The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1885-08-12

continuance OF him and his posterlty IN
such perfect holiness and happiness as he
then had, while they remained upon
earth. Here was a covenant, with every
condition to make it such. 1t is express
ly called covenant. GAL, ii: "a; Hos
vii: Z. The covenant was broken by
Adams eating the forbidden fruit; and
he and his posterity thereby ruined.
Gen. iii; Rom. v: 1918; Cor. XIV: %
Planners Commentaries on Romans.
Scott, according to citations.
From eternity God foresaw our ruin,
and before the fall had settled the whole
method of our redemption in a covenant
of grace. Here is a very Instructive and
beautiful principle of theology, which
should be cherished by every Christian.
There was under the Old Testament dis
pensation embraced in the covenant of
works, covenant of grace. 1t was ex-
ternally administered by promises, pro-
phecies, sacrifices, circumcision, the pass
over, and other types and ordinances.
Under the New Testament it is admins
tered in the preaching of the gospel, bap-
tism, and the Lords Supper, in which
grace and salvation are offered in greater
fullness, evidence and efficiency, to all
nations.-Bro1Vn' Dictionary, title CoUe-
no71t.
1t must, however, be conceded that in
both periods, the Mediator, the whole
substance, blessings, and manner of OBJ
tanning an interest therein by faith, are
the same without any difterence.-Brol0n'S
Bible Dictionary.
This view is based on Scripture. Gwen
as Abraham believed God, and it was &C.
counted to him for righteousness. "That
the blessing of Abraham might come on
the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that
we might receive the promise of the Spir-
it through faith" Gal. iii: 7, IA. This
sustains the view that Christ died for the
human race, extending back to the fall of
Adam. And Scott says, in commenting
on the Scripture cited above, "The depar-
ture of the Spirit of life and holiness,
when Adam sinned, left him spiritually
dead, and proved him condemned Grim
inal the Spirit of life and holiness, in
Christ Jesus, is the source of spiritual
life, and the seal of his justification" In
practical observation on Gal. iii: GA,
Scott observes, abiding to Abraham,
Those who partake of his faith shall
surely inherit his blessing; and if we can
ascertain that is our case, we may be sure
of sharing all its privileges. But who
can, in any other way, escape the curse
of the holy law? Who has continued in
all things written in the book of the law
to do them?' Who will venture to de-
mand life on this ground? Let us learn
to distinguish accurately in this matter.
The law is not of faith; every law OF
God, and every legal covenant, must be
perfectly distinct from the covenant Of
promise, through faith in Jesus Christ
and if we confound these things we shall
find curse instead of blessing. The
great redemption of all, who ever were
or shall be saved, was paid by the great
Surety of the new covenant, when he was
made curse for us, and bare our sins
in his own body on the tree, but the suf-
ferings of this holy One of God more
loudly warn sinners to flee from the
wrath to come, than all the terrors of
Sinai, or the curses of the law itself: for
how can it be expected that God will
spare any man to whom sin is imputed,
seeing he spared not his own Son, when
our sins were imputed to him?" Yet at
the same time Christ, as from the Cross,
most graoiously beseeches sinners to take
refuge in him, and invites even Gentiles
to accept the blessing Of Abraham.
We do not dissent from the remarks
made by "X Y" in relation to the Old
and New Testament; the point is very
clearly stated by Scott in his Introduc-
ton to Commentaries to the Old Testa-
ment. He says, ut does not appear that
the distinction of the two parts of the sa-
cred Scripture by the applications of the
Old Testament and the New Testament
is of divine authority; though it is of very
ancient use in the Christian Church. The
original word, both in the Hebrew and
in the Greek, rendered Testament, in this
connection, is more generally rendered
Covenant, and perhaps ought always to
be SO " And he further remarks, on the
subject which may throw some light on
the views of "X. Y" The covenant of
,oorbs, as distinguished from the covenant
of grace, does not seem to be intended by
the Old Testament for the covenant Of
grace and mercy was introduced imme-
diately after the fall of Adam, by the
promise that the seed of the woman
should bruise the serpent's head: the
hopes of believers in every age have arisen
from that source alone and all unbeliev-
ers, even under the Christian dispensa-
ton, remain under the condemnation Of
that covenant which Adam transgressed ;