An exact collection of the works of Doctor Jackson ... such as were not published before : Christ exercising his everlasting priesthood ... or, a treatise of that knowledge of Christ which consists in the true estimate or experimental valuation of his death, resurrection, and exercise of his everlasting sacerdotal function ... : this estimate cannot rightly be made without a right understanding of the primeval state of Adam ...

CHAP. XLVII.

Before the fuller Draught of that Parallel (If the bloud of Buls—and the ashes of an Heifer—. Much more the Bloud of Christ—.) treated on in the two next Chapters; The Apo∣stles Translating the Hebrew word (Berith) by [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], is shewed to be, not a meer Allusion, but of strict Proprietie.

1. THe Height and Depth of the Mysteries contained in these two ver∣ses, Hebrews 9 13, 14. cannot in this life be truely sounded. And before I can survey the Surface of the Parallel intended by our Apo∣stle, I must endeavour to charm the Tongues and Pens of some sawcie Criticks in these last Ages: Such for the most part are meere Grammarians, or men in whom Grammatical skill is too predominant. For of this Light kind of Learning that of our Apostle Scientia inslat, as Ludovicus Vives somewhere well observes, is most punctually or peculiarly true. And the man whose Brain is full of this skill, and whose Breast is emptie of Mora∣litie or other solid and ingenuous Literature, is like a Pinnace ballasted with Corke or some lighter Stuffe bearing the Sayle of a Gallioun or Ca∣rack. And if this meer Verbal skil be matched with some sleight Diale∣ctical Termes, as with Second Notions or Dichotomies, these serve as En∣gines to set words, Dictated by the Holy Ghost, or the several significa∣tions of one and the same word, at Opposition one to another; whereas they admit only some Difference, no way opposite but subordinate, or truely Concordant. Some of this Crue in the Romish Church (with whom I dare not avow that None in the Reformed Churches are participant,) have been so bold as to impeach the Author of this Divine Epistle (if not dire∣ctly, yet by Necessary Implication) either of Ignorance in the Hebrew Dialect, or of such fancies or delight to play with words, as have been too frequent in these Later Ages. For so they say that St. Paul (or who ever he were that was the Author of this Epistle) doth play with the He∣brew [Berith] when he translates it, in this ninth Chapter or elsewhere, by the Greek [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] which primarily and properly signifies a Testament or dispo∣sition of goods or inheritance bequeathed; whereas Berith doth punctually and formally signifie a League or Covenant.

2. All this notwithstanding argues onely some Diversitie in the Significa∣tion or Interpretation of the words, no Real Difference or Opposition of the matter signified by them; no more (if so much) then is between a Live∣ing Creature endued with Sense, and, A man or Sensitive Creature endued with Reason. Now though every Creature endued with sense be not a man, or reasonable Creature, yet every man Essentially is a Creature endowed with sense. The Connexion between these two words which some Criticks have set at Variance, to wit, between a Covenant and a Testament, is altogether as Essential and Formal as the former betwixt a Man and a Sensitive Creature: for albeit every Covenant be not truely and formally a Testament, yet every Testament truely so called, essentially is or includes a true and proper Cove∣nant. So that one and the same word [Berith] in some places of the old Testament imports no more than the Genus or General signification, to wit, a Covenant: In other places it necessarily imports a Testamental Covenant, and must be rendred, as the Apostle here doth, by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is a Last Will or Valid Testament. Our blessed Lord and Saviour (I beleive, and those which impeach our Apostle in this place will not, I hope, deny) did understand the meaning of the Hebrew [Berith] as it is used in that Great Covenant with the Israelites (whereof Moses by Gods appointement was the mediator) Much better then any modern Grammarian Critick does. Now our Saviour instructs us that the Covenant, made by Moses betwixt God and the Israelites, was a true and proper Testament. This Cup (saith he in the Institution of the new Covenant) is the new Testament in my blood, which is shed for you. And if this new Covenant (as Ieremie instyles it) were truely and properly a Testament: then questionless the old Covenant which God made with his people in the Institution of the Passeover, and renewed by Moses in the wilderness, was a Testament truely and properly so called, and ought to be translated by the Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. All the Covenants which God made with his people whether concerning the Blessings of this life, or of the life to come were but Introductions, Parcels, or Appendices unto the old and new Testaments.

3. Wherein then doth a Testament properly so called, exceed a naked Covenant? There may be, and usually are, many Covenants wherein there is no Free Donation of either partie Covenanting, but a mutual Reddition of Quid pro Quo, or (as some Civilians speak) Ratio datiet accepti: And such a Covenant or Act of Commutative Justice, cannot properly be conceived betwixt God and man or other creature: None of which are able to give their Creator any thing which was not his own before, or which was not received from him by Free Gift. Every Last Will or Testament includes or presuppo∣seth a Free Donation of some Goods or Lands &c. by the Testator, though often times upon Covenant or subsequent Condition of Executing or per∣forming the Will or Testament: otherwise the Legatee, or Executor, may forfeit his Estate or Interest in the Goods freely Bequeath'd unto him. And of this nature are both the old and new Testaments. Neither of them was Absolute in respect of all that had Interest in the Blessings be queath'd; which, howsoever they were most freely bequeath'd, did tie such as had Interest in them unto performance of such Conditions, as being neglected or contemned by them, might deprive them of the Inheritance or Blessings bequeath'd. The Blessings bequeathed by Moses (Gods Embassador both to Pharaoh and to his people: or, as the Apostle instyles him, the Mediator of the old Testa∣ment) were First, The Deliverance of the sonnes of Jacob from Aegypt; Secondly the inheritance of the Land of Canaan. The Blessings, bequeathed

by the Mediator of the new Testament and ratified by his Blood, were, the Deliverance of mankind from the powers of darkness, and the inheritance of the kingdom of Light.

4. The Parallel between the Institution of the Passover and of the Lords Supper; or of the two Inheritances bequeathed, the one by Moses, the other by Christ, is so plain that it needs no Comment. It only requires a diligent Reader or Hearer; or what is wanting on the ordinary Hearers part may be supplied by every ordinary Catechist before the receiving of the Sa∣cramental Pledges. One point yet remaines more pertinent to the unfold∣ing of our Apostles meaning, [Heb. 9. ver. 15. And for this cause he is the Mediator of the new Testament, that by meanes of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the First Testament, they which are called might receive the promise of Eternal Inheritance. For where a Testament is, there must also of necessitie be the death of the Testator. For a Testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the Testator liveth.] And it is this: As the Israelites did not enter upon the inheritance, or take posse∣ssion of the Land of Canaan, till after Moses the Testator or Mediator of the old Testament, was dead; so neither was the Kingdom of Heaven our ever∣lasting inheritance set open to all or any Beleivers until Christ Jesus, the Testator or Mediator of the new Testament, was crucified, dead, buried, and raysed again to immortal Glorie. Since which time, as is the King, so is the Kingdom or inheritance bequeathed; so is the Testament it self, being sealed by his bloody death; All and every of them, Truely Everlasting.