-38 Chapter 38. Of the Administration of the Covenant of Grace ...

1-38 Chapter 38. Of the Administration of the Covenant of Grace before the coming of Christ.

1. Although there has been only one free and saving Covenant of God from the beginning, yet the manner of the application of Christ, or of administering this New Covenant, has not always been one and the same, but various, according to the ages in which the Church has been gathered.
2. In this variety, there has always been progress from the more imperfect, to the more perfect.
3. First, the mystery of the Gospel was manifested generally and more darkly; and then it was manifested more specifically and more clearly.
4. This manner of administering is double: one of Christ to be exhibited, and the other of Christ exhibited.
5. For the Old and New Testaments are reduced to two primary heads: the Old promises the Christ to come, and the New testifies that he has come.
6. For while Christ was to be exhibited, all things were more outward and carnal; afterward they became more inward and spiritual. John 1:17, The Law was delivered by Moses; grace and truth came by Christ.
7. Yet at that time there was a double consideration of the Church: 1. As an HEIR, and 2. As an INFANT. Galatians 4:1 ff., So long as the heir is an infant, he does not differ at all from a servant, though he is Lord of all.
8. As an heir, it was free; as an infant it was in a certain way servile.
9. As an heir, it was spiritual; as an infant, carnal and earthly, Hebrews 9:10; Romans 9:7.629
10. As an heir, it had the spirit of adoption; as an infant, the spirit of fear and bondage. Romans 8:15, You have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the spirit of Adoption.
11. The manner of administration respecting Christ as he was to be exhibited, was one way before Moses, and another way from Moses to Christ.
12. Before Moses, the polity of the Church was rude and loose, as in infancy. There were as many visible Churches as there were Families of godly persons; the Ministry was almost always extraordinary by Prophets; the masters of Families and the firstborn had the right to administer some holy things as ordinary Ministers, according to that direction which they received from the Prophets.
13. Yet there were some differences in the dispensation from Adam to Abraham, and from Abraham until Moses.
14. From Adam to Abraham: First, REDEMPTION by Christ and his application was promised in general, to be performed by a seed of the Woman to loose the works of the Devil; that is, to loose sin and death. Genesis 3:15, The seed of the Woman shall break the Serpent’s head. Romans 16:20, The God of peace shall tread Satan under your feet shortly. 1 John 3:8, The Son of God was manifested to dissolve the works of the Devil.
15. Secondly, CALLING was exercised in that distinction that was made between the seed of the Woman and the seed of the Devil, between the sons of God and the sons of men, Genesis 6:2. Thirdly, the way of JUSTIFICATION was set forth by expiatory sacrifices630 offered and accepted for sins. Ephesians 5:2, Christ has loved us and given himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.
16. Fourthly, ADOPTION was declared both by the title of sons, at that time common to all the faithful, and by the translation of Enoch into the Heavenly inheritance, Genesis 5:24; Hebrews 11:5.
17. Fifthly, SANCTIFICATION was both expressly inculcated by the Prophets, and typically shadowed out by oblations and rites of sacrifices, Romans 12:1.631
18. Sixthly, GLORIFICATION was publicly sealed both by the example of Enoch, and by the conservation of Noah with his family from the flood, Jude 1:14; 1 Peter 3:20-21.632
19. In this period of time, the building and conserving of the Ark in the flood was an extraordinary Sacrament, Hebrews 11:7;633 1 Peter 3:20-21. There was no ordinary Sacrament, except that in many sacrifices here was something that had respect to a Sacrament: in that those who sacrificed, for the most part, were made partakes of their sacrifices in the holy banquet, in a holy place with joy before God, Exodus 18:12.634 This sealed to them, in some way, that grace of the Covenant which is exhibited in the Sacraments.
