Genesis Vol 3.pdf - College Press

GENESIS
were all equally necessary, and they follow each other as
necessary results one of the other. The seal came to ratify
the creation, the purchase, in demonstration of the fulfill-
ment of the promise, and the covenant, in order that the
people might also pledge themselves by covenant. By this
the people became cemented and organized into a nation.
As such they needed laws and institutions for their govern-
ment and welfare as a people; and as the people of God,
religious institutions for the various purposes which God
had in view with that people.
It will be observed that this covenant made with
Abraham’s descendants arose under that which covenanted
them as the peculiar people of God, and was, consequently,
entirely Jewish. The covenant of Mt. Sinai was made with
that people, and the institutions subsequently given, were
given to that people, and to no other. The Jewish insti-
tution, in all its entirety, was as verily circumcised as were
the people for whose benefit it was ordained. It was as
completely isolated from all other religions and peoples,
as were that people. Hence, it had no connection with
any other, nor relation, except that of opposition.
The covenant stipulated and embraced no more than
did the promise under which it was made. It was a ratifi-
cation, or acceptance on their part, of the stipulations of
the promise. It was the covenant by which God renewed
his promise to be their God, and by it the people accepted
the offer, and covenanted to be the people of God. This
covenant bound both parties to their pledge-God to be
their God, and them to be his obedient people. It did not,
and could not stipulate and grant more than did the
promise; hence, all these were temporal in their nature.
This completed all that God had to provide for that people.
Henceforth there was naught for either party to do, but
to carry out the provisions of the covenant which formu-
lated the promise.
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