God offers it to all men, and that he actually contracts it with all believers. 2d. As to its promises, that they include all the tem- poral and eternal benefits of Christ's redemption. 3d. As to its conditions, that God now graciously accepts faith and evangelical obedience for righteousness, in the place of that perfect legal obe- dience he demanded of man under the covenant of works, the meritorious work of Christ making it consistent with the princi- ples of divine justice for him so to do. They regard all men as rendered by sufficient grace capable of fulfilling such conditions, if they will.
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9. In what sense can faith be called a condition of salvation ?
Faith is a condition sine qua non of salvation, i. e., no adult man can be saved if lie does not believe, and every man that does believe shall be saved. It is, however, a gift of God and the first part or stage of salvation. Viewed on God's side it is the be- ginning and index of his saving work in us. Viewed on our side it is our duty, and must be our own act. It is, therefore, as our act, the instrument of our union with Christ, and thus the neces- sary antecedent, though never the meritorious cause of the graci- ous salvation which follows.
10. What are the promises which Christy as the administra- tor of the covenant of grace, makes to all those who believe ?
The promise to Abraham to be a " God to him and to his seed after him" (Gen. xvii., 7) embraces all others. All things alike, physical and moral, in providence and grace, for time and eternity, are to work together for our good. " All are yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's." — 1 Cor. iii., 22, 23.
11. Prove that Christ was mediator of men before as well as after his advent in the flesh.
1st. As mediator he is both priest and sacrifice, and as such it is affirmed that he is the " Lamb slain from the foundation of the earth," and a " propitiation for the sins that are past." — Kev. xiii., 8 ; Kom. iii., 25 ; Heb. ix., 15.
2d. He was promised to Adam, Gen. iii., 15.
3d. In the 3d chapter of Gal. Paul proves that the promise made to Abraham, Gen. xvii., 7, xxii., 18, is the very same gos- pel that the apostle himself preached. Thus Abraham became the father of those that believe.
4th. Acts x., 43, " To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name, whosoever believeth on him shall receive re- mission of sin." — See 53d chap, of Is., also chap, xlii., 6.
5th. The ceremonial institutions of Moses were symbolical and typical of Christ's work ; as symbols they signified Christ's merit and grace to the ancient worshiper for his present salvation while as types they prophesied the substance which was to come — Heb. x., 1-10 ; Col. ii., 17.
278 THE COVENANT OF GRACE.
6th. Christ was the Jehovah of the old dispensation. — See above, Chap. YIIL, question 12.
12. Prove that faith was the condition of salvation before the advent of Christ, in the same sense that it is now ?
1st. This is affirmed in the Old Testament, Hah. ii., 4 ; Ps. ii., 12.
2d. The New Testament writers illustrate their doctrine of justification by faith by the examples of Old Testament be- lievers.— See Rom. iv., and Heb. xi.
13. Show that Christ, as administrator of the covenant of grace, gave to the members of the Old Testament church pre- cisely the same promises that he does to us.
1st. The promises given to Christ's ancient people clearly em- brace all spiritual and eternal blessings, e. g., the promise given to Abraham, Gen. xvii., 7, as expounded by Christ, Matt, xxii., 32, and the promise given to Abraham, Gen. xxii., 18 ; xii. 3 ; as expounded by Paul, Gal. iii., 16 ; see also Is. xliii., 25 ; Ezek. xxxvi., 27 ; Dan. xii., 2, 3.
2d. This is plain also from the expectation and prayers of God's people, 51st Ps. and 16th Ps ; Job xixv 24r-27 ; Ps. lxxiii., 24-26.
14. How was the covenant of grace administered from Adam to Abraham ?
1st. By promise, Gen. iii., 15.
2d By means of typical sacrifices instituted in the family of Adam.
3d. By means of immediate revelations and appearances of the Jehovah, or divine mediator to his people. Thus " the Lord" is represented throughout the first eleven chapters of Genesis as "speaking" to men. That these promises and sacrifices were then understood in their true spiritual intent is proved by Paul, Heb. xi., 4-7. And that this administration of the covenant of grace reached many of the people of the earth, during this era, is proved by the history of Job in Arabia, of Abraham in Mesopo- tamia, and of Melchisedec in Canaan.
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15. Hoiv was it administered from Abraham to Moses ?