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The proofs, then, of this last judgment of God which I propose to
adduce shall be drawn first from the New Testament, and then from the
Old. For although the Old Testament is prior in point of time the
New has the precedence in intrinsic value; for the Old acts the part
of herald to the New.
We shall therefore first cite passages from the New Testament, and
confirm them by quotations from the Old Testament. The Old contains
the law and the prophets, the New the gospel and the apostolic
epistles. Now the apostle says "By the law is the knowledge of sin.
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being
witnessed by the law and the prophets; now the righteousness of God is
by faith of Jesus Christ upon all them that believe." This
righteousness of God belongs to the New Testament, and evidence for
it exists in the old books, that is to say, in the law and the
prophets. I shall first, then state the case, and then call the
witnesses.
This order Jesus Christ Himself directs us to observe, saying,
"The scribe instructed in the kingdom of God is like a good
householder, bringing out of his treasure things new and old." He
did not say" old and new," which He certainly would have said had
He not wished to follow the order of merit rather than that of time.
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