Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Sodom. The victory over thefe kings, and the recapture of Lot, with the fpoils of Sodom, were, at once, a prelude of Chrift's victory over the ferpent and his feed, and a confirmation of former promifes. The covenant which God made with Abram was a renovation of the promise made to Adam, as we have feen; and as this victory prefigured that of the Meffiah, fo it was a confirmation of that promife. By this conqueft Abram was made to fee, that God would add one bleffing unto another unto him; while he poured out his wrath and curfe upon his enemies. And covenant-renovation was feasonable at this time, as it afforded Abram an opportunity to testify his gratitude unto the great deliverer, and affured him of divine protection from the rage of man.

3. THIS Covenant-renovation took place after Abram had been bleffed by Melchifedec, the priest of the Moft High God. It is befide our purpose to recite and refute all the vain opinions invented concerning this illuftrious perfon. That which appears to me to be the juft one is, That he was a man of the fame fpecies with ourfelves; but his defcent and fucceffion are wifely concealed, that he might prefigure him who is from everlasting to everlasting, who hath also an unchangeable priesthood. The fpecial act of the priest's office, which Melchifedec performed on this occafion was, his bleffing Abram. Now, this bleffing was

an

an eminent accomplishment of a particular promife in a foregoing covenant. This bleffing was a figure of that pronounced and bestowed by the High Priest of our profession. And as the patriarch was bleffed with a partial accomplishment of the former promises, fo he had renewed calls unto covenant-dedication. Upon the whole, we may conclude, that times of great finning on our part, and gracious deliverances on the part of God, as well as of begun accomplishment of his promifes, ought to be feafons of folemn covenanting.

THIRDLY, I fhall now confider the CoNFIRMATIONS of thefe promifes. "And he faid (namely the Lord Jehovah) unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a fhegoat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtle dove, and a young pigeon. And he took unto him all thefe, and divided them in the midft, and laid each piece one against another; but the birds divided he And when the fowls came down upon the carcafes, Abram drove them away. And when the fun was going down, a deep fleep fell upon Abram; and lo, an horror of great darknefs fell upon him *." To this account we might have prefixed Mofes's introduction to this tranfaction: "The word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying †." And

not.

* Gen. xv. 9-12. + Gen. xv, I.

we might fubjoin what he further adds unto it: "And it came to pafs, when the fun went down, and it was dark: Behold a smoking furnace and a burning lamp that paffed between those pieces." Thefe verfes exhibit not only the ratification of this covenant, but alfo the origin of that rite which gave occa fion to the phrafe, to CUT A COVENANT; wherefore it deferves very particular confideration. And it may not be improper-1. To obferve a few things concerning those animals which were taken for a fign.-2. Concerning the rites obferved in ufing them.-3. The ap pearances made at this time.-And then enquire, How these things confirmed this Cove

nant.

I. I AM to obferve fome things concerning the animals which, by God's appointment, were taken for a fign; namely, a heifer of three years old, a fhe-goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old; with a turtle dove, and a young pigeon. From the manner of expreffion used in the facred text, fome expofitors have concluded †, that Abram was com manded

* Gen. xv. 17.

Such as Onkelos, Jarchi, and Kimchi, among the Jews; and fome Chriftians feem not greatly averfe from it. But, for the reafon above affigned, it appears they are mistaken: For, though the plural be fometimes used by the Hebrews for fingular, yet the fingular is never

ufed

manded to take three of each fpecies of animals; but that their number is not all expreffed. But the conclufion appears to be ill founded: For the terms heifer, goat, and ram, are all of them in the fingular number; whereas, if three of each kind had been intended, the words would certainly have been plural. Thefe animals were probably fixed on at this time, because God intended afterwards to appoint the fame fpecies to be used under the Ceremonial Law: Now, the confirmation of this covenant was that law in miniature; as Abram had all the fubjects of that law in his loins when he offered thefe facrifices. The four footed beasts were three years old, and the pigeons young ones: The pigeons being fitteft for use when young; and quadrupedes are in their highest perfection, in eastern countries, in their third year. God ftill requires of his people to honour him with the beft things he has bestow

ed on them.

II. WE may now attend unto the Rites which were ufed in the confirmation of this covenant: And two things are ascribed to Abram.

ufed for the plural, unless when ufed indefinitely, as the word PEOPLE in all languages: But here the facred hiftorian speaks of a definite number. Moreover, it is the ufual ftyle of the Hebrews to exprefs the term of age in this manner. Vide Bocha.t. Hier. Lib. II. cap. xxviii.

1. HE divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another; but the birds divided he not. Though it does not appear to us, that Abram received any divine commiffion to divide the beatts in twain; yet may we not charge him with will-worship: For he might know that it was the mind of God, either by immediate infpiration, as he was a prophet; or he might do it, as it was the ufual mode of using facrifices deftined for covenant-confirmation. And it is not improbable, that, as many facrifices were offered by the patriarchs, which are not recorded, fo

many foederal tranfactions obtained which are not registrated likeways; though thofe are revealed that contain the moft material alterations of the state of religion. Many learned men have difplayed abundance of claffical learning, in fhewing that this rite was borrowed from the Church of God, for the confirmation of civil covenants among the heathen nations*. "But the birds divided he not." As the reasons why he did not divide them are uncertain, the conjectures of the learned, on this matter, are various. The first reafon, to me, appears to be, because thefe rites were an epitome of the Ceremonial Law; and when that law was afterwards completed, the divifion of birds was exprefsly prohibited. But,

* Oweni Theologumen. Lib. III. cap. i. Witf. Oecon. Fœd. Lib. I. cap. i. Heidegger. Hiftor. Patr. Tom. I. Exercit. ii. Thef. 19.

« AnteriorContinuar »