stances, after we shall have examined the covenant of grace, and come to compare the two institutions together. This course will save the trouble and disgust of repetition; besides that notwithstanding the very extensive analogy which runs through the two covenants of works and of grace; some of the elemental truths are best studied, and easiest illustrated in the one institution, and some in the other. Here, accordingly, I conclude this part of my task, praying that the spirit of wisdom and grace may lead us into all truth according to the Scriptures.

SECTION III.

Representation by Jesus Christ.

I proceed now to investigate the subject of Christ's representative character, in the covenant of grace; and as the production of human authority on this subject would exact more reading and research, than I have either time or inclination at present to bestow ; and as such authority, when come at, is frequently very difficult to be understood, and after all not conclusive, I shall not trouble myself with inquiring what others may have thought or said on the subject; but shall go directly to the divine word, where truth blazes in its own essential light and native sphere. I shall also abstain for the present from all definitions; as it will be time enough (indeed the precise time which scientific investigation prescribes) to define things, when we shall have ascertained what they are. I shall select the few following passages of Scripture out of many.

Prov. viii. 22, &c. "The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his work of old. I was

anointed a covenant head from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was, when there were no depths, I was begotten; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I begotten. While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: when he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep when he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment : when he appointed the foundations of the earth, then was I by him, as one brought up with him and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him: rejoicing in the habitable parts of his earth and my delights were with the sons of men. Now therefore, hearken unto me, O ye children; for blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, watching at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me, findeth life, and shall find favour of the Lord. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul. All they that hate me love death."

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The above passage overflowing, at once, with the richness of evangelical truth and the richness of eloquence, is one of the most distinguished, among the distinguished proofs, afforded in the Old Testament, that the ancient Israelites were not those babes in theology, which they are sometimes represented to be; but, while they must be allowed to stand far below the New Testament church in regard to the extent of their religious knowledge and attainments, they were accu

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happiness to all who should receive his instructions, and submit to his authority; and pronouncing the sentence of death, inevitable and irremediable death, upon those obstinate sinners, who should wrong their own souls by rejecting him. It is pleasant to expatiate thus on Jewish ground, and to find in this land which the Lord has blessed, the same trees, and fruits, and flowers, and the same productions of every kind, which beautify, and which enrich the paradise of the christian church. The eye pleads to be indulged in reposing a little on the enchanting scene; imagination would wish to give scope to all her powers in quest of boundless enjoyment. But sober truth reminds us that we live here rather for labour than for enjoyment; and that our spiritual food, as well as our natural, must be earned by the sweat of our brow. Let us proceed then to cultivate the intellectual field, to weed out the briars, and thorns, and thistles, that whatever may be the issue in respect to ourselves, we may leave the in tailed estate to our posterity, at least not worse than when it came into our hands.

As the liberty has been taken to make a couple of alterations in the translation, it is proper that the reasons of the change should be laid before the reader. that he may judge for himself whether they are legi timate improvements, and really necessary to convey the sense of the inspired originals. This shall be done with as little of the air of criticism as possible

the learned reader needs only to have the subject sug gested; and even those who are unacquainted with Hebrew literature; will, from the nature of the sube ject be able to form a sound judgment.

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In the 24th verse I have changed the phrase I was brought forth, into I was begotten: The Hebrew word used in the passage, designates the relation between a parent, whether father or mother, and a child; and is sometimes to be translated to beget, sometimes to bear or bring forth. But since, through. out the whole of the sacred Scriptures, the relation be tween the first and second persons in the adorable trinity is always represented by that of father and son, of son and father, the appropriate translation of the word in this place is begotten, not brought forth. This every reader of the Scriptures will assent to.

נסכ

and

In the 23d verse, instead of I was set up from everlasting; I use the phrase I was anointed a covenant head. The original word signifies to anoint is frequently used to denote the appointment of a public officer, because the rite of anointing with oil was common on such occasions. It is the same word which is used Psalms ii. 5. "Yet I have set (ID) I have anointed) my king upon my holy hill of Zion ;" a text which serves the double purpose of establishing the criticism and the doctrine. From this rite of anointing at their inauguration, princes, or supreme officers, are denominated, or anointed ones. The translation I have given, viz. I was anointed a covenant head, is indeed paraphrastic; but the idea conveyed is indisputably correct. The Son of God was set up from everlasting, was anointed a supreme officer; so says the text; and the whole current of scripture language goes to prove that he was set up,

and anointed the covenant head of the church; nor is the slightest hint given us from the beginning of the Bible to its end, that ever he was appointed to another office. Let us now sum up the elementary doctrines of this passage.

1. It teaches us that the eternal, and eternally begotten, Son of God, was set up, and anointed the head of his church, "from everlasting," from the beginning, (from all eternity) or ever the earth was-before the foundation of our world was laid. There was, therefore, a covenant between the eternal Father and his Son from all eternity. Whether this was a covenant of redemption, or was not, the reader perhaps has already decided in his own mind.-I reserve my decision as yet.

2. The Son of God being anointed a covenant head from all eternity, was, by his Father (v. 30.) as one brought up with him; and was daily his delight; rejoicing always before him; rejoicing in the habitable parts of the earth, and his delights were with the sons of men. Now these delights must have been placed on men viewed in innocence, or subsequent to the fall. They were not placed on men viewed in innocence; for not to mention that to call Adam and Eve the sons of men would be a very singular phraseology, there was no reason why innocent men should be more an object of the Son of God's delight than innocent angels, who at that time were more than merely innocent, they were meritorious, and had secured their eternal standing in the divine favour by their approved fidelity. Of consequence, the objects of his delight were men viewed after the fall and as there was nothing in the foul and guilty race to excite the pure delights of the infinitely holy Son of God-As they were cast