C H R I S T A T E S T A T 0 R. Book 11. TESTATOR. VII. A Tefl:ator, finally to com– plete, perfecr, and confirm his !aft . Will, doth fign and feal it himfelf; which (according to the Laws and Cuftoms, efpecially of the Ea!l:ern Nations, as divers have obferved) is done by blood ; moreover, the Epiftle to the Hebrews fhews m, that the firft Teftament was dedi– cated by Blood, hence called the Blood of the Teftamem. VIII. ATeftator, by making his )aft Will and Teftament, ufually difannulls any Will made before. IX. A Tefrator makes his ]aft Will and Teftament uhalterable by any other, or by himfelf; as others rnuft not, fo he will not. X. A Teftator- takes care to have his Will made known and publifhed after his Death, that the Legatees may know what Legacies are left and bequeathed to them. PARA LLEL. VII. Jefus Chrift ratified and confirmed his !aft Will and Teftament with his own Blood: Hejhall confirm the Covenant,-he fhall be cut off, Dan. ix. 26, 27. For where a 'l'ejlament is, there muft be the Death of the 'l'eflator, Heb. ix. 16. 'l'bis is my Blood of the New '!'eflament }bed for many, 1 Cor. xi. 25. By Chrift's Death there is a Confirmation of the Truth and Reality of the Covenant, of the Validity -and Authority of it, and laftly, of its Efficacy and Availablenefs to us, Heb. ix. 17. for a Teftament is of force after Men are dead, or her– wife it is of no ftrength whilft the Teftator liveth, VIII. Jefus Chrift difanulled the L aw of the Old Covenant, by his eftablifhing the New; there is a difannulling of the Commandment going be– fore, for the Weaknefs and Unprofirablenefs thereet: Heb. vii. 12, 18. He took away the Firft, that he might eftablifh the Second, Heb. x. 9· IX. Chrift hath made his !aft Will and T efta– merit fo, as never to be altered by himfelf. I will put upon you no other Burtben, but what you have already, Rev. ii. 24, &c. My Covenant will I not break, nor alter the 'l'hing that is gone out my Mouth, Pfal. lxxxix. 24. X. Chrift ordained and commanded his Dif– ciples to publifh his Mind and Will to the Chil– dren of Men. Go into all the World, and preach the Gojpd; that is, to make known the Tefta– ment : He that belie·veth, and is baptized, jhall be Javed; and he that believeth not, Jhall be damned, lvlark xvi. rs, t6. XI. A Teftator oftentimes liXI. Chrilt bath appointed Conditions to be mits the L egacies bequeathed to performed by fome Men, before they can acrually fome of the Legatees, upon ConpoJfefs the Grace and Bleffing promifed, viz. to ditions by them to be performed. attend upon hearing the Word, to pray, believe, _ repent, &c. If thou doft well, jha!t thou not be accepted of, Gen. iv. 7. If thou followejl on to know the Lord, thm Jhalt thou know him, Hof. vi. 3· Seek, and )'e .Jhaltfind, Luke xi. 9· Believe in the Lord Jefus Chrift, and thou .Jhalt be Javed, ADs xvi. 3 I. XII. Chrifi's !aft Will and Teftament is the· godly Man's Tide. Whoever he be, that Chrifl: hath bequeathed fuch and fuch a Blefling or Pro– mife to, he is fure enough of it, from the Nature of the Covenant, and from the Provifion that is made by Chri!l: the Teftator, for the fulfilling and accomplifhing thereof: My People Jhall be willing in the Day of my Power, PJal. ex. 3· Chnfl: XII. The Will of a Teftator gives a fure and firm Title to thofe that he willies well to, and be· fiows Riches on ; they hereby are fecured: For what can be a more full and undeniable Right, than that which is left or bequeathed to a Man, by the !aft Will and Tef– tament of his Friend ? XIII. A T eftator ordains or af– figns Executors in Truft, to fee that his Will be punCtually obferve– ed and fu!filled. makes the Condition eafy ro his Elecr. • XIII. Chrift bath reGgned this great Truft of fulfilling of his Will, into the Hands of the Fa– ther, John x. 29. and the Holy-Ghoft, who are not only faithfu l Executors of this his Teftament, but able to fupply the Wants of every one, and helps all thofe to whom the Covenant doth belon~. Holy Father, keep th~ough thine own Name thofe whom tbou haft given me, John xvu. 1 r. I wtll pray the_Father, and _ he foal/Jmdyou another. Comforter, who.Jhall abide u;it,h you.Jor ever, John XlV. I 6. . XI V. ATeftator bem<> dead, no XIV. Chn!l: s Wrll and Tell:ament bemg conMan can attempt to ab~ogare or firmed and ratified by his Blood, as he will not alter any Part or Thing that i~ in alter it himfelf, much lefs may any Man or Angel prefume
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