Period 1. From the Fall to the Incarnation

MY first task is, to show how the work of redemption is carried on from the fall of man to the incarnation of Christ, under the first proposition, namely.

That the space of time from the fall of man to the incarnation of Christ, was taken up in doing those things that were forerunners and earnests of Christ's coming, and working out redemption, and were preparatory to it.

The great works of God in the world during this whole space of time, were all preparatory to this. There were many great changes and revolutions in the world, and they were all only the turning of the wheels of providence in order to this, to make way for the coming of Christ, and what he was to do in the world. They all pointed hither, and all issued here. Hither tended especially all God's great works towards his church. The church was under various dispensations of providence, and in very various circumstances, before Christ came. But all these dispensations were to prepare the way for his coming. God wrought salvation for the souls of men through all that space of time, though the number was very small to what it was afterwards; and all this salvation was, as it were, by way of anticipation. All the souls that were saved before Christ came, were only as it were the earnests of the future harvest.

God wrought many lesser salvations and deliverances for his church and people before Christ came. These salvations were all but so many images and forerunners of the great salvation Christ was to work out when he should come. God revealed himself of old, from time to time, from the fall of man to the coming of Christ. The church during that space of time enjoyed the light of divine revelation, or God's word. They had in a degree the light of the gospel. But all these revelations were only so many forerunners and earnests of the great light that he should bring who came to be the light of the world. That whole space of time was as it were the time of night, wherein the church of God was not indeed wholly without light: but it was like the light of the moon and stars that we have in the night; a dim light in comparison of the light of the sun, and mixed with a great deal of darkness. It had no glory, by reason of the glory that excelleth, 2 Corinthians 3:10. The church had indeed the light of the sun; but it was only as reflected from the moon and stars. The church all that while was a minor. This the apostle evidently teaches in Galatians 4:1-3. "Now I say, that the heir as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; but is under tutors and governors, until the time appointed of the father." "Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world."

But here, for the greater clearness and distinctness, I would subdivide this period from the fall of man to the coming of Christ into six lesser periods, or parts:—The first, extending from the fall to the flood;—the second, from thence to the calling of Abraham;—the third, from thence to Moses;—the fourth, from thence to David;—the fifth, from David to the captivity into Babylon;—and the sixth, from thence to the incarnation of Christ.

My first task is to show how the work of redemption is carried on from the fall of man to the incarnation of Christ, under the first proposition.

The entire period from the fall of man to the incarnation of Christ was spent doing things that were forerunners and pledges of Christ's coming and of the working out of redemption — things that were preparatory to it.

All the great works of God in the world during this entire period were preparatory to this. There were many great changes and upheavals in the world, and they were all simply the turning of the wheels of providence toward one goal: making way for the coming of Christ and for what He was to accomplish in the world. They all pointed toward Him, and they all found their fulfillment in Him. This was especially true of all God's great works toward His church. The church passed through many different seasons of providence and very different circumstances before Christ came. But all those seasons were designed to prepare the way for His coming. God saved souls throughout that entire period, though the number was very small compared to what it would later be. All this salvation was, so to speak, given in advance. All the souls saved before Christ came were only, as it were, a foretaste of the great harvest to come.

God worked many smaller salvations and deliverances for His church and people before Christ came. These salvations were all so many images and forerunners of the great salvation Christ would accomplish when He arrived. God revealed Himself repeatedly from the fall of man to the coming of Christ. The church during that time enjoyed the light of divine revelation — God's word. They had, to some degree, the light of the Gospel. But all these revelations were only forerunners and pledges of the great light that He would bring who came as the light of the world. That entire period was like nighttime — the church of God was not entirely without light, but it was like the light of the moon and stars at night: a dim light compared to the sun, mingled with a great deal of darkness. As 2 Corinthians 3:10 says, it had no glory because of the glory that surpasses it. The church had the light of the sun, but only as it was reflected from the moon and stars. Throughout that time the church was in its minority — still a child. The apostle makes this clear in Galatians 4:1-3: "Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father." "So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world."

For greater clarity, I will subdivide this period from the fall of man to the coming of Christ into six smaller periods. The first extends from the fall to the flood; the second from there to the calling of Abraham; the third from there to Moses; the fourth from there to David; the fifth from David to the captivity in Babylon; and the sixth from there to the incarnation of Christ.