.
Subsections
OT Saints went Directly to Heaven
Limbo of the Fathers
.
.
Order of Contents
.
Articles
1600’s
Ball, John – ch. 4, ‘Of the Covenant of Promise’ in A Treatise of the Covenant of Grace (1645), pp. 27-36
Ball’s treatise was very influential upon the Westminster Assembly. ‘Promise’ in the title refers to the Covenant being promised to the OT fathers, in distinction from how the Covenant of Grace has been more fulfilled in the NT.
Rutherford, Samuel – pt. 2, ch. 8, ‘Of the Promissory Part of the Law; the Differences between the Two Covenants Mistaken by Antinomians are Opened’ in A Survey of the Spiritual Antichrist: Opening… diverse considerable points of the Law & the Gospel, of the Spirit & Letter, of the Two Covenants... (London, 1648)
Blake, Thomas – Vindiciæ Foederis, or, A Treatise of the Covenant of God entered with Mankind... (London, 1658)
ch. 35, ‘The Old Covenant was a Pure Gospel-Covenant & Not Mixed’
Blake (c.1596-1657) was an English Puritan clergyman and controversialist of moderate Presbyterian sympathies.
Ambrose, Isaac – bk. 3, ‘Looking Unto Jesus, from the Creation until his First Coming’ in Looking unto Jesus... (d. 1664; London, 1680)
Nevay, John – Sermon 17, ‘On the Gospel Covenant: & of the Fulness of the Covenant in David’s Estimation’ in The Nature, Properties, Blessings and Saving Graces of the Covenant of Grace: Opened and Applied, in 52 Sermons on 2 Sam. 23:5 (d. 1672; Glasgow, 1748), pp. 164-172
Nevay (d. 1672) was a Scottish covenanter.
Gillespie, Patrick – pp. 372-6, on Christ being a Fidejussor & More than that as a Surety in ch, 20, ‘Christ the Surety of the Covenant’ in The Ark of the Covenant Opened, or a Treatise of the Covenant of Redemption Between God & Christ... (1677)
Turretin, Francis – Institutes of Elenctic Theology ed. James Dennison, Jr. (P&R), vol. 2, 12th Topic
Question 9, ‘Whether Christ under the Old Testament had only the relation of a surety giving security or also fo a surety promising it. The former we deny; the latter we affirm.’, pp. 240-247
Question 11, ‘Whether the souls of the fathers of the Old Testament were immediately received into Heaven after death or were cast into limbo. The former we affirm; the latter we deny against the papists’, pp. 257-262
.
1700’s
à Brakel, Wilhelmus – The Christian’s Reasonable Service, vol. 4 ed. Joel Beeke, trans. Bartel Elshout Buy (1700; RHB, 1992/1999), Appendix: Administration of the Covenant of Grace in the Old & New Testaments
ch. 4. ‘The Nature of the Suretyship of Jesus Christ During the Old Testament’, pp. 447-57
ch. 5. ‘The State of Old Testament Believers’, pp. 457-503
a Brakel (1635-1711) was a contemporary of Voet and Witsius and a major representative of the Dutch Further Reformation.
.
Quote
Samuel Willard
The Doctrine of the Covenant of Redemption… (Boston, 1693)
“Whatever is required to a complete formal Covenant between two distinct Persons is to be affirmed concerning what has passed between God and Christ with respect unto the redemption of those that were from eternity gi∣ven to Him; Articles of agreement (to speak after our nature) have been concluded, accepted and exactly kept unto by them both. On this account the Lord Christ is said to be a surety. He is not only fidejussor [a co-signer] but expromissor [an entire legal substitute].
He has so undertaken to answer for his elect, as that they were many of them set at liberty before the price of their redemption was actually payed, and that by virtue of this Covenant, wherein the Father did take the word of his Son Jesus Christ, that the thing should in due time be performed. As to the efficacy of his death, He was slain from the foundation of the world. Believers that died in the beginning of time went to Heaven because the Son of God had promised to lay down his life to satisfy divine justice in their behalf.”
.
Latin
Leydekker, Melchior
Bk. 5, ‘Of the State of the Fathers under the Old Testament’ in The Power of Truth, or Disquisitions on Some Controversies which are now Greatly Moved in Belgium, on the Economy of the Covenants of God… (Utrecht, 1679). Bk. 5 has its own pagination, pp. 1-380 ToC
Table of Contents
A Defense by which a Preface of Johann Wajen, A Synopsis of Herozoici, Prefixed to A Modest Censure is Recalled [That the Authority of Sacred Scripture Ought to be Added to the Conscience]
Book 1
1. Of the [Greek] Term Diathekes [Testament] 1
2. Whether it Signifies the Eternal Counsel of Grace 5
3. Of the Difference between the Old & New Testament 7
4. Of the Three Economies 10
Book 2
1. Of the Nature of the Surety of Christ 15
2. Of the Principle of God in Accepting a Surety 22
Book 3
1. Of the Nature of the Old Testament 25
2. Of the Place, Gal. 4:24 32
Book 4
1. Of the Sacrifices Before Moses 37
2. Of the Origin of the Ceremonial Law 41
3. Of the Nature of the Decalogue 48
Book 5
1. Of the Difference between the State of the Fathers Before & After Moses 53
2. Of the State of the Fathers under the Old Testament 60
3. Of the Fathers under Guilt [before the Atonement] 64
4. Of the Fathers under Wrath 69
5. Of the Fathers under the Curse 76
6. Of the Non-Tranquil Consciences of the Same 81
7. Of the Fear of Death under the Old Testament 88
8. Of the Rule of the Devil in the Old Testament 93
9. Of the Power of Angels in the Old Testament 99
10. Of the Power of gods in Lands 106
11. Of the Spirit of Servitude 114
12. Of Justification or Paresi under the Old Testament 121
13. Of the Place, Heb. 11 at the end 129
.
.
.
Related Pages
On the Similarities & Differences between the Old & New Testaments