After the flood the institution of _sacrifices_ continued as the seal of the _first_ part of the covenant; and the _rainbow_ was instituted as the seal of the _additional_ part, or, as Pareus calls it, “_appendix_ of the covenant of grace.” And here it is worthy of notice, that as the first exhibition of the covenant and its seals respected the offspring of _fœderati_, and the _renewal_ or _establishment_ of it to Noah retained that privilege in full force: so also the _appendix_ of the covenant comprehended his _seed_. Respecting this appendix of the covenant of which the rainbow was the seal, though we suppose, with Witsius, it was not formally and precisely the covenant of grace; yet we observe, with the same excellent author, “it does not seem consistent with the divine perfections, to make such a covenant with every living creature, but on _supposition_ of a covenant of grace, and having a _respect_ to it.” And as this covenant, in its universality, implied the covenant of grace, we are not to deny, but the promises of it were also _sealed_ to Noah and his seed by the rainbow. See Rev. iv. 3. x. 8. It is observable, finally, that Noah his _sons_, and _their seed_ were _fœderati_, in this ratification of the covenant; consequently whatever _seals_ of the covenant belonged to Noah, belonged to _his sons_, and _their seed_, while non-dissentients. Appeal we next to a very important period of sacred history, viz. From Abraham to Moses. On this also we make the following remarks. The Abrahamic covenant _included_ the preceding dispensations, on the general principle—that grants and privileges continue in force until _repealed_. Which repealing, if it be not either _express_, or arise from the nature of the case, in itself _plain_, can have no binding influence, that is to say, no existence at all: except we maintain, that we are _bound_ to resign an important good without an assignable cause; which is in fact to maintain that we ought to _deny_ that to be, which is. I suppose it will be granted, that the _principal blessing_ exhibited in the foregoing dispensations was _the righteousness of faith_; the great importance of which to the human race, in every age of the world, no one will deny who considers things _as they are_. This covenant, therefore, was in force to Abraham _prior_ to what is called the Abrahamic dispensation; and in this connexion we might mention Lot and his family. But, behold,