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

of Grace.
BY JUDGE WIN. ARCHER COOKE, FLORIDA
1t is asked by X. "" learned con.
tributor in Tie Central Presbyterian Of
July 23d, 1885, "What is the Old Tesla
ment? What is the New TESTAMENT p
1t has been very beautifully and forcibly
said, "The two Testaments may be liken-
ed to the double-doors of the Temple
the Old is the New infolded, the New is
the Old untolded." Historically this
question has been learnedly treated by
Humphrey Prideaux, DID, Dean of Nor
wich, and published in 1715. The sub
ject is, 1.-THE Old and New Testament
connected in the History of the Jews and
neighboring nations" 1t embraces the
period from the declension of the king
doms of Israel and Judah to the times
of Christ, commencing B. O., TAT.
In the first volume he brings down this
history through the Scripture times, till
the cannon of the Holy Scriptures of the
Old Testament was fully perfected. In
the preface to the second volume he says,
My first purpose was to have conclud-
ed at the birth of our Saviour, and to
have left what henceforth ensues to the
ecclesiastical historian of the Christian
Church, to whom it properly belongs.
But since what is to connect the Old
Testament with the New will then best
end where the dispensation of the Old
Testament endeth, and that of the New
begins, and since that was brought to
pass in the death and resurrection of our
Saviour, I have drawn down this history
thereto"
The author not only considers the two
dispensations, but evidently thinks they
were distinct in purpose, and in opera
ton and effect. For then he considers
the Jewish Church was abolished, and the
Christian erected in its stead. The law
of Moses ceased, and that of Christ and
his Gospel commenced.
Prideaux does not treat on the cove
nant of works, and the covenant Of
grace; nor draw the distinction, nor
connection between them. While the
Old and New Testaments were written
by different class of writer's, yet it can
not be denied successfully, that the
covenant of grace was not older than
that of works, existing eternally between
the Father and the Son, and conception
of the covenant of works as early as that
of grace, was not developed, or offered to
man until his creation.
"The New Testament" is thus called,
In contradiction to the Old Testament.
"Not as if the one contained only the
old covenant of works, and the other the
new covenant of grace, for the contrary
has been abundantly shown but because
the New Testament gives an account Of
the abrogation Of the old dispensation,
and Of the introduction of new and bet.
ter dispensation. Scott I71tTOdIct5on
to NelO Testament.
In relation to covenant of works and
covenant Of grace, Scott says "The
Mosaic law, the national covenant made
with Israel, and the Levitical priesthood,
formed, as it were, an edition both of the
covenant of works and of the covenant Of
grace Mote, Elk. xix s. but at the com.
ing Of Christ, the end being answered
this was Anticipated and abrogated and
the Christian dispensation, containing
clearer light and greater encouragement
not attended with burdensome cere-
monies, or clouded by types and shadows
or restricted to any place or nation
formed new edition OF the covenant oil
grace; yet so that unbelievers continue
as Of old, under the ministration OIL
death, the covenant of works. - Vtd,
Introduction to New Testament.
The history OF this new covenant con
tanned in the New Testament is, how
ever, an exact counterpart of the prophe
cies, promises, and types OF the Ole
Testament in respect to it's grand subj ect
the great Redeemer, and His kingdom
and salvation.
The covenant Of works, and the cove
nant Of grace are separate and distinc
emanstions from God, and while that 0
grace is substitute for that of works
embracing those spiritual endowmentg
qualities, principles, or habits, that ar,
In Christ, and are from Him freely com
municated to man, yet the covenant o
works was based on ample grounds TO
human salvation, if Adam had perse
vered during his time Of probation in th
most perfect and unspotted obedience t
the whole law Of God written on hi
heart, and to the positive law Of forbeal
ance from the forbidden fruit. The re
ward annexed to this obedience was tn