The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-03-31
For TIE Central Presbyterian.
What is Presbyterianism
Covenant of Grace and Redemption by
Christ Jesus

means, as to Adam, that he represents all
his posterity, and specially does so in a
covenant with God. These are convenient
terms adopted by Christian writer's to ex-
press the mode of Gods dealing with his
creatures. The word covenant, in both
the original languages of the Bible is
perhaps more correctly to be called
d1SpenSdtton. But as a covenant is a
form of dispensation appointed by God,
the term is sufficiently expressive, though
since men can only enter into covenant
with God, infinitely superior, by accept
ing the terms He proposes, the literal
meaning of covenant asa bargain between
contracting parties, cannot be accurately
applied. Especially is this true of the
Greek word employed. That really means
more properly, an arrangement, or a dis
pensation and for coUendnt, the Greek
language supplies a different word, and
one which is not used in the New Tesla
ment. To this explanation it is only
necessary to add; that Christian writers
recognize two covenants-the covenant
of works, with Adam representing all his
posterity, and the covenant of grace, with
Christ representing His people. This
II
promise, because it was made known to
man by promises 1t was made with
Christ for His people, for its promise OF
eternal life was made before the world
began Titus p. With whom? Not
men, for they did not exist but with
Christ, who in God S decree, acted for the
race yet to be created, to fall, and then
to need its provision of eternal life and
His people are said " to be chosen in Him
Christ before the world began '-Eph.
/: 4. Though a covenant of redemption as
made between God and the Son, tits cove
nant of grace, as terminating in the bene-
fits of a gratuitous salvation on Christ's
redeemed people it only need be farther
remarked that there is no thought of diff
ference between the parties, God and His
eternal Son, nor of negotiations, nor of
one proposing what the other might re-
ject or decline In sweetest harmony OF
purpose, as in identity in. substance and.
equality in power, they united in the
scheme of redemption. To our finite ca
pacities, the Scriptures present the work
as pertaining in its conception to God,
who &c so loved the world, that He gave
His Son, and in its execution, to the Son,
who gave Himself for us, and came to
do the will OF Him who sent Him"
Accordingly, this part of " Gods eter-
nal decree" was revealed coincidently
with the pronouncing of the sentence OF
condemnation on the race. To the SER
pent God said, "I will put enmity be
tween thee and the woman and between
thy seed and her seed, it Oiterally He)
shall bruise thy head and thou shalt
bruise his heel'-Gen. iii Is. This
seed of the woman" is singular phrase,
which Paul explains Gal iv: ~ by say
ing our Lord was made of a woman,
and Matthew and Luke, relating this
miraculous conception, ascribe it solely to
divine agency, expressly denying any
ordinary generation Hence it has been
ever the faith of the Church, that this
language to the serpent Is a brief but
complete summary OF the gospel. Christ,
it is said, will Eruise Satan's head, ("that
old serpent, which is the Devil and Sa-
tan Rev xii: o; Xxx: p that is, will
infict a mortal wound He was mani
tested to destroy the works of the Devil
i John iii s. But the Serpent is only
to bruise His heel, inhict sight wound.
shelving his enmity to be Intellectual. The
promise to Abraham (Gen. xii: l8), "in
thy seed shall all nations be blessed ? is
interpreted by Paul Gal iii ~ as the
" Gospel preached before to Abraham,
and the seed to be Christ Verse l6).
This promise was the formal institution
ofthe covenant Of grace 1t preceded the
law 430 years Verse ID, and is verified
in the work of Christ as Mediator in His
threefold office Prophet Cor Teacher
Priest, and King. He makes known God
will for our salvation as Prophet (Acts
iii % Hebi y: offers himself vi
carious sacrifice, set forth by God " pro-
pitiation for the sins of the whole world
q John ii 2 see also Rom iii 25), and
ever liveth to makeintercession forail who
will come to God by Him, in his office of
Priest Heb vii: 30 and Herules over
and for His Church, Priest and Saviour.
to subdue all His and His peoples enc
mics, and shall finally Judge the world at
the last day, in his Office as King, duke
i 80; Ps. ii 6; Eph. 3D. Acts xvii
SD. By His Spirit He applies the truth
whereby man is led to knowledge and
conviction Of sin, and knowledge of Christ
as a Saviour, and led to embrace Him
and rest upon Him for salvation, John
xiv IL, 26 xvi 7-ll 9 Thess ii Is.