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§. 54. Of the meaning of these words, Not according to the covenant which I made with their Fathers.
〈◊〉〈◊〉 according to the covenant that I made with their Fathers in the day when I took them by the hand, to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not saith the Lord.
THe foresaid new covenant is here amplified by preferring it before the old: and that the excellency thereof might more evidently be manifested, he setteth out the old covenant in this verse, and the new covenant in the three following. Thus by comparing them together, it will appear which is the better.
He sets down the comparison negatively thus, a 1.1 not according to the cove∣nant, &c. This negative hath reference to the manner of delivering the former co∣venant: as if he had said, not under such dark types and shadowes, not clogged with such b•…•…rthensome rites and ceremonies, nor with such chargeable sacrifices, and o∣ther oblations, as the old covenant was: but more clearly, with easier burthens and lesse cost.
Of the differences betwixt the old and new covenant. See v. 8. §. 52.
Of a covenant what it is, see v. 8. §. 39.
That the covenant which is here intended might not be mistaken, it is set down by the persons with whom it was made, in these words b 1.2 which I made with their 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
God is here brought in as the Author of that covenant, as well as of the new 〈◊〉〈◊〉: for thus saith God, I will make a new covenant, v. 8. By this it appears, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the old covenant was a divine covenant, made by God himself with man. Of a divine covenant, See v. 8. §. 40.
c 1.3 The fathers here mentioned are those Israelites which came out of Egypt in∣to the wildernesse, where this covenant was set out with the severall rites apper∣taining thereunto. These are they who are mentioned, Chap. 3. v. 9. §. 95. who who are said to tempt God, and to grieve him. That these fathers were those Is∣•…•…, is evident by that which in this verse is further said of them, that they were 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the land of Egypt. The Prophet Ieremiah maketh mention of these fa∣thers, who lived 900 yeares before his time, to shew the patience of God. Though God had been provoked so long, yet he continued his covenant among them.
This relative, d 1.4 There, hath reference to the house of Israel, and the house of Iu∣dah mentioned in the former verse. Though when the Prophet uttered this, they were two kingdomes, yet they all descended from those fathers that came out of Egypt. Therefore of both these kingdomes, he saith their fathers. This is an ag∣gravation of their division.