An Address to the Public, and Especially the Clergy

THESE PROMISES NOT MADE TO THEIR LITERAL DESCENDANTS

In the 4th chapter of Romans, Paul enters fully into the subject of the promise and covenant made by God to Abraham and his seed, and proves that the promise was not made to his seed through the law; nor to those only who were of the circumcision; but that the promise was to all who were of faith, though they were uncircumcised. He proves this by showing,-1. That the promise was made to Abraham, not after his circumcision, but before it. 2. That it was made him on the ground of faith, and not of the works of the law; so that he might be the father of all them who believe, though they be not circumcised; and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of faith, that he might be the father of the circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had, being yet uncircumcised. 3. He shows that the promise to Abraham and his seed, that he should be “heir of the world,” (not of the land of Cannon only,) was not through the law, but through the righteousness of faith; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed: not to that only which is of the law, (the Jews,) but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. APEC 43.4

The promises to which the apostle refers, are evidently those above quoted. The promise is not, therefore, to the literal descendants of the patriarchs, but to their spiritual seed. And this is yet more clearly illustrated by the same apostle in Galatians 3. APEC 44.1

1. He shows, verse 8th, that as God was to justify the heathen through faith, he preached the gospel to Abraham, saying, In thee shall all the nations be blessed. He shows, APEC 44.2

2. That the seed to whom God made the promises, was not to all the literal descendants of Abraham, but to Christ. “As of one,” and to thy seed, “which is Christ.” APEC 45.1

3. That the law and Jewish polity was only ordained because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made. So that at the appearance of Christ the distinction between Jew and Gentile was to cease; the Mosaic or Jewish dispensation, and the distinctions formed by it, being only of a temporary character. APEC 45.2

4. That Christians, whether Jews or Gentiles, are all the children of God by faith in Jesus Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, known under the gospel as being heirs of the promise of God, “for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” APEC 45.3