&c. Jer. xi. 2, 3, 6, 8. The Words of the Berith may be call'd a Defcription of, or of the Terms of the Purification. There is nothing like a written Covenant, except Neh. ix. 38, and the Word Berith is not us'd there: So the emblematical Representation of this Purifier was also upon the Ark, 2 Chron. vi. 11; and the Tables, which are call'd Deut. ix. 9, the Tables of Berith, and 'tis likely the Counterpart, or what Mofes writ firft, and the Pentateuch was in it: So it was call'd the Ark of the Purifier. At every distinct Grant, as first of Lives and Eftate, next to prevent more Destructions, next at giving them the Land of Canaan, &c. this was exhibited And it was by virtue of this Purification, and of their being purified, that they were qualified to receive and enjoy those Grants; and Pollutions forfeited feveral of them. But ftill Berith is not a Covenant, but fignifies that which makes or keeps fomething free from Pollutions, clean, pure, fo eligible; as an Agent, the Purifier; as an Action, Purification; as a Patient, that purified; as a Type, the Representation of the Agent, and Manner; as a Defcription, the Terms. This is alfo to qualify us to accept and enjoy hereafter. VOL. IV. A a We We have no Word for the Covenant made before the World, but Aleim: The Promises, References and Conditions, made, declared, sworn to, or executed fince, fhew that it was to give us, and cut off a Berith for us. So that, or the Exhibition of that Purification typically, or the Purifier and the Action, was the Con'dition or Confideration of every Promise, Grant or Agreement. When the Promife on God's Part was abfolute, that was the whole and abfolute Confideration, viz. That he gave them a Purifier which made them clean; and they, at that Time, accepted of, or came into, that Purification. If the Promife was conditional, the Confideration of making it was, that God exhibited, and they accepted, that Purification: And in Confideration of the Benefits of that Purification, they were to become fubject, and perform certain Conditions, whereby they fhould keep themfelves clean, or reiterate that Purification to cleanse them, and keep themselves in a Condition to hold or receive the Benefits of that Promise. So that Confideration, the Berith, upon which each Promise or Grant was made, is the Thing refer'd to more frequently than either the Promife, or Grant, or Oath. So the Purification which you exhibited and I accepted, when I promis'd or granted the Continuance of Days and Nights, &c. So the Berith which he cut off with or for Abram, David, &c. Whether Men who enter'd into Agreements, made this Purification the Confideration of the Terms of their Friendship, or &c. may be confider'd. When the Types began to grow old, and the Person who was to finish at once, for ever, what was typified, drew near, 'tis faid, Pfal. xxv. 14, The Secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and he will shew them his Purifier. Pfal. xl. 6, Sacrifice and Offering thou didst not defire.Then faid 1, Lo! I come; I at large, Heb. cap. x. Pfal. lxxxix. 3, have cut off a Purifier for my Elect. So I ברית עולם אכרות להם,8 .Ifai. lv. 3, lxi will be cut off the everlasting Purifier for A a 2 but but not for himself—and he shall confirm the Purification (make it powerful, effectual) with many in one Week; and in the Midft of the Week he shall caufe the Sacrifice and Oblation to cease. Dan. xi. 30, Berith of Holiness. John xi. 50, xviii. 14. Nor confider that it is expedient for us, that one Man fhould die for the People, and that the whole Nation perish not. So the Blood was his Blood: So fpeaking to the Divinity, concerning the Humanity, Zach. ix. 11, As for thee, by the Blood of thy Purifier. So Mat. xxvi. 28, For this is my Blood of the New Purification, which is fed for many, for the Remiffion of Sins. John. xiii. 8, If I wash thee not, thou haft no Part with me. Heb. ix. 19, Mofestook the Blood of Calves—and sprinkled both the Book and all the People, faying, This is the Blood of Berith, which God hath enjoin'd unto you. ver. 26. But now once in the End of the World bath he appear'd, to put away Sin, by the Sacrifice of himself. Apoc. i. 5, And washed us from our Sins, in his own Blood. ib. vii. 14, And have wash'd their Robes, and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb. I So So as Salt was to be added, what was fignified by it, Mat. v. 13, Te are the Salt of the Earth Te are the Light of the World. Mark ix. 50, Have Salt in your felves. Col. iv. 6, Let your Speech be alway with Grace feafoned with Salt. The next Queftion is, Why we find the Epithet of na, the Purifier, added to these Names? In order thereto, and to fhew the Reasons for reclaiming this Attribute, we must ftate the Cafe. The Perfons in Jehovah had enter'd into a Covenant in Favour of Men, before they were form'd, That in cafe Man fell, and repented, thofe Perfons would fend and cut off a Purifier for them, and fuch of their Race as accepted of the Terms: And after the first Man had deferted, rebell'd, and put himself under the Protection of the Names, and fo had forfeited, and afterwards repented, the Promise of a Purifier was made, and the Manner exhibited. And when fome of his Pofterity had relaps'd, for which the Race, except one Family, and the Earth was destroy'd, and the Earth reform'd; upon the Reprefentation of that Purification by Noah, the Aleim was pleas'd to make a Promise of a Sufpenfion, not from Death, but that the Earth and Man fhould no more A a 3 be |