grace before the World was, and that muſt be in the Covenant as with Jeſus Chriſt: which was for the reconciling the World unto the Father. 2 Cor. 5. 18, 19. Coloſſ. 1. 20, 21.
It is true, Chriſt only is our ſurety and Redeemer, not we in our own perſons; yea he is our head, our Lord, and King, and on that account of his ſtanding in thoſe different capacities he hath ſome peculiar precepts and promiſes appropriated to him, which are not afforded to us in the ſame manner or degree; yet this hindreth not the Oneneſs of the Covenant with him and us: as, it is promiſed unto Abraham, that in him all the Families of the Earth ſhould be bleſſed, that he ſhould be a Father of many Nations. Gen. 12. 3. and 17. 4. Which promiſes are of a higher nature than are made to us (for every Believer is not the Father of many Nations) yet we are within the ſame Covenant that was made with Abraham. Rom. 4. 11, 12, 13. Gal. 3.
As in Covenants between Princes, ſome Articles may be concerning prerogatives or royalties that are peculiar to them in their publick capacities, which the people ſhare not in but in them, as ſtriking ſayl, &c. other grants may concern the people in their private capacities, as Merchants, Mariners, &c. yet Prince and people within the ſame contract. So doubtleſs there may be diverſe grants to Jeſus Chriſt in his publick capacity in the office of a Mediator, other promiſes made to his Seed; yet King and Subjects, head and members, are within one and the ſame Covenant; as the principal debtor and the ſurety within the ſame obligation. Gal. 4. 4, 5.
Indeed the ſame Covenant of grace, may be diſtinguiſhed, as it is made with Jeſus Chriſt, and, as with us, yet not to intimate two diſtinct and compleat Covenants, but two Subjects of the ſame Covenant. As with Jeſus Chriſt, it had its conſtitution from eternity, before we had a being, as with us, it hath its application in time after we exiſt. I had rather therefore diſtinguiſh one and the ſame Covenant of grace into theſe two parts. 1. For redemption and reconciliation; this as with Jeſus Chriſt for us. Gal. 3. 13. Tit. 1. 2. 2 For Application; this as with us in him. Heb. 8. 10.
From eternity Jeſus Chriſt was a Mediator undertaking the Covenant; but in time is executing and interceding for our participation of it.
2. The Covenant of grace was made with Jeſus Chriſt as a publick perſon, a ſecond Adam, and therefore with all his Seed in him: the Covenant of Works being violated, Jeſus Chriſt was appointed as the means for reſtoration and recovery. He was our David, King of Saints Iſa. 53. 3. Luke 1. 32. and ſo repreſented many Subjects, he was a common parent, having a great Spiritual Seed. Iſa. 53. 10. The firſt Adam, was a figure of him that was to come. Rom. 5. 14. i. e. of Jeſus Chriſt, and wherein it is ſpecified, as the firſt ſtanding for his Seed derived unto them, ſin and miſery, death and condemnation; So the ſecond, ſtanding for, and repreſenting his Seed, deriveth unto them, righteouſneſs, juſtification and eternal life. verſ. 15. to the end. 1 Cor. 15. 45, 47.
Thus they are compared together and Jeſus Chriſt the Second, preferred before the firſt.
If the firſt Adam had never fallen, it is not imaginable that he ſhould have injoyed life by one Covenant and his poſterity by another; their life would have been by keeping as their death was by breaking one and the ſame Law of Works: So, Jeſus Chriſt the Second Adam and all his ſpiritual Seed injoy juſtification and life by one and the ſame Covenant of grace, We are quickened together with him, Coloſſ. 2. 13. i. e. as our common perſon ſtanding in our ſtead.
3. All in the Covenant as with us is undertaken for and promiſed in the Covenant as between the Father and the Son, and ſo together make up but one Covenant. For, his being the Covenant of the people, implieth, that all promiſed to or to be performed by the people, it is ſecured in the contract with Jeſus Chriſt. Whatſoever was requiſite unto our reſtoration, redemption, and reconciliation, he agreed to work it out. Iſa. 53. 10. there were the ſame objects and end in that as with him, and that as with us. 1 Pet. 1. 18, 19. 1 Cor. 6. 20.
