were evidently not those of a mere political code; but to convey religious instruction, to testify of Christ, to give us hope, life, wisdom and salvation. Concerning them, Peter says, "We have also a more sure word of "prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as "unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day "dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts."(i) Paul says, "From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures

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[of the Old Testament] which are able to make thee "wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ "Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, "and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correc❝tion, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of "God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all "good works."(j) John says, "The testimony of Jesus "is the spirit of prophecy."(k) In addressing the Jews, our Saviour said, "Search the scriptures; for in them 66 ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they "which testify of me." "For had ye believed Moses, 66 ye would have believed me, for he wrote of me."(7) When the rich man in hell besought the patriarch in heaven, to send an extraordinary messenger to his five brethren, "Abraham saith unto him, they have Moses "and the prophets; let them hear them." When the rich man repeated his request that one might arise from the dead, Abraham replied, "If they hear not Moses "and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, "though one rose from the dead. (m) By the mouth of

(i) 2 Pet. i. 19. compare verses 20. 21. (j) 2 Tim. iii. 15-17.

(k) Rev. xix. 10.

(m) Luke xvi. 27-31.

(1) John v. 39. 46,

Ezekiel, one of those prophets, God says, "I gave them

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my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which, "if a man do, he shall even live in them. Moreover, "also, I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between "me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord "that sanctify them."(n) The Psalmist says, "For he “established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law ❝ in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they "should make them known to their children, that the "generation to come might know them, even the chil"dren which should be born, who should arise and "declare them to their children, that they might set "their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, "but keep his commandments."(o) On the declaration of the Psalmist, that "he established a testimony in "Jacob," the great Baptist commentator speaks as follows, viz. "This is established in the house of Jacob, "(as the Targum ;) in the church, which is the pillar "and ground of truth, among the saints and people of "God, to whom it is delivered, and by whom it will be "kept, and with whom it will remain throughout all 766 ages, for it is the everlasting gospel." It is pleasing to find such high Baptist authority as Dr. Gill, admitting that the Old Testament oracles contained the gospel, and that this testimony was committed to Jacob as a church, as the saints and people of God.

(n) Ez, xx. 11, 12.

(0) Psalm lxxviii. 5-8

POINT II.

The Jews had the ORDINANCES of a visible Church of God.

"Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adop❝tion, and the glory, and the covenants, [among which "that with Abraham is prominent,] and the giving of "the law, and the service of God, and the promises; "whose are the fathers, [among whom Abraham holds a "conspicuous place,] and of whom, as concerning the """flesh, Christ [the substance of all the ordinances] came, "who is over all, God blessed forever."(p) Long before the transactions at Sinai, the covenant with Abraham recognized the ordinance of circumcision." And "God said unto Abraham, thou shalt keep my covenant, "therefore, thou and thy seed after thee, in their gene"rations. This is my covenant which ye shall keep "between me and you, and thy seed after thee; every "man-child among you shall be circumcised."(q) In the wilderness God gave them the manna which was a daily spiritual feast. "For the bread of God is he "which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto "the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore 66 give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am "the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never 66 hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never "thirst."(r) On the words "evermore give us this bread," Dr. Gill observes, "but to such who are true "believers in Christ, who have tasted that the Lord is

(1) Rom. ix. 4, 5. (9) Gen. xvii. 9, 10. (r) John vi. 33-35.

"gracious, Christ, the true manna and bread of God, is "all things to them; nor do they desire any other: they "taste every thing that is delightful, and find every "thing that is nourishing in him." Paul connects this with the stream which quenched their thirst. " And ❝ did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink "the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spi❝ritual rock which followed them, and that Rock was "Christ."(s) On this passage, Dr. Gill remarks that "Christ may be compared to the rock," "in the support of his church," "as he is the foundation of his church and every believer," "as the foundation of his church, abiding forever." Now compare the text and the Baptist commentary. The Apostle informs us that the Jews, long before the Christian dispensation, were supported by the spiritual Rock: the Commentator declares that those who were thus supported, stand in relation to Christ, as HIS CHURCH; and the expression HIS CHURCH is thrice repeated in a few lines. If there be meaning in language, this points out the Jews before the New Testament day, as the church of Christ.

But my Opponent professes to produce New Testament authority, to shew that the ordinances of the Jews were not such as should belong to the spiritual and heavenly religion of the true God, but that they were worldly and carnal ordinances. Paul says, "Then ve"rily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine "service, and a worldly sanctuary." "Which stood "only in meats and divers washings, and carnal ordi

(s) 1 Cor. x. 3, 4.

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"" not

so, 66

46 nances imposed on them, until the time of reforma"tion."(t) To support him here, he adduces the translation and commentary of the learned Dr. Macknight, a celebrated Pedobaptist. It would be well for him to examine his notes, and see whether this is not a mistaken reference. Although the Dr. had a tender regard for almost all descriptions of error, he does not support my Opponent, on the point for which he is cited. The Dr. tells us that this worldly sanctuary was called "because it was a holy place on earth, and made of "materials furnished from the earth, but because it was a representation of the world or universe." It may surely be all this, and yet a proper sanctuary for the worship of the true God by his visible church. As for these carnal ordinances, he calls them "ordinances con"cerning the flesh," "respecting the purifying of the 66 body," "literally, righteousnesses of the flesh, things "which make the flesh, not the spirit righteous." These are his own words, in his translation, commentary, and notes. These words are correct, even where they oppose Dr. Magee's opinion that, in some cases, the Jewish sacrifices make a real satisfaction to divine justice. On these and the various ordinances connected with them, I believe, with Dr. Gill, "that they were all 66 types and figures of Christ, and had their fulfilment in "him."(u) He shews that Philo, the Jew, explained this worldly sanctuary as Macknight does; yet surely Philo believed the Jews to be a church. In opposition to them both, however, the Dr. says, "It was rather

(t) Hebr. ix. 1. 10.

(u) On Hebr. ix. 1.

K