To this I answer ; There is a difference between the faith in Christ yet to come, and the faith in Christ already come. The saints under the old testament, were justified by faith in Christ, that was yet to come ; but those under the new are justified by faith in Christ already come. The apostle saith, " For therein (viz. in the gospel) is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith," Rom. 1, 17. In the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed from the faith of the old testament to the faith of the new, that is, from faith to faith ; or, from the faith in Christ to come to the faith in Christ already come. Although the saints under the old testament were justified by the faith in Christ yet to come, yet they did not then get the full enjoyment of the promise. The inspired writer to the Hebrews, when speaking of the saints of the old testament, he adds, " And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise. God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect," Heb. 11, 39 40 ; compared with Rom. 3, 24, 26. They indeed believed the promises of God ; but the things promised, they then did not receive ; hence were not made perfect without us, that is, because they could not enjoy Christ already come, and only now are made perfect under the new testament dispensation. It is evident that Cornelius was a believer in Christ that was yet to come ; for he knew not that Christ had already come, until St. Peter was sent to him, to inform him that Jesus of Nazareth was the true Messiah, that was promised, see Acts 10, 36, 43. Thus, since Cornelius was justified by faith in Christ to come, he was justified before baptism was instituted, or at least before he knew it ; thus it may easily be accounted for, why he was justified before his baptism. But this is far from proving, that we who live since the institution of baptism is known, should be justified without baptism, because Cornelius was before he knew of Christ already come ; and consequently justified under another dispensation.

Back: I must here answer an objection...

Next: Again, it is to be observed...