History of Presbyfaianism

changed, and sign and seal suitable to the nature of the New Testament in his blood had to be substi~ tuted. The Mosaic dispensation was the ministra- tion of death and condemnation, and blood had con- sequently to be shed even in administering the sign and seal of the Abrahamic covenant; but when Christ died for our sins, and shed his own blood, he made an end of iniquity, transgression and sin, and brought in everlasting righteousness, and became the Author of Salvation to every one that believeth; and therefore the shedding of blood was discontinued, and a new dispensation was commenced—the dis- pensation of the gospel, the ministration of the Spirit and of righteousness—and of necessity all things had to be instituted and appointed to harmon- ize with the spirit and character of his gospel king- dom—the kingdom which is not of this world: and water, which is a scriptural emblem of the Spirit, was substituted for the shedding of blood in the ad- ministration of the outward sign and seal of the cov- enant; although the covenant be now the covenant of grace, and not the covenant of circumcision as was the covenant with Abraham, and although the real sign and seal, harmonizing with the nature of the spiritual kingdom of Christ, be by the Spirit in the heart, and not in the letter, yet as water is an em- blem of the Spirit, the outward sign and seal is to be administered by the application of that emblem, be- cause “Jesus Christ was a minister of the circum- cision for the truth of God, to COIIfii‘i‘n the promises made to the fathers; and that the Gentiles might

24o