The Usefulness and Fulness of the Old Testament.
By D. F. Newton
CHRIST and his redemption is the great subject of the whole Bible. Concerning the New Testament, the matter is plain: it appears to be so with respect to the Old. Christ and his redemption is the great subject of the prophecies, as well as the songs of the Old Testament; and the moral rules and precepts are all given in subordination to him. Christ is also the great subject of the history of the Old Testament from the beginning all along: and even the history of the creation is given as an introduction to the history of redemption that immediately follows it. The whole book, both Old Testament and New, is filled up with the gospel; only with this difference, that the Old Testament contains the gospel under a veil, but the New contains it unvailed, so that we may see the glory of the Lord with open face. Thus we may see the usefulness and excellency of the Old Testament. Some are ready to look on it as being out of date, and as if we, in these days of the gospel, have but little to do with it. But this is a very great mistake, arising from a want of observing the nature and design of the Old Testament, which, if it were observed, would appear full of the gospel of Christ; and would, in an excellent manner, illustrate and confirm the glorious doctrines and promises of the New Testament. Those parts of the Old Testament which are commonly looked upon as containing the least divine instruction, are mines and treasures of gospel knowledge; and the reason why they are thought to contain so little is, that persons do but superficially read them. The treasures which are hid underneath are not observed. They only look on the top of the ground and suddenly pass a judgment that there is nothing there. But they never dig into the mine: if they did, they would find it richly stored with what is more valuable than silver and gold, and would be abundantly requited for their pains. “’Tis a pearl of price exceeding
All the gems in ocean found;
To its precepts ever listening,
In its truths may I abound.”
The two parts of which the Scriptures consist (the Old and the New Testaments), are connected by a chain of compositions (the prophecies), which bear no resemblance in form or style to any that can be produced from the stores of Grecian, Indian, Persian, or even Arabian learning. The antiquity of these compositions no man doubts; and the unstrained application of them to events long subsequent to their publication is a solid ground of belief that they were genuine predictions, and consequently inspired.—D. F. Newton.