Gen.12.3. and 18.18. and 27.18. Rom 4.16,17. firft entred the Covenant as Purchafer, Maker, Confirmer, and upon whose perfon it was fetled for us all by Abraham. Againe, by Abrahams feed are meant all that receive this Covenant from him, whether by outward adminiftration only, or internall force and vertue alfo. In the eye of God and Scripture all beleeving Gentiles are the feed of Abraham, which may be called the Christian seed. In thee shall all Nations of the earth be bleffed: which muft needs be understood of the Gentiles which fhould beleeve, and is plainly fo interpreted by the Apostle: Therefore it is by faith, that it might be by grace, to the end the promise might be sure to all the feed, not to that only which is of the Law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the Father of us all; As it is written, I have made thee a Father of many Nations. That he might be the Father of them that beleeve, though they be not circumcised, that rightoufneffe might be imputed to them alfo. And if ye be Chrifts, then are Gal.3.14.29. ye Abrahams feed, and heires by Promife. All beleeving Jewes and Profelytes are comprehended under the feed of Abraham, and may be called the fpirituall feed,in oppofition to the carnall or noturall feed only. This diftinction of Abrahams feed fpirituall and naturall the Apoftle plainly specifieth; Neither because they are the feed of Abraham are they all children: but in Ifaac shall thy feed be cal and 2.18,29. led: that is, they which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted for the feed. Befides, all that defcend from the loynes of Abraham, and all that were borne in his houfe, and bought with his money are counted for the feed, though indeed many of them were wicked and profane. Therefore Abraham is commanded to circumcife every man-child, both him that is borne in his houfe, or bought with money of the stranger, which is not of his feed. Thus Ishmael, Efau, and others were circumcifed, counted Abrahams feed, and. under Covenant, untill they fell away, and difcovenanted themfelves: but their pofterity are not counted for the feed, because they utterly fell away, and departed from the faith. The whole Nation of the Jewes defcending from Jacob, was accounted the feed of Abraham, untill the time of Reformation, though many amongst them were wicked, and oft-times fell away. I know (faith our Saviour to the Pharifees) ye are Abrahams feed, but yee John 8.37. feeke to kill me, fo did not Abraham. In respect of the externall administration of the Covenant they were counted the feed: but H 2 they Rom 9.7,8, Gen. 17.11, 12, 13. Act, 3.25. Luk, 18.9, Gen.13.2,3. ver.7. they walked not in the steps of the faith of Abraham,and therefore indeed and truth they were not the feed. And the Apostle fpea king to the Jewes, who had put Chrift to death, faith, Ye are the children of the Prophets, and of the Covenant, which God made with our Fathers, faying unto Abraham, And in thy feed fhall all the Kinreds of the earth bebleffed. Further it is to be obferved, that in all the feed the Covenant reacheth to Infants borne of the feed under the Covenant, which was the reafon why they must receive the feale of the Covenant at eight dayes old. Neither muft we put off this, that Infants have only jus fœderis, for they be fœderati. Your children are boty, faith the Apostle, I Cor.7.14. Holy by Covenant, though by nature finfull. Indeed it is true they be not capable of many actuall injoyments under the Covenant, nor of actuall Faith: but through the free grace and acceptation of God, the Promife of forgiveneffe, and the Kingdome of Heaven belongeth unto them. So that if any perfon come into Covenant and procreate children, that man and his iffue are fœderati, and may grow up into a further body from that beginning. From this we fee the true ground of all Covenants as they receive difference from the parties injoying, whether perfonall, family-Covenants, or nationall. Per fonall is the caufe of family-Covenants, as Abra hams Covenant, the ground of his Families entrance: and fo the Covenant made with the Family the ground of nationall,as in the Families of Jacob caft together, made all Ifrael under Covenant. And herein appeares the truth of the former diftinction, that the Covenant is made according to internall force and efficacy,or outward adminiftration only. may