X. Of Man's Restoration.

Since God purposed even from the foundation of the world to redeem fallen man through His Son, Jesus Christ, as above set forth, He in His goodness did not leave him long in his hopeless condition, but revealed unto him, immediately after the fall, His purpose of grace by the promise of a redeemer, who as the seed of the woman should crush the serpent's head, although it should bruise His heel. (This promise, mysterious as it may seem, is the basis of all succeeding promises. Genesis 3:15).

This, together with many other evidences of God's goodness, gave our first parents such a great consolation that they could perceive how that by faith in God's promises, in a sincere conversion to Him, grace and salvation could be obtained. Hebrews 11:4. (It seems that Eve already at the birth of Cain drew comfort from this hope. Genesis 4:1). Thus, through the inestimable grace of God in Christ, revealed to them as above stated, there was given to them, in distinction from the fallen angels, the possibility and hope of being restored to blessedness, and with them to all their posterity in so far as these would not cut themselves off by their own guilt and the rejection of God's grace.

This revelation of His grace in and through the promise of a redeemer, was renewed and confirmed both to the devout patriarchs (Genesis 12:2, 3) and through all the prophets (Luke 1:70; 24:27) as also by means of many symbols and types (Hebrews 9:8-10), in order that they should exercise faith in this coming Messiah (1 Peter 1:10, 11), wait with confidence for their redemption through Him (Romans 4:20), and look forward to the same with desire (Luke 10:24) as many among them did in a remarkable manner. John 8:56.

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