242 Chrlj} the Propfget _ ding (a fopernatural one) that we may kl!ow him that is true, I John v. 20. And whofoever fhall founder... ftand it, muft be all taught ofGod. John, ,vi. 45· that is~ of Jefus Chrifi, Ver. 46. So he is by the Father confiitute Interpreter~ and great Teacherof the my- , fiery of the covenant; .and all the children 'of the eo... venant mufi be his difciples, and lear~ of him. Now Chrifl:'s adminifl:ration of the covenant, as the Prophet thereof, may be taken up in thefe three things following. . Firfl, His 1ntimating and offering the covenant to finners, by his 'WOrd, for bringing them perfonally ~nto it. This he did from the time ofAdam's fall, is ' now doing and will do even unto the end of ·time, that the myflery of God !hall be finijhed. He began the Old Tefiament difpenfation · thereof, in perfon. Appearing in human fhape, with his own mouth he .gave the fidl: notice of the covenant, ·that ever there was in the world, and made the firft offer of it, in paradife, Gen. iit 8, 15. He carried it on by pro• phets and ordinary teachers, whom he commi!Iionat· ed for that effeCt, a,nd furnifi1ed with gifts for the work. The former of thefe he en1 ployed to writ~ in hi~ name, as well as to fpeak therein, in that matter, and by both he fpoke to finners, intimating and offer~ iag the covenant unto them by their means: whether thro' the word written or fpoken. And thus he man.. aged that w9rk, to the falvation of thofe who believ– ed, in the patriarchal ages before and after the flood; and all along the time of the Jewijh church, fro~' Mofts to the end of t~at difpenfation. Then he alfo began the new-Tefiament difpenfation, . in his own perfon. Having by his incarnation become,man, he applied himfelf to this work. Tho' he ·was born King •I the Je·ws, Mat. ii. 2. and many of them would have had him to have mount~d their throne, John vi. 15. Yet he chofe rather to appe~r in the charaCter of a Prophet, and be take himfelf unto the \vork of the ' 'mini-
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