Genesis Vol 3.pdf - College Press

THE ABRAHAMIC PROMISE
This consideration or means was his birth. He was the
son of Abraham according to the flesh, and entitled,
consequently, only to the rights and privileges guaranteed
by the covenant ordained to grant and secure these. He
could claim only under the stipulated grants of his covenant.
Under other and different covenants, and made
with other people, he could, of course, have no claim or
right whatever. His circumcision effected all it was designed
to effect, and meant more than the Jew was willing
to accept. It cut him off from all the rest of the world,
and also from all other covenants of God, but according
to the flesh. His circumcision bound him down to the
provisions and obligations of that covenant, and confined
him within its prescribed limits. What claim, therefore
can a Jew have to the grants and blessings of a covenant
that has no special reference to him whatever, and that
was not made with him as a Jew? The European had as
well claim equal rights with the American under the
constitution of the United States, The Jew was the chosen
of God only according to the flesh, and entitled only to
blessings of his covenant. He is not the chosen of God
according to the spirit, or the seed of Isaac according to
the promise, and hence he can have no right with those
who are.
There are four things necessary to make a nation the
peculiar and chosen people of God, and all these obtained
in the case of the descendants of Abraham according to
the flesh. These things are, 1. A creation.
This we have
in the birth of Isaac. His conception was a miracle, and
hence a creation. 2. A seal. This we have in circumcision.
3. A purchase. This we have in the deliverance of this
people from Egypt. And 4.. A covenant. And this we
have in the covenant made before Mt. Sinai. All these
are peculiar and consistent, and perfectly harmonious with
all that God has promised, or has done for, the Jews, They
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