much trouble and disquietude, when he is convinced
of the evil of it, or suffers the punishment of it, as
when a man's teeth are set on edge; and indeed the
consequence of it will be weeping, wailing, and gnash-
ing of teeth.
Ver. 31. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord. &c.]
This refers to Gospel times, as is clear from the quo-
tation and application by the apostle, Heb. viii. 8--12.
and it is owned by a modern Jewa to belong to the
times of the Messiah. It is introduced with a behold,
as a. note of attention, pointing to something of mo-
ment, and very agreeable and desirable, as the cove-
nant of grace, its blessings and promises, are; and as a
note of admiration, it being justly to be wondered at
that God should make a covenant with such sinful and
unworthy creatures as he has. That I will make a new
covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house
Judah; by this covenant is meant the covenant of
called new, not because newly made, for it was
with the elect in Christ from everlasting; so early was
Christ set up as the Mediator of it; and so early were
promises made, and blessings given, to them in him:
nor because newly revealed; for it was made known
to all the saints, more or less, under the former dis-
pensation, particularly to David, to Abraham, yea, to
our first parents immediately after the fall, though
more clearly manifested under the Gospel dispensation;
but because of its new mode of exhibition; not by
types, and shadows, and sacrifices, as formerly; but
by the ministry of the word, and the administration
of Gospel ordinances; and in disthiction from the for-
mer covenant, which is done away, as to the mode of
it; and because it is a famous covenant, an excellent
one, a better covenant, best of all; better than the co-
venant of works, and even better than the covenant of
grace, under the former administration; in the clear
manifestation and extensive application of it; and in
the ratification of it by the blood of Christ; besides,
it provides and promises new things, as a new heart,
and a new spirit; to which may be added, that it may
be called new, because it is always new; it continues,
it stands firm, as Kimchi observes, and shall not be
made void; it will never be succeeded nor antiquated
by any other covenant, or any other mode of admi-
nistration of it. The persons with whom this cove-
nant is said to be made are the house of Israel and
~:lfJudah; which was literally true of them in the first
mes of the Gospel, to whom the Gospel was first
preached, and many of them were called by grace,
and had an application of covenant-blessings made to
them; and is mystically to be understood of God's
elect, whether Jews or Gentiles; the Israel after the
spirit; Israelites indeed, Jews inwardly, even all that
are fellow-citizens of the saints, and of the household
of God, the middle wall of partition being broken
down: and this making of a covenant with them in-
tends no other than a making it known unto them;
shewing it to them, and their interest in it; in God,
as their covenant-God; and in Christ, as the Mediator
of it; and an application of the blessings and promises
of it to them.
Ver. 32. Not according to the covenant that I made
with their fathers, &c.] Meaning not Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob; but the ancestors of the Jews that came
out of Egypt, as appears by what follows. This was
the covenant made at Sinai, which is here referred to;
but the above covenant was not according to that;
for, though it was not properly a covenant of works,
but-a typical one; yet it was in some sense faulty and
deficient; or, however, the persons under it were faulty,
and did not keep it; and besides, it was made with the
Israelites; whereas this new covenant belongs both to
Jews and Gentiles. That the Sinai covenant is in-
tended is clear by the following circumstances: in the
day that I took them by the hand, to bring them out of
the land of Egypt; that is, immediately after their
being brought out of Egypt, the covenant was made
with them; see Exod. xix. 1--8. and xxiv. 7, 8. at
which time of their bringing out, the Lord took them
by the hand, as being unable to deliver themselves,
and to go out of themselves; which is expressive, as
of their weakness, so of his power and goodness, kind-
ness and tenderness to them; and is an aggravation of
their ingratitude to him in breaking the covenant,
made with them at such a time by the Lord, who was
so kind and indulgent to them; and which is still more
fully expressed in the following clause: which my co-
venant they brake, although I was an husband unto them,
saith the Lord; they promised fair, but did not per-
form; their hearts were not right with God, nor were
they steadfast in his covenant; though it was such a
solemn transaction, and had the nature ot'a matri-
monial contract; it was the day of their espousal; they
were betrothed to the Lord, and he acted the part of a
husband to them in nourishing and cherishing them. in
providing food and raiment for them; manna that con-
tinued with them, and clothes that waxed not old; and
in protecting them from their enemies, and bringing
them to a good settlement in the land of Canaan. The
Septuagint version renders it, and I regarded them  not ;
and so the apostle, Heb. viii. 9. for the reconciliation
of which to the Hebrew text see the note on the
same.
Ver. 33. But this shall be the covenant that I .will
make with the house of Israel; after those days, saith the
Lord, &c.] The several articles or branches of the
covenant next follow,which shew it to be different from
the former: I will put my law in their inward parts, and
write it in their hearts; not the ceremonial law, which
was abolished when this covenant was made; but ra-
ther the moral law still in force, which is a transcript
of the nature and will of God; was inscribed on Adam's
heart in innocence; is greatly obliterated by sin; a
contrary disposition to it is in man; this is reinscribed
in regeneration; and hence a regard is had to it by re-
generate persons, in which lies part of their confor-
mity to Christ: or else, since the word here used sig-
nifies doctrine or instruction, the Gospel and the truths
of it may be meant; see Isa. ii. 2. and xlii. 4. Rom.
iii. 27- which have a place and dwell in the hearts of
renewed ones. The Septuagint version reads it in the
plural number, laws; and so does the apostle, Heb.
viii. 10. and may design the ordinances of the Gospel,
and the commandments of Christ; which such, who

{l} Abendana, not. in Miclol Yophi in loc.