The things on Gods part promifed under this manifeftation to Abraham and his fubfederates are held forth in these and the like expreffions: I will make thee a great Nation, and I will bleffe thee, and make thy name great, and thou shalt be a bleffing. And I will blesse them that bleffe thee, and curfe him that curseth thee and in thee shall all Families of the earth be blessed. Unto thy feed will I give this land, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art, North ward and Southward, and Eastward and Westward. For all the Land Gen.13.14,15, which thon feest, to thee Will I give it, and to thy feed for ever. Andl Will make thy feed as the duft of the earth; fo that if a man can number the duft of the earth, then hall thy feed alfo be numbred. Feare not Abraham, I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. Looke Gen. 18.18. 16. Gen.15.1. vers. now 2. 3. 6. 7. 8. ver.19. now towards Heaven, and tell the ftarres, if thou be able to number them. And he faid unto him, So shall thy feed be. I am the Almighty Gen.17.1. God: and I will make my Covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly, and thou shalt be a Father of many Nations. And I will make thee exceeding fruitfull, and I will make Nations of thee, and Kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my Covenant between me and thee, and thy feed after thee, in their generations, for an everlasting Covenant to be a God unto thee, and to thy feed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy feed after thee, the Land wherein thou art a stranger, all the Land of Canaan for an everlasting poffeffion, and I will be their God. By my felfe have I fworne, faith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and haft not withheld thy and 24.7. Sonne, thy only Sonne, That in bleffing I will bleffe thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy feed as the ftarres of heaven, and as the fand which is upon the fea-shore, and thy feed shall poffeffe the gates of his enemies. And in thy feed shall all the Nations of the earth be blessed; because thou haft obeyed my voice. Gen. 22,16,17 Plal 33.. tranftulerunt, quod nos fortem, rebuftum poffumus dicere f 13.6. The grand Promifes of this Covenant are, that God would be the God of Abraham and of his feed, whereby is fignified,that God would be to him, what he had revealed himselfe to be, his King, and Father, his Portion and Protectour; that he would pardon his finne,write his Law in his heart, leade him into all truth, defend pfal.4.14. him from all evill, and in due time receive him unto glory. Happy Hieron.in. are the people that be in fuch a cafe: yea, blessed are they that have God Shadlat. Sym. for their God. This God is our God for ever and ever, he shall be our Theod. avv guide untill death. And this is implyed, in that the Lord expreffed himselfe unto Abraham to be Almighty,or All-fufficient,the nurse of all living things, (trong, and potent to doe whatfoever he will, who can bring all things to nothing, as he made all things of no thing, can give and take away, give plentifully, abundantly, as pleafeth himselfe, whofe goodne ffe doth copiously reach unto all his creatures. The Sept. Interpreters fometimes expreffe this title by the common name of God: fometimes they omit it altogether, and for I am God Almighty, they tranflate I am thy God and 35.11. fometimes they put for it, the God of heaven, Pfal.91.1. fome neopía times they render it by a word that fignifieth fit, fufficient,strong inav. sept. and potent. Job 31. 2. but most commonly Almighty, Omni- carloxeάTws.. potent, able to doe all things, Job 15.25. and 22.25. and 23.16. TÍTU and 26.16, and 27. 11, and paraphraftically, who hath made. Togas To H3 all Sept. er der. Gen 49.5. Gen. 17.1 and 28.3. ἐπερένιον. ὅτε μμλν ὑλιώ δες λίαν. Exod. 6.3. Pfal.