vancement of a covenant already made. Hence, when Mofes preached to the congregation of Ifrael on this covenant, under the infallible direction of the Spirit, he declared the Sinai tranfaction to be a profecution of the Abrahamic covenant: "Because the Lord loved you, and becaufe he would keep the oath which he had fworn unto your fathers.”—“ Know, therefore, that the Lord, thy God, he is God, the faithful God, who keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love, him, and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations. Thou (halt, therefore, keep the commandments and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them. Wherefore, it shall come to pafs, if ye hearken to thefe judgments, and keep and do them, that the Lord, thy God, SHALL KEEP UNTO THEE THE COVENANT, and the mercy, WHICH HE SWARE UNTO THY FATHERS." I fhall only add, That this congregation must be confidered as already in covenant with God, as the members of it were circumcifed. They must certainly be in covenant with God, in point of external privileges at least, who bear the feal of it: That circumcifion was a feal of the covenant of their ancestors is evident from the very inftitution of it: That this people were circumcifed is equally certain, from the exprefs teftimony of the Holy Ghoft: "All * Deut. vii. 8, 9. and 11, 12. the the people that came out of Egypt that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt. Now, all the people that came out were CIRCUMCISED." Circumcifion, though inftituted long prior to the giving of the law, bound unto the obfervation of all the precepts of it; as the circumcifed perfon took the Lord God of Abraham for his God, refigning himfelf unto his will, as to all that he fhould enjoin, as well as all that he had already commanded. Hence, faid Paul, He that is circumcifed is become a debtor to do the whole Law. 3. THE Congregation of Ifracl flood in the capacity of a visible church, when they renewed their covenant at this time: Hence, they received fuch ordinances as belonged unto her in a visible state. This vifible church has, accordingly, been ftyled, with great propriety, THE CHURCH OF THE CIRCUMCISION; circumcifion being the badge of vifible memberfhip in her. Nor does it alter the cafe, that circumcifion was given unto the patriarchal church; for this and the Mofaic one were, materially, one and the fame, though the underwent a fignal change, as to her form, at Sinai; being changed from a domestic unto a national ftate. But this change will be no * Joh. v. 4, 5. ticed when we confider the occafions of this covenant. 4. THE Church of the Circumcifion was, in one refpect, a typical, and, in another refpect, a fpiritual church. She was a spiritual church, as diftinguished from a typical one; in as much as fhe made a profefsion of faith in fpiritual promifes, and of obedience unto fpiritual precepts. That the promises and precepts which belonged to her were of this kind will be afterwards manifefted, when we confider the matter of this covenant. This church was typical of our Lord Jefus Chrift, in refpect of the circumcifion of her members. The fhedding of blood, in that bloody ordinance, prefigured the shedding of his moft precious blood. She was alfo typical, as fhe was obliged to celebrate various ordinances, typical of his facrifice and atonement. Their obligations represented his furety-engagements. Their engagements to provide a fin-offering, prefigured his to make his foul an offering for fin. In the antitype, indeed, the priest and the facrifice were one; but in the type they were different.This church was alfo typical of Chrift perfonal, as fhe, like him, was called out of Egypt. Hence the oracle, given out by Hofea, "When Ifrael was a child, I called my Son out of Egypt," had not only Hof. xi. 1. a re a retrospect unto Ifrael's deliverance, prior to this tranfaction; but also a profpect as far foreward as the days of the Meffiah. Accordingly, though Hofea feems to mean this congregation; yet he alfo intended the Meffiah, as Matthew exprefsly intimates: "And he was there (viz. in Egypt) until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was fpoken of the Lord by the prophet, faying, Out of Egypt have I called my fon *." 5. AMONG the perfons who conftituted this vifible church there were fome who covenanted in a gracious and fpiritual manner; fome among the the many thousands of Ifrael were If raelites indeed. It was far otherways with many of them; but we have reafon to believe there were A FEW who devoted themselves to God with all their hearts: Aaron was the faint of God, Caleb and Joshua were men of a fpirit oppofite to unbelief,-men of a different fpirit from the reft of the fpies. Though the church was very corrupt in Egypt, yet God referved unto himfelf a feed; and it is reafonable to think, that the fermons, meffages, and miracles of Moses were blessed to gather others unto himself, befides thofe who had been already gathered. I doubt if it be confiftent with the faithfulnefs of God to covenant with Matth. ii. 15. Vide Dub. Evangel. SPANHEIM in ** Loc. cum Hof. people where the promifes are effectual upon none of them. 6. MANY who covenanted with God at this time did it only in a carnal and legal manner. Though they were the feed of Jacob in name, yet they were not Ifraelités indeed: The greatcr part of the congregation were of this ftamp. The Spirit of God characterizeth them a stubborn and rebellious generation,--a generation that fet not their heart aright, and whofe fpirit was not ftedfaft with God. Their profef fions of faith and obedience were liberal and ready; but integrity of heart was much wanted. Said the righteous judge, "They have well spoken all that they have faid: O that there were fuch an heart in them." Many were called at this time, but few chofen. Should it be enquired, Wherefore did God covenant with a people the greater part of whom were legal and infincere? It may be anfwered, So it feemed good in his fight. Two other reasons, however, may be affigned: First, Many real believers were in their loins; and it was agreeable to the will of God, that that generation fhould enjoy the benefit of a religi ous education. Accordingly, God fo over-ruled matters, that thefe legal covenanters were the inftruments of training up a race better than themselves: "He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Ifrael, which he commanded our fathers that they should make them |
