COVENANTS by C. W. Holt

Publishing Committee · Saratoga Springs, N. Y. · Jan 13, 1852

COVENANTS.

By C. W. Holt

BY C. W. HOLT.

I notice in the "Harbinger and Advocate" of Dec. 6th, 1851, the following statements by the Editor of that paper, in his article entitled, "Seventh-day Sabbath Abolished."

"God has not made two covenants yet: the Bible recognizes only two. One of these covenants was made with Israel at Horeb, and by Paul is called the old covenant or testament. But the other covenant has not yet been made. But it will soon be made with Judah and Israel—is called the new covenant or testament."

The Editor's statement, that the Bible recognizes only two covenants is certainly incorrect. I will here mention several of the many covenants recognized in the word of God.

1. The covenant made with Noah. "And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying, and I, behold, I established my covenant with you, and with your seed after you. . . . And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations. I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth." Gen. ix, 8, 13.

2. The covenant made with Abraham. "And I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their generations, for an everlasting covenant; to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee." Gen. xvii, 7. "Then will I remember, my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember," Lev. xxvi, 42.

3. The covenant made in Horeb. Says Moses to Israel that came out of Egypt: "The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb." Deut. v, 2. This was a mutual agreement between God and the people. See Ex. xix; Deut. xi; Lev. xxvi, 3—5. This covenant related exclusively to the welfare of the Jews in literal Canaan. The blessings named in the text referred to, were to be enjoyed by them on the condition that they kept the ten commandments; therefore, the ten commandments were not the covenant, but the conditions of that covenant.

4. The covenant made with David. "Yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure." 2 Samuel. xxiii, 5.

5. The NEW COVENANT. "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah; not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord. But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel, after those days saith the Lord, I will put my law [ten commandments] in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and will be their God, and they shall be my people." Jer. xxxi, 31—33. Heb. viii. 7—13; x. 16, 17.

The Editor of the "Harbinger," professing to be a teacher in Israel, before asserting that "the Bible recognizes only two covenants," should read that precious volume more carefully. If his readers had not the Bible to read for themselves, they would certainly be led astray.

The statement of the Editor, that the NEW COVENANT is not yet made, is in contradiction with the plain testimony of the word of the Lord. Paul, in his epistle to the Hebrews, speaks of two covenants. One he calls the "first covenant," also the "old covenant." The other is called the "new covenant," the "second," and "better covenant." The first, or old covenant is the one made in Horeb. That covenant had moral and ceremonial conditions. The moral conditions were the ten commandments engraven in stone. The ceremonial conditions of that covenant were written in a book, by the hand of Moses. These ceremonies, performed by the Jewish priesthood in the worldly sanctuary, were imposed on the Jews until the time of reformation. Then the first covenant ceased, and gave place to the second, or better covenant established on better promises, of which Christ is a minister.

The Apostle states [Heb. ix.] that the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and a worldly sanctuary. He also shows that the better covenant has divine services performed by our High Priest, the Son of God in the Heavenly Sanctuary.

Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum; we have such an High Priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a minister of the Sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched and not man." Heb. viii, 1, 2. "But now hath he [the Son of God] obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant which was established upon better promises."—Verses 6.

Now as certain as the Son of God is a mediator, just so certain has the new covenant been made. No truth is more clearly stated in the Bible than that the new covenant commenced with the priesthood of Christ in the Heavenly Sanctuary. The Holy Ghost, on the day of pentecost, signified that the services of the first covenant, in the worldly sanctuary, were no longer of any virtue, and that the services of the new covenant in the Heavenly Sanctuary had commenced.

"The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all [holy places, Macknight] was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing; which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience, which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. But Christ being come an High Priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building." Heb. ix, 8—11.

"And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, [covenant,] that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead; otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth." Verses 15—17.

Christ, the Testator, is clearly shown to be the mediator of the new testament, or covenant, which becomes of force after his death. This covenant was to be confirmed for one week, [seven years,] and in the midst [middle] of the week, the Jewish "sacrifice and the oblation" was to virtually cease, by the death of the Testator. This covenant was confirmed three years and a half by the Testator, and then three years and a half by witnesses chosen before the death of the Testator, who were qualified by the descent of the Holy Ghost on the day of pente

cost, when the new covenant was in full force, Says Paul. "Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; [covenant,] not of the letter, but of the Spirit," 2 Cor. iii, 6. This testimony shows that the new covenant has been made, and that the Apostles were ministers of it.

The Editor also states, that the "new covenant or testament," when made, "will be written on the heart, &c., is the ministration of the Spirit," and refers us to Jer. xxxi, 31—34; Heb. viii and ix.

Here let it be understood that it is not the new covenant or the ministration of the Spirit, that is to be written on the heart, as stated by the Editor of the "Harbinger"; but the law of God, according to the testimony of Jeremiah and Paul. And how absurd to place the ministration of the Spirit in the future, contrary to the teachings of Christ and his Apostles.

Said Jesus, "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning." John xv, 26, 27.

The disciples were to tarry at Jerusalem until they were endowed with power from on high. Luke xxiv, 49. "And when the day of pentecost was fully come, they were all of one accord in one place.—And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak, with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Acts ii, 1—4.

Peter went to the house of Cornelius to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, and while he "spake to them the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed, were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost." Acts x, 44, 45.

The Editor also says, "If you read with an unprejudiced mind, we think you will learn to the joy of your heart, that the old covenant or ministration of death, is abolished, and that the new covenant, which will give life, is soon to be made with Judah and Israel."

That the old covenant is done away, and that the ministration of that covenant, which was death, is abolished is evident. It is also very evident that the new covenant has been made, and was confirmed by Christ and his Apostles more than 1,800 years since. By reading the New Testament we learn to the joy of our hearts that the ministration of the Spirit, which giveth life, has been enjoyed by the Church of Christ, since the day of pentecost and may now be enjoyed, in all its fulness, by the humble followers of the Lamb, who keep the commandments of God and have the Testimony of Jesus Christ.

Oswego, (N. Y.), Jan. 5th, 1852.