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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.
"
They
were
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
these
we
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
of
duty,
and
to
combat
with every
opposi-
tion.
It
is
from
these
that
.
christians
derive
courage in
their
dying
moments,
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
,