ço 2. Gen. 12.8,3, v rfp. all things, fob 8.3. Sometimes they turne it heavenly, Psal.68, 15. once they retaine the Hebrew word oudda, Ezek. 10.5. and once they use an expression, which comes nigh to felfe fufficiency and contentation, Job 29.5. qui materia copiofus eft valde. But when God manifefted himfelte to Abraham to be God Almighty, the meaning is not fo much to expreffe what God is in himfelfe, as what he would be to Abraham and his pofterity: as afterwards when he faith he would be knowne unto them by his name Jebovah,therby is meant that he would give being to the promises formerly made unto them. And in many paffages, when the Scripture fpeakes of the eternity of God, the abfolute eternity which refpects God himselfe, is not understood: but that wherby he will shew himself eternall in his love and favour and rich grace towards his people. Art not thou from everlasting, & Lord our God, we shall not die. And when the promife was made to Abraham, that in him, or in his feed, all nations of the earth should be blessed, therein was preached the Gospell unto Abraham, that the Gentiles (hould be turned from their finnes, juftified by faith, adopted to be the Sonnes of God, made partakers of the promised Spirit, and receive the Inheritance purchased for the Saints, Unto thefe fpirituall bleffings, it pleafed God to add the promife of many and great temporall good things, which are fully branched out in the words before cited, and may be reduced to thefe heads. 1. Protection, I am thy fhield. The Sept. hath it, I Pfal.3.4. & 7 will protect or ftand betwixt the and all dangers, that may threat Pfal. 18.3. Numb.23.10. Gen. 32. 13. 49. 19. * Car.Od. 23. en, or feem to come nigh thee. The like promife is often repeated in Scripture, wherin not fimple aid or vulgar manner of protetion is fignified, but prefent, certaine, effectuall defence, nigh at hand continually, and that performed with great care and promptnes of mind. 2. Riches and honour, I will make thee great and thy name fhall be great. 3. Multiplicity of feed; I will multiply thee exceedingly. There be three things in Scripture and Heathen Authours, which are ufed proverbially, to fignify an huge and exceeding great number, the duft of the earth, the fands of the fea, and ftarres of Heaven. And all thefe are brought to ref:mble the exceeding number into which the feed of Abraham fhould breake forth, Gen.13.16. & 22.17. Gen. 15.5. 4. The Land of Cana an is promised as an everlasting poffeffion, and therein holy Go vernment, Church ordinances and other bleffings attending ther on: on all which are stated upon Abraham and his naturall feed by Jacob, and we find verified in them. Touching these bleffings we muft obferve firft, that God gave more of the temporall, leffe of the fpirituall to the naturall feed in the first ages: but in the latter ages more of the fpirituall bleffings, Oleffe of the temporall and outward to the Chriftian feed of the Gentiles. Secondly many of Abrahams carnall feed injoyed the outward bleffings, which reached not the fpirituall; as infinite numbers that dwelt in the Land of Canaan, and being lews outwardly did partake in outward priviledges beloging to the pofterity of Jacob: Thirdly, thofe that injoyed this outward part of Abrahams bleffing and priviledges of the Covenant, cannot be called ftrangers altogether from the Covenant of promife: for the Apostle confeffeth, that the carnall Iew in his time, was not wholly bro- Rom.si 4 ken off from the Covenant and the Service of God, with the promifes: which may be faid of carnall Chriftians, which live within the pale of the vifible Church, with correfpondency in fome measure unto the ordinances, Thefe injoying the outward bleffings of Abraham, are in the eye of the Scripture reputed to be within the Covenant of grace, whereof we have an apparant proofe, Deut.29.10. Where all are faid to enter this Covenant to the very hewer of wood and drawer of water,amongst whom was the carnall, as well as fpirituall feed. Fourthly, it is to be obferved, that the poffeffion of the Land of Canaan, as it was a part of their outward happineffe,fo it was a type of the eternall reft, Heb.4.1. as fhall be proved more at large hereafter. It may be demanded how the Land of Canaan, which the 16raelites poffeffed for a time,can be called an everlafting poffeffion, The anfwer is, that the word tranflated eve lafting doth not ever fignifie that which shall have no end, but an age, terme or continuance. It is spoken of the actions and vertues of God; of the time paft or future. Of the time past, and so we reade of the bounds of ages, Pró.22.28. The paths of ages, Ter 18 15. The dayes of ages, Deut.32.7. The yeares of ages, Pfal.77.5. The deferts of ages, Ifai. 58. 12. Iofua 24. 2. I held my peace of old, Isa. 42.14. that is, long time. Of the time to come with determination certaine or uncertaine, as untill the yeare |