Yea all neceſſaries alſo for application is in the Covenant as with him. Is Juſtification and the giving of a new heart promiſed to us? Jer. 31. 31. The ſame is promiſed to Jeſus Chriſt. Iſa. 53. 11. By his knowledge (i. e. by the knowledge of him) ſhall my righteous Servant (i. e. Jeſus Chriſt) juſtify many—and he ſhall ſee his Seed, and be a light to the Gentiles. Iſa. 4. 2. 6. Which implyeth newneſs of heart, and having God for their God.
4. All bleſſings afforded in a Covenant way to us, were primarily granted to Jeſus Chriſt, and therefore the Covenant is joyntly with him and us: as Mr. R. obſerveth, Chriſt is firſt juſtified and acquitted from the guilt of ſin, and then we. Iſa. 53. 11. Chriſt firſt Sanctified and filled with the Spirit and then we. Iſa. 42. 1. He firſt glorified and then we. Heb. 1. 2. Rom. 8. 17. Jeſus Chriſt is our great Fcoſee in truſt, he hath all the riches of grace and glory granted to, and veſted in him to our uſe and behoof, both have them by the ſame Covenant.
Indeed he hath the precedency, he excelleth in dignity and power, he is the firſtborn among many brethren. Rom. 8. 29. the firſt born from the dead. Coloſſ. 1. 18, 19. All fulneſs dwelling in him; all is firſtly granted into his hands and in the Second place to us. If we would obtain any Spiritual giſts, any graces, any comforts, any glory, we muſt be beholden to him, borrow all from his ſtore, receive all from his hand. The Divine Spirit is from him Joh. 16. 7, 8. All grace from him. Rom. 16. 20, 24. 1 Cor. 16. 23. Repentance from him, Act. 5. 31. He is exalted to give repentance and the forgiveneſs of ſins. Faith it ſelf from him. Heb. 12. 2. Which argue that all flow from the ſame Covenant. The Name of Jeſus Chriſt is in the Covenant, he is the principal party there, to whom all the promiſes are primarily made on our behalf.
5. Union with Jeſus Chriſt is the only way to promiſed bleſſings, and therefore the Covenant is made joyntly with him and us: 2 Cor. 1. 20. Not only [ſome] but [all] the promiſes of God in him are yea, and in him amen. Twice in him; none of the promiſes are made immediately to us, but all invariable, unchangable, in their making, and in their performance or accompliſhment, yet it is, in him.
I might argue alſo, from Jeſus Chriſt his receiving the ſame ſigns with us, Baptiſm and the Supper, and why were they applied to him, if he were under one Covenant, and we under another?
6. All the antient Covenant expreſſures run joyntly to Jeſus Chriſt, and alſo to Relievers which are his Seed: the promiſes to Adam, Abraham, David, &c. were not ſo many diſtinct Covenants of grace; they were but various gradual diſcoveries of the ſame Covenant according to the variety of occaſions in the ſeveral ages, every new one being for ſome new end and bringing with it a further degree of manifeſtation, and all run to Jeſus Chriſt and us.
1. That gracious promiſe revealed to Adam primarily runneth unto Jeſus Chriſt, as to the bleſſed Seed, and then to us in him: wretched man having eaten of the forbidden fruit, what could he expect every moment but the execution of that dreadful Sentence. Gen. 2. 17. In the day thou eateſt dying thou ſhalt die.
O what unexpreſſible aſtoniſhment muſt needs ſeize upon his guilty Soul on this account, there being no contrivance by any Creature wiſdom, no way open, either for the eſcaping the ſtroke of Divine wrath or for ſtanding under it; for, how ſhould a feeble Creature bear up, or avoid being cruſhed under the weight of an omnipotent arm?
