The new earth, or, The true Magna Charta of the past ages, and of the ages or world to come: called The Jews commonweal. Written by an unworthy witness of the truth of the great God, John Brayne.

Third General.

I. That though in the 4 last books of Moses is an oft repetition of the Statutes and Judgements, yet usually there is inserted in each of them some weighty distinction, and not without great reason repeated: which, because of my necessity, and brevity of time of writing, with my other imployments, I have omitted to observe, leaving it to your selves to do, as being the sole object of your study and rule of life to live by.

II. That as in the beginning God divided government, commit∣ting some to Moses in the judicials, and other to Aaron in the cere∣monials,

1. Moses government in the law is not destroyed, Mat. 5.17. and cap. 23.2.

2. Aarons Priesthood, and with that his government, ceaseth; and in the place thereof, Jesus Christ, by the Fathers appointment, is set up. Heh. 7.11, 12, 15, 16.

3. So that now as first there was Moses and Aaron so now there is to be, to the end of the World, Moses and Christ, to rule and go∣vern the World by.

• 1. Moses in the World or State, under the covenant of works, also the servant of Jesus Christ, ruling for him, because he is not of he World.
• 2. Christ in the Church, among the Saints or believers, under the new covenant of grace, among whom the Lord him∣self is, being one of them.

III. Those words, Exod. 20.2. I am the Lord thy God, cannot be said of, nor applyed to, any in that way as the words are deli∣vered, but to those,

1. That have covenanted with God in the way of the law, as the Israelites did.

2. That are under the rule and government of the commands, the Statutes and Judgements contained in that law.

Object. That was spoken only of those God brought out of Egypt, and concerns not us.

Resp. As the Jews were under the bondage of Egypt, and were restrained from Gods service, and were then not in covenant with him, nor had not his law to judge by; so we have been under Anti∣christ,

in Babel, and have been restrained from Gods service, and were then not in covenant with the Lord, as they were not; nor is his law set up as a rule to judge by among us: so that when God shall have brought us out of Babel, and set up his laws, and brought us into covenant with himself, according to Moses, it shall then be as binding to us, that God brought us out of Babel, as to them, that he brought them out of Egypt, Jer. 16.14.15. They shall no more say, The Lord liveth that brought them out of Egypt, but out of the north countryes, Jer. 23.7, 8, 9.

Note. Under the first covenant God was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 under the second, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Hos. 2.16.

In the one, God is as Abram to Hagar, whose son she had by him was to be cast out under the Gospel-estate; which was fulfilled in the casting out of unbelievers from the society of Saints, they being not to inherit the promise, that is Jesus Christ, Gal. 4.30. which work was then done, and shall be most certainly done againe in this age of ours. In the other, God is as Abraham to Sarah, whose son Isaac being born of the free-woman, signifieth the state of the Church under the Gospel, under the name of Jerusalem from a∣bove, which are a society of believers joyned to the Lord Jesus in the fellowship of the Gospel, in whom the better promises are con∣ferred, and made over to the Saints, born after the Spirit, Gal. 4.30.

Conclusion. The covenant of works was after the covenant made with Abraham of grace; but being renewed in Christ, it is called new, and the new old, Gal. 3.17. The now first covenant, though it hath not the best, yet, it hath many excellent promises necessary for the life annexed to it; which we wanting, bodily are reduced to great necessities; and the breaking thereof brought ruine and deso∣lation suddainly to the Jews.

And though at this time it be not in esteem among men, yet the prophesie of Isaiah 42.19, 21. incourageth me, that after Gods servant comes, who the blind world accounts blind, though God saith he is his servant, and perfect, and which the Scripture before clearly shews was to come after the grand Apostacy of Antichrist; I say, after he comes, the Lord will magnifie the law, make it great, though all the world have endeavoured to make nothing of it, or of no use at all a long time, when they shall againe judge by it, and

punish by it, and rule by it, &c. yea, and more, the Lord will make it honourable also; they shall never set up traditions in the place thereof again. O Parliament, This God will do; but whe∣ther God will do this by you or not, and honour you herein or not, I do not know: you see it is my desire, if it be his will, ye are witnes∣ses, and God also, that the work may be yours, who have done much of the work of the Lord in the Nation; that the honour here, and reward thereof hereafter, may be yours: and let me speak freely to you thus, that if you will not do it, God in few yeers will not want them that will do it; upon whom, and whose po∣sterity, the blessings of God and the Nation will fall in great abun∣dance, who did that in their generation for them, was never done; it being then, and never untill then, fulfilled, that of Paul, Rom. 10.19. I will provoke you to jealousie by them that are not a people; that is, some heathens, vvhich none never yet did do, should, as the Jews, nationally covenant with God in the covenant of Moses; with which the Jews, as awaked, begin to thinke that people Ja∣cob-like steal away, or God gives away his birthright from him: the not doing whereof, delayes their call. Now what Nation in all the world is like to do this, as England! O that it might be offered them who would not refuse it.