SE11.32,. II2 } 1140 CHRiS;TYAIv D:ISPERSATION. a/ Again, the apostle has taught us to look upon all the promises, as sealed to believers by the blood of the Son of God, and secured to christians by the resurrection and, exaltation of their Mediator ; for the Father bath put all power into his hand, and he has taken possession of the heavenly inheritance in our name ; " Because I live, ye .shall live also ;" John xiv. l;g. . Yet farther, the New Testament confirms all the best promises of the Old, and claims them for itself; for they were eminently made with a design for the days of the Messiah, as many of them expressly inform us. New hearts and new spirits, taking away iniquity, and remem- bering sins no more, writing the law in the heart, and the dwelling of God amongst them, and their assurance of not departing from God, are such promises as the pro- phets Jeremiah and Ezekiel more directly pronounced on the subjects of the kingdom of the Messiah. And there is a new light cast upon them in the gospel, which teaches plain christians to make use of them, and apply them to their own consolation and joy. " Theywere all written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope;." Rom. xv. 4. Thus we christians become much richer in divine pro- mises, than all the ancients, having a common interest in all the most valuable ones of the Old Testament, as well as a peculiar property in those of the New. What an invaluable and everlasting treasure are " these exceed- inggreat and precious promises which God has given us in Christ Jesus ? It is by thesewe are made partakers of the divine nature, that is, the image.of God, and by these . we are enabled to escape the corruption that is,come into this degenerate world through lust ;" 2 Pet. i. 4. It is by these we are quickened when we are slothful, we are suppórtecj when we are sinking, we are encouraged to run the race ofduty, and to combat with every opposi- tion. It is from these that . christians derivecourage in their dyingmoments, and they triumph over death itself, the last enemy, when a promise sets the prize of eternal life and the crown of glory justbefore. them. Be thou faithful to the death, and I will give thee 'a crown .of life;" Rev. ii. t0. And how are all the invitations of grace bathe Old Testament animated by the Son of G-od come in they ,
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