Abraham was a pilgrim and a sojourner on earth, hence the temporal inheritance of Canaan was not the rest he sought. The people of God expected a better rest. ' For if Jesus (Joshua) had given them rest, then would he not afterwards have spoken to them of another day. There remaineth, therefore, a rest to the people of God.' Heb. 4, 8 9. Again, ' For they that say such things, declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is an heavenly, wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he hath prepared for them a city,' chap. 11, 15 16. Such as had left Canaan might have returned again, if that had been all which God had covenanted to them ; but he has prepared for them a heavenly country, and Abraham looked for a city which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God, v. 9. ' And I saw a new heaven, and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away, and there was no more sea. And I, John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.' Rev. 21, 62. When this earth shall be made new ; when its metropolis, New Jerusalem, shall come from God out of heaven, ornamented with celestial glory, then indeed Abraham and all his spiritual seed, numerous like the sands on the sea-shore, like the stars of heaven, shall inherit the earth.' Math. 5, 5. By circumcision the covenant which includes these superlative blessings was sealed, hence the Abrahamic covenant is everlasting ; therefore it yet remains under the gospel, although the seal thereof is changed, viz : baptism instead of circumcision. In this view, how majestic is baptism ! Its glory is beaming, like heavenly day, through the very gates of New Jerusalem !

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