§. 67. Of the Lords being a God in peculiar to his consederates.
THe second promise or priviledge of the new Covenant is thus expressed, And I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people. Both the Hebrew and the Greek thus read it, word for word, I will be to them a 1.1 for a God. And they shall be to me b 1.2 for a people: which implyeth, that, as God would be their God,* 1.3 so upon all occasions, he would shew himself so to be. And in like manner, would 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that he had taken them for his people, by doing good unto them in all their ne•…•…ds.
The very substance of the new Covenant is expressed in this promise, which is not only a distinct, and particular promise in it self: but also the foundation, and ground-work of all the rest; for on this ground that God is our God, and hath taken u•…•… to be his people, he pardons our sins, enlightens ourminds, and puts his laws into o•…•…r hearts.
Concerning this priviledge two especial questions are moved.
〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1. W•…•…ether Iehovah be not the God of the whole world? If he be, how is this a priviledge appropriated to a peculiar people.
Answ. This title to be a God, and to have a people, is taken two wayes.
- 1. In a general extent unto all, over whom he retaineth an absolute soveraignty, having made them, and continuing to substain and govern them: for in him all live, and move, and have their being, Acts 17. 28.
- 2. In a peculiar respect the Lord is their God, and takes them for his people, of whom he takes an especial care to bring them to eternal life. Of these it is said, ye are a chosen generation, a peculiar people, 1 Pet. 2. 9. By this distinction we may see how God is the Saviour of all men, especially of those that believe, 1 Tim. 4. 10.
Quest. 2. Was not Iehovah in this peculiar respect th•…•… God of the Jews; for it is said, •…•…e shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people, Exod. 19. 5.
Answ. This must here be comparatively taken in regard of a more clear, full, ef∣fectual manifestation of Gods tender, entire, and fatherly respect to his confederates under the new Covenant, then under the old.
On the foresaid respects, Gods especial respect is appropriated to those who are under the new Covenant: he is in an especial manner a God to them. As the pro∣mises in the old Testament tending hereunto, were intended to them, so in the new Testament they were applyed to them. Of them saith Christ, I ascend unto my Fa∣ther, and your Father, and to my God, and your God. John 20. 17. And God himself thus, I will be their God, 2 Cor. 6. 16.
Believers under the new Covenant are incorporated into the body of the Mediator of the new Covenant actually exhibited: and in that peculiar respect, as the Lord is his Father and God, so he is their Father and God.
- 1. Good ground have we who live under this Covenant, to apply to our selves this singular priviledge, and to take God for our God and Father: and to have i•…•… in our mindes whensoever we approach unto him: for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 end this phrase, our Fa∣•…•…,