Now, behold in the cool of the day, when the ſhadows of the evening were comming upon undone, fallen man, then was the firſt dawning of a day of grace, ſaith God Gen. 3. 15. I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy Seed and her Seed, it ſhall bruiſe thy head, &c. The bowels of Divine compaſſion did ſo tenderly rowle towards him, that he could not paſs one day, without ſome intimation of his love and revealing his gracious intendments towards him.
Indeed this was immediately ſpoken, not to Adam as a promiſe, but to the Serpent as a threatning, yet was uttered that Adam might over-hear and Spell out Something of a promiſe in it. But, Jeſus Chriſt is primarily this Seed of the woman which bruiſeth the Serpents head; For, it is he that ſtandeth Conquerour over all the enemies of Salvation, ſin, Satan, death, and Hell, he procureth their utter overthrow, deſtroyeth the works of the Devil. 1 John 3. 8. Vanquiſheth and overcometh him. Revel. 12. 9. Chriſt is chiefly intended by it. Believers are Victorious only in and by Jeſus Chriſt, they overcome by the blood of the Lamb, and ſo the promiſe is joyntly to him and them.
Many matters in this firſt diſcovery of the Covenant did lie dark and were hidden, it not diſcovering diſtinctly, what Seed of the woman it ſhould be, nor the way or means, to this or that he ſhould be God as well as man, and how this ſhould be brought about, which were afterward revealed.
2. The Covenant with Abraham was joyntly with Jeſus Chriſt and us: there was a gracious promiſe (which ſaith might hang upon) as early as the days of Adam; this was a promiſe of a bleſſed Seed to be given for man, but the Covenant with man concerning it, ſeemeth to be dated, not from Adam, but from Abraham. Gal. 3. becauſe the Lord was pleaſed to deal with Abraham in a more familiar way than with others before him, putting himſelf under Covenant ingagements to him. Gen. 12. 3. In thee ſhall all the families of the Earth be bleſſed, and Gen. 17.
They muſt needs be at a great loſs about the Seed of the woman, of whoſe poſterity it ſhould come, and it was the chief additional excellency of this federal expreſſure to aſſure Abraham that the Meſſia ſhould come of his Seed according to the fleſh. Gen. 22. 18. In [thy Seed] ſhall all the Nations of the Earth be bleſſed, and thus that which was more general in the former to Adam, is here more particular, for it is reſtrained to this family, and it was an advantage to know the family which he ſhould come of. There were other promiſes made to him, as concerning the land of Canaan, and that the Lord would be his God. Gen. 17. 7. The latter was hinted before, to another perſon Gen. 9. 26. Bleſſed be the Lord God of Shem. It is obſerved by ſome, that Shem, was the firſt man in all the Scripture that had this honour. It is not expreſly ſaid that he was the God of Adam, or of Noah, but the God of Shem. Now this becometh more general, he will be the God of Abraham and his Seed.
And this [Seed] expreſly is Chriſt, Gal. 3. 16. Now to Abraham and his Seed, were the promiſes made, he ſaith not unto Seeds as of many, but as of one and to thy Seed which is Chriſt, So verſ. 19. Whether it be taken for Chriſt myſtical or as a publick perſon yet Chriſt is firſtly that Seed, and it is as clear as the Sun, that not only Chriſt but Believers alſo are the Seed in the ſame Abrahamatical Covenant. Gal. 3. 7, 26. eſpecially. verſ. 29. and if ye be Chriſts then are ye Abrahams Seed and heirs according to promiſe. What can be more evident? Believers are alſo of the Seed, and ſo the Covenant with Abraham runneth joyntly to Jeſus Chriſt and them.
