THE PRIMARY PROMISE [Lect. LECT. II. THE PRIMARY PROMISE OF THE MESSIAH. Genesis iii. 14, 15. THESE words which were addressed by the Divine Being to the tempter, have been regarded by all interpreters, Jewish and Christian, as an indirect promise addressed to our first parents, a promise of ultimate victory over their malicious deceiver. And we may discern in them, in the very time and manner of their delivery, the signs of that divine compassion which has never ceased to pity and to pardon. No sooner has man fallen, than he is indulged with a hope of restoration---the sentence is not passed upon his offence till he has heard the promise of mercy-despair is not permitted even for one moment--and that very sentence which denounced curses and wretched degradation and perpetual hate and final destruction upon the serpent's head, gave the intimation of eventual deliverance, of distinguished posterity, of victory and conquest, to deluded man. So that when the just sentence was passed upon Adam and his wife, it was not the sentence of extermination, it was not judgment without mercy, it was mercy rejoicing against judgment. And as the good Bishop Taylor has remarked, God, who is infinitely patient in his justice, was not at all patient in his mercy; he forbears to strike and punish us, but he would not forbear to provide cure for us and remedy.'* * For, as if God could not stay from redeeming us, he promised the Redeemer to Adam in the beginning of the world's sin; and Christ was "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."-Sermons ii. 209. ii] OF THE MESSIAH. in whose look serene, When angry most he seem'd and most severe, Our fallen parents would undoubtedly take it as an intimation of God's grace and pardon; this first promise would excite hope, and faith, and love; and that cannot but be worthy of our devout meditations, which was the first distant promise of the world's regeneration, the first prediction of our great Restorer. But if all mankind are descended from this first pair, and are all implicated in the effects of their fall, it is reasonable to expect that all men should have some share in this advantage, some slight remembrance of this their father's immortal hope. Adam would diligently impress it on his children, and the misery and wretchedness of mankind in succeeding ages would fix upon this original promise as their only consolation, and their invaluable refuge. It will be interesting to trace the actual existence of this tradition in various nations, giving as it does, the confirmation of fact to the record of ancient prophecy. But we believe, Christian brethren, that this first promise did at length receive its fulfilment---we look upon it as receiving fulfilment to this present hour---we say with a perfect confidence that the seed of the woman has appeared, that the serpent's head has been broken by one mightier than he, and we trust with an unshaken hope that the God of peace will shortly bruise Satan under our feet.' To the consideration of these three divisions, this opportunity shall be devoted. First, the sense in which the promise would naturally be understood by the persons to whom it was addressed. Second, the traces which may be discovered of its preservation among heathen nations. Third, the clearer light and the actual fulfiment which it has received from the coming and the death of Jesus Christ. May the Great Author of Prophecy enable us to take heed thereunto, and vouchsafe to us the entire enjoyment of his own merciful promise. THE PRIMARY PROMISE [Lect. First, We shall endeavour to explain in what sense, this promise would be understood by our first parents. This earliest of all the predictions illustrates exactly the observations, which we made in the first lecture upon the design of Prophecy. For although it could not but be cheering and delightful in its influence, giving them the hope of deliverance; yet every one must perceive that our first parents would derive from it only a dim light, and an indistinct revelation. It is impossible to suppose that this prediction was as clear to them as it has since become, now that it has been interpreted by Time and Providence. How little could they know of Christ from this single expression, the seed of the woman.' How little could they know of the precise mode of his salvation from the prediction of it--- he shall bruise thy head.' How little could they estimate the greatness of that suffering and sacrifice which were shadowed forth under the type of these mysterious words--'thou shalt bruise his heel.'---The general character of Scripture Prophecy may be understood by the character of this first prediction---it was a light shining in a dark place---but never was it designed to be of self solution, or to enable mortal man to understand the secret purposes of Almighty God. It must be obvious to every one, that the sense in which Adam would understand these words, could not be so clear and determinate as our understanding of them, now that they have been explained to us by their accomplishment. If we take into consideration the circumstances of the case, we shall be able to ascertain very nearly the impression which they actually would make. For this purpose we must dismiss from our minds, not merely the frivolous cavils of infidel writers, who can see in these expressions nothing more than the natural history of the serpent tribes, and the abhorrence in which they are held; but also for the time we must forget the superior information which later Scriptures have given; we must place our minds as nearly as may be in the situation of Adam and his wife, who knew nothing of the future, but what was shadowed out to them in these prophetic words. Their present situation was supremely painful---it was a change from innocence to disobedience, from peace to excessive anguish of mind, from Divine communion to a conscious degradation and dread of their Maker's presence. --Gen. iii. 8. 'Love was not in their looks, either to God They would feel that they were now exposed to the execution of that fearful threatening which had forewarned them of death, as the penalty of transgression. And as they could have no adequate idea of dying, the mystery which hung round the prospect would darken it with additional dread. They would have a consciousness, however, that for all their present misery and terrors they were indebted to that seducer, whatever he might really be, who had tempted them to transgress, and had taught them their knowledge of sin and sorrow. 1. When, therefore, they heard the sentence of displeasure and of condemnation go forth against the serpent, they would be assured that their present state of wretchedness was displeasing to their Lord and Maker, that it was no angel of God who had thus betrayed them, and that the full weight of his own guilt should be made to press upon him. They would learn that their own enemy was not less the enemy of God. And they would feel certain that the power and justice of the Almighty would not fail to punish the being who had spoiled His creation. Thus the victory which the enemy had gained over themselves,would be shewn to be no victory over their greatest and best Friend---and whatever satisfaction the fiend might derive from his present success, they would have reason to hope should one day be wrested from his possession.---There can be no doubt that the parents of mankind must have THE PRIMARY PROMISE [Lect. understood by these words more than meets the ear. They who felt the inexpressibly painful effects of the serpent's seduction, would necessarily understand by the serpent's punishment something more worthy of Divine interposition, than the mere infliction of prostrate meanness upon an unintelligent reptile. They must have perceived that this was no common worm which had introduced such misery, and which was cursed by the just sentence of the Almighty. And whatever punishment was intended for him, the cause of their misery, must be an indication of mercy towards them the victims of deception. Our great poet has justly conceived the reasoning of the first man, though perhaps he has in this case travelled beyond the record in giving him too precise an idea ---addressing Eve, he says 'Thy seed shall bruise The serpent's head; piteous amends! unless Whatever displeasure, then, was denounced against the serpent would be taken as an intimation of favour towards themselves, since it shewed that God was not well pleased in their sorrow, and that it was not His intention that their deceiver should enjoy his victory. 2. But in what manner could the fruit of his victory be blasted in his taste, how should his serpent-head be bruised, how should any solace come to fallen man, unless by a restoration to somewhat of that happiness and uprightness which he had lost? If it were the pleasure of the deceiver to see them unhappy, mortal, and guilty, his malice would still be feasted upon the hateful sight, although the punishment of Heaven should fall upon his own head-his malignity would enable him to bear it. And it would be a feeble proof of the Divine Supremacy, if the effect of the enemy's successful opposition continued unabated. Shall this odious reptile ruin the work of God, and will God not renew his |