law in their
inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and
they shall be my people." Signally contrasted with the hearts of those
of whom it is said, "Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone,
lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts
hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets," the heart thus promised
as a new covenant blessing, is essentially a new heart. Unlike the
adamant stone, resisting the engraver's chisel, but made soft to receive
impressions of truth, it sustains the character of an heart of
flesh--substituted for the former, the stony heart. And those blessed
with it have had realized to them the promise, "I will give them one
heart, and I will put a new spirit within you."

Being a new Covenant blessing, the new heart is a new Covenant sign. A
holy priesthood are a people set apart to the service of God. A new
heart is the distinguishing feature of those so set apart. Though not
palpable to the men of the world, it gives evidence of its own
existence, not equivocal; and diffusing its stores, makes known the
fountain whence it derived them, and proclaims the end for which its own
constitution was given. Like hypocrites in every age, many of the
ancient Israelites brake God's covenant, or, in other words, they gave
evidence that in his covenant they never had an interest. But the Lord's
covenant could not be allowed to fail. Although many disregarded his
injunctions, and did their utmost to discredit that covenant, yet that
covenant was not to be dishonoured; for in his mercy he should bring
again of the Hebrews many to wait on the ordinances of his grace. Under
a new dispensation, he should give fresh prominency to spirituality of
mind; and by his Spirit, who, as formerly to his people, should write
his laws upon their hearts, cause his impressions to remain when the
former system of services should have ceased to exist, but where the
motives to obedience should, in the preaching of the gospel, be
immediately addressed. Various spirits may jointly or successively take
possession of those in a state of sin. Yea, the common operations of the
Spirit of the Lord, as when the conscience is aroused, and even
sometimes his extraordinary operations, may be upon them. But to them
meanwhile may not be given the one enduring new heart. To some, as to
Balaam, for wise purposes, by the Spirit it may have been given to see a
vision of the Almighty; and to other