Chapter 42 [XXV.]—Difference Between the Old and the New Testaments.

I beg of you, however, carefully to observe, as far as you can, what I am endeavouring to prove with so much effort. When the prophet promised a new covenant, not according to the covenant which had been formerly made with the people of Israel when liberated from Egypt, he said nothing about a change in the sacrifices or any sacred ordinances, although such change, too, was without doubt to follow, as we see in fact that it did follow, even as the same prophetic scripture testifies in many other passages; but he simply called attention to this difference, that God would impress His laws on the mind of those who belonged to this covenant, and would write them in their hearts,197    Jer. xxxi. 32, 33. whence the apostle drew his conclusion,—“not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart;”198    2 Cor. iii. 3. and that the eternal recompense of this righteousness was not the land out of which were driven the Amorites and Hittites, and other nations who dwelt there,199    Josh. xii. but God Himself, “to whom it is good to hold fast,”200    Ps. lxxiii. 28. in order that God’s good that they love, may be the God Himself whom they love, between whom and men nothing but sin produces separation; and this is remitted only by grace. Accordingly, after saying, “For all shall know me, from the least to the greatest of them,” He instantly added, “For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”201    Jer. xxxi. 34. By the law of works, then, the Lord says, “Thou shalt not covet:”202    Ex. xx. 17. but by the law of faith He says, “Without me ye can do nothing;”203    John xv. 5. for He was treating of good works, even the fruit of the vine-branches. It is therefore apparent what difference there is between the old covenant and the new,—that in the former the law is written on tables, while in the latter on hearts; so that what in the one alarms from without, in the other delights from within; and in the former man becomes a transgressor through the letter that kills, in the other a lover through the life-giving spirit. We must therefore avoid saying, that the way in which God assists us to work righteousness, and “works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure,”204    Phil. ii. 13. is by externally addressing to our faculties precepts of holiness; for He gives His increase internally,205    1 Cor. iii. 7. by shedding love abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given to us.”206    Rom. v. 5.

CAPUT XXV.

42. Distantia Veteris et Novi Testamenti. Illud tamen, quantum potes, diligenter attende, quod tanto molimine conor ostendere: cum Testamentum Novum Propheta promitteret, non secundum Testamentum quod prius factum est populo Israel ex Aegypto liberato, nihil eum de sacrificiorum vel quorumque sacramentorum commutatione dixisse, quamvis et ipsa sine dubio fuerat secutura, sicut secutam videmus, quod multis aliis locis eadem prophetica Scriptura testatur: sed tantummodo istam commendasse distantiam, quod leges suas daturus esset Deus in mentem eorum qui pertinerent ad hoc Testamentum, et eorum scripturus in cordibus; unde Apostolus sumpsit, non atramento, sed spiritu Dei vivi, non in tabulis lapideis, sed in tabulis cordis carnalibus (II Cor. III, 3): sempiternamque mercedem justificationis hujus, non terram de qua pulsi sunt Amorrhaei et Chettaei, et aliae gentes quae ibi commemorantur (Josue XII), sed ipsum Deum, cui adhaerere bonum est (Psal. LXXII, 28), ut bonum Dei quod diligunt, Deus sit ipse quem diligunt; inter quem et homines nisi peccata non separant, quae nonnisi per eamdem gratiam dimittuntur. Unde cum dixisset, Omnes enim cognoscent me, a minore usque ad majorem eorum; mox addidit, Quia propitius ero iniquitati eorum, et peccata eorum non memorabor ultra. Per legem ergo factorum dicit Dominus, Non concupisces (Exod. XX, 17): per legem fidei dicit Dominus, Sine me nihil potestis facere (Joan. XV, 5); agebat enim de bonis operibus, hoc est, de palmitum fructibus. Cum igitur haec appareat distantia Veteris et Novi Testamenti, quod lex ibi in tabulis, hic in cordibus scribitur, ut quod ibi forinsecus terret, hic delectet intrinsecus, ibique fiat praevaricator per occidentem litteram, hic dilector per vivificantem spiritum: non ideo dicendum est quod Deus adjuvet nos ad operandam justitiam atque operetur in nobis et velle et operari pro bona voluntate (Philipp. II, 13), quia praeceptis justitiae forinsecus insonat sensibus nostris; sed quia intrinsecus incrementum dat (I Cor. III, 7), diffundendo charitatem in cordibus nostris per Spiritum sanctum, qui datus est nobis (Rom. V, 5).