CONTENTS. Refpecting the character and relative state of ABRAHAM, prior to God's eftab- lifhing with him that covenant, which is generally called the Covenant of Cir- Refpecting the Covenant of Circumcifion. In this chapter an attempt is made to analyse this covenant; to fhew the nature and extent of its promises; who the feed are; in what fense they are covenantees; and to prove its perpetu Exhibiting a general view of the Community of Ifrael, from the adminiftration of the Covenant of Circumcifion, to that of the Covenant of 'Sinai. Refpecting the Covenants of Sinai and Moab. In this chapter it is enquired in what refpects the Covenant of Sinai is diftinguishable from the Covenant of Circumcifion, and the new Covenant predicted by Jeremiah and Ezekiel, and mentioned by the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews, as taking effect under the Gospel Difpenfation; whether the Covenant of Sinai was the Covenant of Works; and whether it was defigned to form the Hebrew Community into Giving a general view of the actual character of the Hebrew Community, from the introduction of the Sinai Covenant to the advent of the Maffiah. Refpecting the coincidence of Prophecies and Facts in regard to the advent of the Meffiah to his people the Jews, his treatment of them while converfant among them, and the conclufions which are to be drawn from this treat- Refpecting the Lord's Day, the Lord's Supper, and Christian Baptism. In this Chapter it is attempted to fhew, that thefe ordinances are to be obferved by Christian believers, as feals of the fame covenant, of which the Jewish Sab- Refpecting the membership of infants in the Jewish and Chriftian Church, the application of the feals to them, and the manner in which they are to be treat- Respecting the abrogation of the Sinai Covenant, and the difference between the difpenfation which preceded, and that which followed the advent of the Belpecting the converfion of the rejected Jews, their reftoration to the land fe- cured to them in the covenant, and the ingathering of the fulness of the Gen- Containing several interesting deductions and addresses. 30g The reader is referred to the Poftcript for feveral explanations On a review of this work, feveral typographical errors are difcovered. The greater number are to be found in the forepart of the book. Here alfo the punctuation is moft incorrect. So far as the accuracy of the Author feems to be im plicated, he has an apology in an indifpofition, of which he was subject while this part of the book was paffing through the prefs. The errors which the reader is requested to correct are these. In page 21 44 46 Sixth line from bottom, for convenant read covenant. 51 Tenth from bottom, for hindred read kindreds. 71 Second from top, for exflufion read exclufion. 95 Eleventh from bottom, for pachal read pafchal. 143 Top line, for difobience read difobedience. 150 The top line of firft note, for tautologus rend tautologous, and in the fecond line below, for interpratations read interpretations. 160 Sixth line from bottom, for dsys read days. 173 Sixteenth from bottom, for fucceeffive read fucceffive. 175 In two inftances, for freal read Ifrael. 220 Here are two omiffions near the bottom, his, and ed, which the reader will supply." CHAPTER I. Respecting the different significations of the word Covenant, as it is used in the scripture. As we professedly design to examine the cove nant of circumcision, as the constitutional basis of the Hebrew community, and shall have occasion to consider wherein it differs from other covenants with which it stands connected; it may aid us in our enquiries and guard us from error, to notice, in the first place, the different significations of the term covenant, as it is used in the holy scripture. ..1. 1. The word covenant is used in many parts of the scripture to express an absolute or unconditional promise. It is evidently used in this sense, in the 9th chap. of Gen. 8th verse, and onward. "And God spake unto Noah and his sons with him, saying, And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and your seed after you, and with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, of every beast of the earth, and I will establish my covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there be any more a flood to destroy the earth. And God said, this is the token of the covenant, which I make between me and you, and every living creature that is with you for perpetual generations. I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a token of a covenant between me and the earth.And it shall come to pass when I bring a cloud over the earth, the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will remember my covenant which is between me and you and all flesh, and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh." Here is no condition.The engagement respects the irrational animals, as well as human beings, and is therefore absolute. No impiety on the part of man can make the engagement void. B The word covenant has evidently the same signification in the promise which God makes to David, as expressed in the 89th Psalm, from the 20th verse, and onward. This passage, because it not only confirms the idea, that the word covenant sometimes means an unconditional promise, but reflects light on our main subject, I shall quote at large. "I have found David my servant, with my holy oil have I anointed him.With whom my hand shall be established; mine arm also shall strengthen him. The enemy also shall not exact upon him, nor the son of wickedness afflict him. And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him. But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him, and in my name shall his horn be exalted. I will set hist hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God," and the rock of my salvation. Also I will make him my first born, higher than the kings of the earth. My mercy will I keep with him forever more, and my cov enant shall forever stand fast with him. His seed also will I make to endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven. If his children forsake my law; and walk not in my judgments, if they break my statutes and keep not my commandments; then will I visit their transgressions with a rod, and their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless, my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that has gone out of my lips. Once have sworne by my holiness, that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure forever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven." Here are several promises wrought into this covenant. They had an ultimate respect to the Messiah, the root and the offspring of David; his Lord and heir; God's first born. They are of the same tenor, and are, as is plain from the terms in which they are expressed, and from the nature of the purpose which they reveal, absolute. David indeed complains, in the following verses, as though they were made void; but |