ew Covenant," and as one of the covenants of promise,[453] is
represented by the last inspired writers as extended, both in regard to
its blessings and its duties, to the latest times.[454]

And, by some of the evangelists and apostles, the Covenant of God is
exhibited as a testament. By them the dispensations of Divine mercy to
men, are represented as being each both a covenant and a testament. By
them are applied such representations to each of the dispensations--both
to the former dispensations, and to the last of them. The conclusion,
therefore, to which we are brought by them is, that each, as a
testament, is essentially an exhibition of a corresponding covenant, or
a given dispensation of one covenant. The truth is, that the Covenant of
God, under each dispensation, includes in it a testament, or that every
dispensation of grace, whether in former times, or in the last times,
viewed as a testament, is a covenant. Every testament is a covenant, and
each of those dispensations is at once a testament and the Covenant of
God. Take first the present dispensation. A testament, like every
covenant, has a stipulation, or promise and demand; in both, good is
offered, and duty required. In this dispensation, the blessings of God's
favour are offered, and obedience to the law of Christ is required; it
has, therefore, _one_ character, both of a covenant and of a testament.
A testament, like every covenant, when acceded to, has a re-stipulation,
or engagement corresponding to the stipulation. In the present
dispensation, when the overtures of Divine grace are acceded to, there
is tendered an acceptance of Christ and all his benefits, and the
promise of obedience in dependence on his strength. It has, therefore,
_another_ mark common to both a testament and a covenant. A testament
and a covenant have alike a seal or ratification. The seal of the
testament is not valid till the death of the testator; the overtures of
Divine mercy were ratified or sealed by the death of Christ. The present
dispensation has, therefore, the _third_ and last mark both of a
testament and of a covenant. It has, consequently, all the
characteristics of a testament, and of a dispensation of the Covenant of
Grace. It must, therefore, now appear how the idea of the present
dispensation being a covenant is contemplated in the New Testament, even
while it is described as a testament. The coincidence between a
covenant, and a testament as a particular case of