V. 13.— In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. We have had occasion to notice how much instruction the Apostles deduce from words and statements in the Scriptures which we should be very apt to overlook. For instance, from Psalms 95:11; and from the account of Melchisedec, chap. 7:1-3. Here we find another instance of the same thing. God had promised a new covenant, and from this the Apostle draws the palpable conclusion of the abolition of the first, or old covenant. Should it be asked, Is it worthy the character of the unchangeable God to establish a temporary dispensation? Does He not know the end from the beginning? Certainly He does. But in the establishment and abolition of the Sinai covenant, there was no change of purpose. The Mosaic economy was intended as an introduction of the new covenant; and, instead of its establishment and abolition being derogatory to the wisdom of God, like every other part of the Divine providence it is a striking manifestation of His manifold wisdom, and affords the most satisfactory evidence of the truth of revelation. Had the Scriptures consisted only of one part, it would naturally have been committed to one class; and it might have been alleged that it had been tampered with, and the recorded events been made to suit the predictions which went before. But this cavil is completely cut off. By choosing the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as His peculiar people, of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came, and committing to them the living oracles which testify of Christ, and afterwards rejecting them on account of their unbelief; taking the kingdom of heaven from them, and giving it to those who, by faith, were spiritually united to Christ; to whom the New Testament was committed; every possibility of collusion was prevented, and an unimpeachable proof given that the prophecies which went before were not the word of man, but that holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost; and not only so, but all the burdensome rites of Jewish worship, and, indeed, the whole history of that singular people, had their fulfilment in the kingdom of God. In promising a new covenant, the first was made old; for when anything is said to be new in comparison of another thing, that must be old in comparison of it; and it is self-evident that what decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. We have seen that a new and better covenant was made known to Israel by Moses, a covenant of which the token was not circumcision of the flesh, but of the heart, which is explained by Jeremiah, of writing His law in their hearts, and being to them a God in a higher sense than He was to Israel. Jeremiah 31:33. The same thing was made known by the prediction that the Lord would raise up to them a prophet like unto Moses, to whom they must hearken, on pain of condign punishment. Deut. xviii. 18, 19. Now we are taught that "there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.” Deuteronomy 34:10. This was fulfilled in the manifestation of the Son of God. Acts 3:22-23. Thus we find the abrogation of the Mosaic economy clearly and repeatedly made known to Israel. Indeed, how could it be otherwise, when the blood with which the Sinai covenant was ratified was that of bulls and goats, which can only sanctify to the purifying of the flesh? Now, as all flesh is grass, and all human glory like the flower of grass, so all the splendour of the Jewish worship, being carnal and earthly, necessarily gave place to that kingdom which cannot be moved, and, like its great Author, is the same yesterday, today, and for ever. The everlasting doors have been thrown open for the entrance of the King of Glory. He has for ever sat down at the right hand of the majesty of the throne in the heavens, and is engaged in preparing mansions for all his blood- bought sheep, whom He is successively receiving into everlasting habitations; and when the mystery of God shall be finished, they shall all be made perfect in one, and, enriched with the spoils of death and the grave, shall surround His exalted throne through the revolving ages of eternity, reigning with Him in the new heavens and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.