The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-09-15
FoR THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN
THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT.
BY REV. II. H. HAYES.

Let as not suppose that Abraham'S duties
and ours are different because we belong to
the new, while he lived under the old Dis
pensstion. The Abrshamie church certainly
existed up to the time of Christ's coming
Did Christ ignore IL, and found a new
chlreh? That is the question. 1t is well
to remember that change of DispensatiOn
need not, and does not destroy an old con,
stitution and make new one. A dispen
sation" only represents to US the adminstra
ton of church aft airs during a certain period.
The great Head of the Church can surely
change dispensations, without Oyerthrowing
and rebuilding churches. But what says
the word of G9d? Rom. XIV: s. "Now |
say that Jesus Christ was minister of the
circumcision for the truth of God, to con-
firm the promises made unto the fathers. -
Is not that plain? How could this be said
of Him, if He came to abolish the church to
which these ''fathers" beloagsd, and in which
they received the "promises 2" In Matt.
xxi. "The vineyard -" the kingdom of
God is taken from the Jews and given to
the Gentiles. "The vineyard" was not de-
stroyed. Il remained the same, while the
occupants were changed. The Jews being
unfaithful, it was taken from them and given
to others. So Christ taught In John K,
the same idea is given. There is one Shep-
herd and one fold. So Jesus is the Head of
the one church. In Rom. IL, "The olive
tree is the church. Jewish branches are
broken of, and Gentle branches are grated
in. Does this uprOot the old tree? Paul
says "NOw See verse Is. In Rom. XIV:
TO-, Geutiles are exhorted to rejoice "'0ith
has people, NOT in separate association.
In / Cor. K: IA, Paul speaking to Gen.
tiles about the Israelites who came o0t of
Egypt, designstes them as sour fathers; !"
and says, "They did all eat the same spirit
usl meat; and did all drink the same spirit
nal drink, for they drank of that Spiritual
Rock that followed them; and that Rock
was Christ" He tells these GentileS that
the Jews in the wilderness had the very same
spiritual sustenance, which was the life Of
the church then, at the time of his writing.
What was it? Read Cor. viii: 6. "But
to US there is but one God, the Father, Of
whom are all things, and We in Him; and
one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all
things, and we by him." Is He our life
He was theirs also. Did they tempt him :
Let us not do itl OF course if they tempted
Christ, He must have been with them, as
He is with US.
These are but few examples to show
that Jews of the old Dispensation and Gen.
tiles of the new, compose one and the same
church, having Christ as the head. And il
not the whole Bible full of this doctrine p
Those who will, can search it and find much
more of this teaching Let US notice only
one more instance here:-The Epistle to The
Ephesians was written to Gentiles. An(
the End chapter is specially devoted to th'
doctrine of church unity,-Or oneness o
Gods people under all dispensatiOns. Ii
verse II, the Apostle reminds these Gentle
of the time when they had no church con
nection; "At that time ys were withOu
Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth
of Israel, and strangers from the covenant
of promise, having no hope and without Go,
in the world" And now if these Gentle
wsrs not brought into the same church q
vhieh Israel had its privileges, what meal
the words fOllowing:-" But now in Chris
Jesus We who sometimes were far off ar
made nigh by the blood of Christ. For h
is our peace, who hath made both one, an
hath broken down the middle wall of part
ton between US ?" Such words clearly az
ply to the bringing of Gentiles into sue
covenant privileges as the Jews already haC
Christ united them in Himself, and mad
both one. In verse 16, they are "on
body" In verse Is, "One Spirit" lead
both. Both have been redeemed by the on
blood of Christ. "NOw, therefore, ye al