"consolation." In this Will, he has assigned the inheritance as well of grace as of glory, of which we shall speak immediately. He has also appointed the heirs, -not indefinitely, all that shall believe; but these and the other persons particularly, whose "names are writ"ten in heaven," and "graven upon the palms of God's "hands." This his Will, he has expressed in both parts of the holy Scriptures, which are, therefore, called a Testament. In fine, that this Will might in no respect be defective, the whole is confirmed and sealed by the blood and death of the Lord Jesus.b

XXIX. To understand this, we must observe, that God the Father, did, by testament, intrust his Son Jesus with this honour, that he should be the head of the elect, to excel them in glory, and to possess authority to impart to them, all his blessings. Jesus, again, by the power committed to him by the Father, bequeathes his benefits by testament, to the elect, that they may be joint-partakers of them with himself. "I appoint "to you (by testament) a kingdom, as my Father hath

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(by testament) appointed unto me." This making of the Testament, then, is originally the doing of the Father, but immediately of Christ the Mediator; who died, not to make void the inheritance by his death, for he is alive for evermore," but to seal the promises, and to acquire for his people a right to the inheritance.42 Hence the blood which he shed, is called "the blood of the testament."f

* Heb. vi. 17, 18.

Is. xlix. 16.

b Heb. ix. 16, 17.

d

y Luke x. 20.

a 2 Cor. iii. 14.

c Ps. ii. 8.

Ο Κάγω διατίθεμαι ύμιν, καθώς διεθετό μοι ο πατης με, βασιλειαν. Luke

xxii. 29.

f Zech. ix. 11. Mat. xxvi. 28.

* Rev. i. 18.

12 See NOTE XLII.

XXX. The BLESSINGS bequeathed in the Testament, are inestimable. We reduce them at present to three principal heads. The first is THE POSSESSION OF THE WHOLE WORLD; for it was promised to Abraham and his seed, that they "should be heirs of the world." On these words, we may hear the commentary of Ludovicus de Dieu : "As sin, by separating us " from God and subjecting us to his curse, rendered us "exiles and outcasts, so that we had no spiritual right "or dominion, corresponding to the character of the "sons of God, over even the meanest of the creatures;

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so, when God becomes our God and we become his "blessed people, we are restored, as sons, to the right "and dominion of the whole paternal inheritance:

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And, since there is nothing besides God and the

world, we are made heirs of the world, both the

earthly and the heavenly, the present and the future. "Hence it is said, All things are yours; and, amongst "these all things, are mentioned, the world, and whatever is in it, things present and things to come.”

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XXXI. This possession of the world, we may observe, consists in the following things. 1st, Every son of God possesses as much of the good things of this world as the wisdom of our heavenly Father judges sufficient for the support of the animal life, without exposing the spiritual to detriment; and so possesses, that, in the enjoyment of it, he may taste the love of his Father, who confers it upon him as a pledge of better blessings, and of his Elder Brother, who himself became poor, that his people might be rich. This love of God the Father and of Christ, added to the smallest crumb of

bread or drop of cold water, renders them, beyond measure, preferable to all the most exquisite luxuries of the rich of this world. "A little that a righteous man hath, is better than the riches of many wicked."k 2dly, All the creatures must serve the children of God as steps by which they may ascend to the Creator. In all of them, as in a bright mirror, they contemplate his adorable perfections,1 and thus find cause of exultation and delight. They perceive in them, in particular, the love of God towards themselves. When they behold the sun, the moon, and the stars, they rejoice that their Father hath lighted up so many luminaries for them, of which they may avail themselves in performing works which become them as the sons of God. Nor do they survey this display of his goodness with less admiration, than if every individual had his own sun, or his own moon, shining upon him." They do not exceed the bounds of propriety, when they even entertain the thought, that, for their sake, the world still remains in its present state, and that for this the wicked are indebted to them; for "the holy seed is the substance" (the support) of the world. 3dly, All the creatures, and the whole administration of God towards them, "work together for their good." This holds so extensively, that angels in heaven and devils in hell, are both obliged to bear a part in the service. As to angels in heaven," Are they not all ministering spirits, sent "forth to minister for them, who shall be heirs of sal“vation?" As to the infernal spirit, the great teacher of arrogance, was he not, when aiming at a very differ

* Ps. xxxvii. 16.

m Ps. xcii. 4, 5.

• Is. vi. 13.

1 Ps. civ. 24.

n P's. viii. 3, 4.

r Rom. viii. 28.

↑ Пnivμata λutovgya. Heb. i. 14. Ps. xxxiv. 7. xci. 11.

ent object, compelled, in spite of himself-by his buffetings to teach Paul humility? 4thly, If this world, which, by reason of sin, is subjected to vanity, cannot suffice them, God will from its ashes, after its destruction, form another, and make "a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."s Each of these ideas may be included in the general promise of the inheritance of the world.43

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XXXII. The second blessing of this testament, is a SPIRITUAL KINGDOM. "I appoint unto you," says Christ, a kingdom." To this kingdom, even such of the children of God as are, in other respects, in the humblest condition, the poor, and servants, and handmaids, are called. "Hath not God chosen the poor of "this world" to become "rich in faith, and heirs of "the kingdom, which he hath promised to them that "love him." To this belong, 1. The excellency of the sons of God, by which they surpass all other men. 2. Victory over sin and the unruly lusts of the flesh, to which even kings and dreaded tyrants are enslaved. 3. The treading of the devil under their feet. 4. Triumph over a whole conquered world, in spite of whose rage they shall be eternally saved. 5. Inestimable riches of spiritual gifts; even in the midst of poverty.a 6. A holy peace of mind, and joy in the Holy Ghost.b All these privileges are begun here in grace, and consummated hereafter in glory.

XXXIII. The third benefit is Gon himself. Hence says the Apostle, --" heirs of God." Here, the inheritance is mutual. Believers are God's portion, and God is their portion, as these are made reciprocal by the Prophet: "The portion of Jacob is not like them; "for he is the Former of all things; and Israel is the "rod (the tribe) of his inheritance." In this possession of God, his children find, 1st, Protection against every evil. “I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge, and my fortress." Why? He is "MY GOD, in him will I trust."e 2dly, The communication of every good. For, 1. All that infinitude of perfections which is in God himself, will appear glorious and admirable in the sons of God, and will impart itself to them, that they may enjoy it for their consummate felicity. And what can the soul desire, beyond this infinite Portion ? 2. What will not God give those, to whom he gives himself ?h

XXXIV. In this testament, if it is considered in its whole extent, with all its promises, there are no STIPULATIONS properly so called; for it consists of absolute and unmixed promises, suspended upon no condition to be performed by our own strength. Yet the divine wisdom and care have so adjusted all things in it, that a certain and a wise connexion is established amongst them, and the improvement of the blessings promised first in order, paves the way for the possession of further benefits. We have elsewhere treated of this at large. 44

e Ps. xci. 2. See Ps. xxvii. 1, 2. Is. xliii. 2, 3.

f Ps. xxxvi. 8.

8 Ps. lxxiii. 25.

h 1 Cor. iii. 22, 23.

41 See NOTE XLIV.