ture of all flesh that is upon the earth. And God faid unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have eftablished between me and all flesh that is upon the earth." The Spirit of God alfo alludes unto this fign, both in the Old and New Teftament; and more than infinuates, that there is in it a reprefenta tion of the bleffings of the New Covenant. The rain-bow is the reflection of the fun-beams through the clouds: In like manner, the Sun of Righteoufnefs has made the fplendor of his glory break through all the black clouds of fufferings and wrath which were spread over his face. He makes bright clouds of the darkest difpenfations of his providence. Says a pious author, "See how the frowning clouds now fimile with the glorious colours of the rain-bow, the cheerful token of God's covenant. Such is the glorious transformation of all our afflictions, by Jefus Chrift, O ye heirs of righteoufnefst!" As the clouds of wrath fpent all their force on the Sun of Righteoufnefs; fo his glory broke through them, and the fplendor of it fecures his people against every future deluge.The horns of this bow are turned towards the earth, and the back of it towards heaven; nor are there any arrows in it, intimating, that, though it be a warlike inftrument, yet it is not bent against men, neither has it any arrows in it to cut them Gen. ix. 12-I 7. + M'Ewen on the Types. off. off. Now God proclaims peace on earth, and good will towards men, instead of preparing the inftruments of death for them, or placing his fhafts against them. He looks upon this bow as a memorial of his covenant; " I will look on it, that I may remember the everlafting covenant." In like manner, he looks on the Redeemer, and remembers his promise to his people through him. Hence, the Church prays, Behold, O God, our Shield; and look on the face of thine anointed *." And the believes, that, for his fake, He will remember his Covenant †. FOURTHLY, The OCCASIONS of this Transaction must be considered in the next place. It was made about an hundred and twenty years after the former covenant with Noah. And that space of time was filled up with very wonderful providences, both of mercy and judgment. Thefe afforded occafions for this Govenant. The occafions were,. 1. SUCH as originated from the former fœderal tranfaction. The former covenant was a teftimony against the fenfuality and violence of the old world; and this was a profecution of that teftimony. Tho' the sturdy rebels, who peopled the old world, were washed away by * Pfal. lxxxiv. 9. The Rev. Mr Ebenezer Erfkine's Sermon on Rev. iv. 3. the the flood; yet, the feeds of rebellion against God were far from being washed away from mankind. This covenant, then, was requifite, that the advantages gained by the former might not be totally loft: That the Church might not be split on that fame rock which proved fo fatal to the old world: That a teftimony to the holiness of God, as directly contrary to their wicked measures, both in its nature and operations, might not be fuffered to fall unto the ground. The former covenant was extremely proper in view of an approaching flood; but not quite fo fuitable unto the circumftances of thofe who were but just delivered from one : Wherefore, if the fame defign be carried on which had been advanced by the preceding tranfaction, covenant-renovation became highly expedient. 2. SUCH as originated in the care and love of God about his Church. The horrors of a flood were unspeakably great; and the dread of it might be ready to haunt, even the very perfons who escaped it. But, that they might not be swallowed up with too much terror, he was pleafed to afford them a fresh proof of his paternal regard, by taking them of new into covenant with himself. They might justly have dreaded, that their fins would draw down a fecond deluge, had not this covenant fecured them against any fuch difafter. As the former covenant took rife from Noah's finding grace in the eyes of the Lord; fo this one originated in the fame fource. "And the Lord fmelled a fweet favour (viz. in the facrifice of his Son, prefigured by that of Noah): And the Lord faid in his heart," &c. The acceptance of this facrifice was a clear proof that God was gracious; and this covenant a further evidence of his grace. 3. SUCH as took rife from the circumftances of the covenanters themselves. They had met with a special deliverance at God's hand; therefore, it was proper they fhould take this opportunity to testify their gratitude for the fame. Covenanting is a grateful return for mercies received Wherefore, great deliverances call aloud for covenant-renovation. A fimple repetition of former covenant-engagements could not fit their circumftances: The former covenant was adapted unto a fuffering lot, whereas the Church was now in a profperous condition. Thus, God has been pleased to display his wifdom in fitting his revelation to that particular ftate of the Church on which it was beftowed; and to difpofe and enable her to correfpondent returns. FIFTHLY, We may now fubjoin a few REFLECTIONS on what has been obferved. 1. WE may learn the abfurdity of confining the Noachic Covenant unto temporal things. It is readily granted, that is was among the darkest of a dark economy of grace; but it cannot from thence follow, that it was no gracious difpenfation at all. As Noah's faith faw through a flood of water to a flood of wrath; fo it faw deliverance from the latter, in deliverance from the former likeways. And what did he confider as the meritorious caufe of this deliverance? What but the righteoufnefs of faith? By this believing profpect he became an HEIR OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS fenfe Christ and |