20. From the time of Abraham, the Church chiefly consisted in his family and posterity.
21. In that period of time, all the benefits of the New Covenant were more clearly and distinctly set forth than before.
22. First, ELECTION was represented in the persons of Isaac and Jacob, beloved above Ishmael and Esau, Romans 9:11-33; Romans 10:1-21; Romans 11:1-36; Romans 12:1-21; Romans 13:1-14
23. Secondly, REDEMPTION together with its application was most excellently exhibited in the person and blessing of Melchizedek;636 also in the promise and covenant of blessing to come to all Nations by the seed of Abraham.637
24. Thirdly, CALLING was exercised by leading Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldees to a certain new and heavenly Country, Hebrews 11:8-10.638
25. Fourthly, JUSTIFICATION was illustrated by the express testimony of God that Faith was imputed to Abraham for righteousness as the Father and pattern of all that should believe; and also by the Sacrament of circumcision, which was a seal of the same righteousness.
26. Fifthly, ADOPTION was set forth by pronouncing the Name of God upon Abraham and all the sons of the promise, and by assigning the inheritance to the sons of the promises who were begotten of the free Woman through grace, Galatians 4:26, Galatians 4:28-31.639
27. Sixthly, SANCTIFICATION was figured by circumcision which set forth the taking away and abolishing of the corruption of sin and of the old man, so that a new Creature might be settled in its place, Colossians 2:11; Deuteronomy 30:6.640
28. Seventhly, GLORIFICATION was shown in the blessing promised, and in the Land of Canaan,641 which was a type of the Heavenly Country.
29. From the time of Moses to Christ, all these same things were further shadowed by means that were both extraordinary and ordinary.
30. Redemption and its application were extraordinarily signified, 1. By the deliverance out of Egypt by the Ministry of Moses as a type of Christ, Matthew 2:15.642 And by bringing into the land of Canaan by the Ministry of Joshua, as another type of Christ. 2. By the bronze Serpent which, by beholding it, men who were likely to die were restored to health, John 3:14, John 12:32.643 3. By the Cloud, whereby the Israelites were covered from all the injuries both of their enemies, and of the Heaven. Moreover, they had light, together with a refreshing of their strength administered by day and by night, 1 Corinthians 10:2; Isaiah 4:5.644  4. By passing through the Red Sea, whereby they had a way cast up to the Land of Promise, their enemies being overwhelmed and destroyed, 1 Corinthians 10:2. 5. By Manna from Heaven, and Water out of the Rock, from which they received continual nourishment, as it were out of God’s Hand, 1 Corinthians 10:3-4; John 6:32-33.645
31. Ordinarily Christ and REDEMPTION by him was shadowed by the high priest, the authors, and the sacrifices for sins.646
32. JUSTIFICATION was shown in many sacrifices, washings, and the Sacrament of the Passover.647
33. ADOPTION was shown in the firstborn, who were dedicated to God.648
34. SANCTIFICATION was shown in all the offerings and gifts, and in those observations which had any show of cleanliness.649
35. GLORIFICATION was shown by the inheritance of the Promised Land, and by that communion which they had with God in the Most Holy Place.650
36. The Church of the Jews, instituted by Moses, was only one Church in respect to its outward gathering together; this was because all of the solemn Communion which was prescribed at that time depended on one Temple; and Communion was to be exercised there by public profession and with certain rites.
37. The Synagogues were n0t complete Churches, because the whole worship of God, and the whole Holy Communion that was prescribed at that time, could not be exercised in them.
38. Therefore, the Church of the Jews was a national Church, and in some respect it was catholic or universal, because the believing Proselytes of every Nation under Heaven were bound to join themselves to that one Church, Acts 2:5-6, Acts 2:8-11; Acts 8:27.651
39. The primary Ministers were the Priests of the family of Aaron, in a continued line of succession, to whom were joined the other Levites, Numbers 3:6-51; Numbers 4:1-49; Numbers 5:1-31; Numbers 6:1-27; Numbers 7:1-89; Numbers 8:1-26; Numbers 9:1-23; Numbers 10:1-36
40. Yet neither Priests nor Levites were allowed to Minister unless they were first tested, and as they were able in body, age, and the gifts of the mind.653
41. The Ecclesiastical Discipline of that time was ceremonial for a great part, and yet such that all kinds of holy things were to be preserved pure by it.