3. The Covenant made with David runneth joyntly to Jeſus Chriſt and us: Pſal. 89. 20, 28, 29. I have found my Servant David—my Covenant ſhall ſtand with him. Abraham was not a King, but David was, and the Covenant was made with him in that capacity, as the great additional excellency thereof: and it typically holdeth forth Jeſus Chriſt in his exaltation to regal dignity. Herein are ſome things appliable only to Jeſus Chriſt, as verſ. 27. and often he is called the Son of David, and it is promiſed Ezek. 34. 24, 25. I the Lord will be their God, and my ſervant David a Prince among them. This was long after David was dead, and therefore muſt refer to Jeſus Chriſt. And alſo this Covenant with David extended to that Seed which would break ſtatutes and ſin againſt the Lord. Pſal. 89. 30, 31, 32. Which cannot refer to Jeſus Chriſt, but to us; and thus that Covenant expreſſure did run joyntly to Jeſus Chriſt and us.
4. The New Covenant runneth joyntly to Jeſus Chriſt and us; for he died as Mediator not of the old but of the new Teſtament. Heb. 9. 15. Which he could not have done, if he had not been under it.
As an additional excellency of the new, Jeſus Chriſt is mentioned, not as undertaking, but as actually exhibited or come; and his being the Mediator, and the new Covenant it ſelf whereof he is the Mediator, are diſtinct things, yet both within the Covenant of grace. Indeed whatever promiſes there are, for application of bleſſings to us in Chriſt, are included in the new Covenant, that extendeth to all matters of his miniſtration, as already in that Office: bu… the promiſes are all firſtly made to Jeſu… Chriſt and to us in him.
Corol. 1. Hence, the Covenant of grace is very extenſive; it taketh in all the promiſes made to Jeſus Chriſt and to us; yea all the antient promiſes of a bleſſed Seed to come, did belong to that Covenant, in lie… of which, we have a Mediator actually exhibited, and alſo the new Covenant. It may be queſtioned by ſome, whether all the promiſes ſtill in force, in the Book of God do belong to the Covenant of Grace, becauſe ſo few are enumerated where it is mentioned, as with us. Gen. 12. &. 17. Heb. 8. 10, 11, 12.?
But ſeeing all are made and fulfilled in Chriſt, hence they muſt all flow as living ſtreams from that Fountain. The Covenant of grace with Jeſus Chriſt that is the great Charter that we hold all our priviledges by; and all the promiſes do ſome way or other appertain to that.
Some Promiſes are Conſtitutive, of the Covenant, as thoſe between the Father and the Son concerning a Seed; others are executive or referring to the execution and application of it. Iſa. 53, 10, 11. Heb. 8. 10, 11, 12.
Some are principal and concerning the end eternal life. Heb. 8. Heb. 9. 15. Gal. 3. 8, 9, 18. Others leſs principal, concerning the means, internal, the Spirit and faith, or external as ordinances.
Not only Spiritual, but even promiſes of temporal bleſſings, as of ſuccour and relief in particular caſes and conditions in outward ſtraits and diſtreſſes, yet theſe belong to the Covenant of grace. Pſal. 105. 39, 40, 41. He ſpread a cloud for a covering, here is protection; a fire to give light by night, that intimateth direction; he brought quails and ſatisfied them with the bread of heaven, here is gracious proviſion; he opened the rock and the waters guſhed out, this ſpeaketh miraculous refreſhment and conſolation. And whence was all this care over them? verſ. 42. For he remembred his holy Covenant and Abraham his Servant. All theſe then were to be deemed Covenant mercies. Where had the Lord particularly promiſed any ſuch extraordinary relieves unto Abraham or his Seed? O he witneſſed himſelf to be their God, and promiſed the land of Canaan, and that implyeth all mercy and means neceſſary for them in the purſuance of the Call to it. So that all protections, preſervations, proviſions, all for the ſuſtaining upholding and ſuccouring of the people of God, yea even their loweſt mercies, have a tincture of Covenant-love to put quickneſs into them. So, returns of prayer in a day of outward affliction are in remembrance of his Covenant. Pſal. 106. 44. 45. 2 King. 13. 22, 23.
