for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousnesse, and to seale up the vision and prophesie, and to anoint the most holy. RejoyceZech. 9.9. greatly, O daughter of Zion, shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King commeth unto thee: he is just, and having Salvation, lowly, and riding upon an Asse, and upon a Colt the foale of an Asse. In the Promise of this Covenant, these and the like descriptions we have of the promised Messiah, by whom the Salvation of the Church is wrought, and in whom all the Promises of God are established.
Secondly, Spirituall benefits and the graces of the Spirit were more plentifully bestowed upon the Church, under this Covenant, then formerly. For thus the promise runneth, I willJer. 24.6,7. set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them againe to this Land, and I will build them, and not pull them downe, and I will plant them, and not pluck them up. And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall returne unto me with their whole heart. ThenJer 29.12,13. shall ye call upon me, and ye shall goe and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seeke me and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And Jer 30.20,21.I will cause him to draw neere, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me, saith the Lord? TheyJer. 31.9. shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I leade them: I will cause them to walke by the rivers of waters, in a straight way wherein they shall not stumble, for I am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is my first born: Therefore ver. 12. they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and they shall flow together to the goodnesse of the Lord, for wheat, and for wine, and for oile, and for the young of the flock, and of the herd: and their soule shall be as a watered Garden, and they shall not sorrow any more at all. IIsai. 44.3,4,5. will poure water upon him that is thirsty, and flouds upon the dry ground: I will poure my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thy off-spring: And they shall spring up as among the grasse, as the willowes by the water-courses. One shall say, I am the Lords: and another shall call himselfe by the name of Jacob: and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and surname himselfe by the name of Israel.
Thirdly, in the very tenour and administration of the Covenant it selfe it did excell. For this Covenant after it once began, did continue without interruption, untill it was perfected by the New Testament properly so called, whereas the former Covenant was broken or did expire. For during the time of the BabylonishCaptivity,
