Page:A Treatise of the Covenant of Grace (John Ball).djvu/136

 124

darknesse, clouds, and thicke darknesse, Deut. 4. 11. and from this, it may be, the Law is called fiery, Deut. 33. 2. The Prophets use the like words to signifie the Majestie of God, Psal. 18. 9, 10, 12, 14, & 97. 2, 4. with clouds and smoake God often manifested his glorious presence to his people, Exod. 40. 34, 35. 2 Chron. 5. 24. & 6. 1. & 7. 1, 2. Isa. 6. 4. Revel. 15. 8. And as Princes publish their decrees with the sound of the Trumpet: So God to his ancient people revealed the pleasure of his will, and gave answers unto them in thunderings and voices, Joh. 12. 28. Rev. 4. 5. & 6. 1. & 10. 3. & 8. 5. And hence (it may be) the two reverend Ambassadours of his voice and divine Maiestie, are called the sons of thunder, Mark 3. 17. This is noted as one difference betwixt the old and new Testament, ''Ye are not come unto the Mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blacknesse and darknesse, and tempest, and the sound of a Trumpet, and the voice of words, which voice they that heard, entreated that the word should not be spoken unto them any more. For they could not endure that which was commanded. And if so much as a beast touch the Mountaine, it shall be stoned or thrust thorow with a dart. And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly feare and quake. But ye are come unto Mount Sion, and unto the City of the living God, and the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of Angels, to the generall assembly and Church of the first-borne, which are written in Heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the soules of just men made perfect''. It may be hereby God would testifie his anger and displeasure against sinne, not as yet expiated by the bloud of the Messiah, and warne the Israelites to deny themselves, stand in awe of his Highnesse, and cleave inseparably unto the word of his promise.

If any man shall thinke, that Christ the second person in Trinity to be incarnate, who is called the Angel of the Covenant, or Messenger of the Covenant, (scil. by whom it was sent unto Moses) Mal. 3. 1. and the Angel of his presence. Exod. 23. 20, 21. and 33. 14. Isai. 63. 9. did deliver the Law unto Moses, I will not gain-say it: because it is expressely said, that Moses was in the Church in the wildernesse with the Angel, who spake to him in the Mount Sinai. Act. 7. 37. who is called Christ, 1 Cor. 10. 9. And this Covenant of Grace was made in Christ, the promised seed: