no preludia: this was made long after with some part of mankind sinners, in Mount Sinai, and had many preludia: that bound to obedience due by the Law of nature, this to the Ceremonies also: in that the injoyment of life in Paradise was promised, here in the Land of Canaan: the Covenant of nature leads to Christ by accident, as it shewes what man doth owe unto God, and what punishment remaines if he pay not his debt of duty: the old Covenant leads unto Christ by it selfe, for that is the true and proper scope thereof, God exacting his due of man for none other end, but that the creature convicted of his imbecillity, should flie to Christ. The Covenant of Nature leanes upon the Creation and generall conservation; the old Covenant upon the Election of Israel, his deliverance out of Egypt, and conservation in the Land of Canaan.
The Covenant of Nature was written in the heart; but Gal. 4.24.the old Covenant did beget to servitude, and so did compell and restraine by force, as when we leave undone what we would doe, or doe what we would not for feare: that is eternall, this temporary, written in Tables of stone; The thirst after Christ which the Covenant of Nature doth stirre up in man, is allayed by the application of Christ either in the Promise, or in the Gospell: but the thirst which the old Covenant stirred up, could not be allayed, but by the comming of Christ in the flesh.
With the Covenant of Grace it agreeth, that the Author of both is God, both contracted with man a sinner: both doth shew sinne: both restraine from sinne: both leade to Christ: both the Symbole of the Church: both made by a Mediatour, and life promised in both. They differ in these, that in the Covenant subservient, God is considered as reproving sinne, and approving righteousnesse: in the Covenant of Grace, as pardoning sinne, and renewing man in righteousnesse; the stipulation of the old Covenant is, Doe this and live: Gal. 3. 12. Of the New, Beleeve, and thou shalt not come into judgement. Joh. 3. 18. The Old Testament was added to the Promise of Grace, which went before. Gal. 3. 16, 17. and shewes sinne not primarily, but by experience of humane weaknesse in keeping Covenant. But the Covenant of Grace doth this primarily, for it teacheth expressely that all men are sinners. Rom. 3. 9, 23. and that his happinesse doth consist in the remission of sinnes. Rom. 4. 6. The old Covenant did restrain fromsinne