Yea obſerve, in ſome places where the Covenant is mentioned, there are promiſes added (and ſo belong to it) which in other repetitions of it are left out. As Jer. 32. 38, 39, 40. One-neſs of heart and way and his fear in their hearts, are promiſed in the Covenant, yet are omitted in the recital thereof. Jer. 31. 31, to 35. And the Word Covenant is omitted, and yet many promiſes thereof are mentioned. Ezek. 36. 25, to the end, as appeareth by the identity of ſome with thoſe expreſly in it elſe-where. So, that, we are not to confine the Covenant of grace to thoſe mentioned in the new Covenant; all the promiſes to us are ſome way compriſed in it.
Corol. 2. Hence, there is infallible certainty in, and grounded conſolation iſſuing from, the Covenant of grace, ſeeing it is made joyntly with Jeſus Chriſt and us.
All the promiſes are his right as well as ours, and ſo can never fail. Is Jeſus Chriſt the Seed of the woman, who hath aſſurance of being victorious over the Serpent? Gen. 3. 15.
So are Believers: yea they are of the Seed of Abraham and David, intereſted in the ſame promiſes. Gal. 3. 19, 21.
If any thing be a Condition of the Covenant of grace, it muſt be ſo, of the promiſes to Jeſus Chriſt, as well as of thoſe to us, that taking in all, and being joyntly with both and principally with him and with us but in him, as his Seed: and ſo faith cannot be it, for the promiſes were not made to Jeſus Chriſt upon Condition of our believing, but upon what he himſelf ſhould do and ſuffer; rather therein he hath a promiſe, aſſurance that we ſhall believe. Iſa. 5…. 10. he ſhall ſee his Seed. It would highly derogate from the honour of the Lord Jeſus to ſay, that the efficacy and effect of all his undertaking had dependance upon any act of ours, as that of believing.
It is by the efficiency of the Word of the new Teſtament that faith is given. Rom. 10. 14, 15, 16, 17. Act. 13. 47, 48.
Yea the gift of faith is promiſed in that, of writing his Law in their hearts. Heb. 8. …0. and therefore by its Obligation; for it is a contradiction to ſpeak of a promiſe without Obligation for performance unto the perſons to whom it is made; and what matter is it, whether it be upon an Obligation to the Sinners themſelves, or to another (to Jeſus Chriſt) their Feofee in truſt for them; it is by the new Covenant which is made to them, and that of grace is joyntly with Chriſt and them.
Believers are not only the objects for, … concerning whom he promiſeth to Jeſus Chriſt that he will do them good (as bruit o… inanimate Creatures are improperly ſaid to be in Covenant with him) but the Subject… to whom he promiſeth ſpecial bleſſings i… Chriſt, ſo as the promiſes are directed to and may be claimed by them; Jeſus Chriſt had an intereſt therein; they are his right as we as theirs; and this is no damage, but … advantage, as giving aſſurance that they wi… be made good to a Tittle. Jer. 33. 20, 21 If you can break my Covenant of the day and my Covenant of the night—then may all ſo my Covenant be broken with David my ſervant. Long before the propheſying o… Jeremiah, David had been in the duſt, and yet the Covenant with him holdeth ſtill and it being made with Jeſus Chriſt who is our David, hence the order of nature, the entercourſe and revolutions of night and da… might as readily fail, as any promiſes mad… to him be diſanulled or go unaccompliſhed; yea, he will ſue them out for us, when by reaſon of inward cloudings and darkneſs (even about an intereſt in them) we cannot lay any claim unto them our ſelves. He ſhould be a loſer, if they ſhould not be fulfilled, he ſhould loſe his right as well as we ours, Chriſt and we having a joynt intereſt therein. Had Chriſt aſſurance of being Victorious over the Serpent, we alſo have aſſurance of ſtanding Conquerours over him in Chriſt, by the ſame promiſe, and that under the ſame notion of the Seed of the woman. So that this is a bottom of everlaſting conſolation, that Jeſus Chriſt and we, are within one and the ſame Covenant.