Of God's Covenant with Man.- THE
distance between God and the creature is so great, that although
reasonable creatures do owe obedience unto him as their Creator, yet
they could never have any fruition of him as their blessedness and
reward, but by some voluntary condescension on God's part, which he
hath been pleased to express by way of covenant. [1]
- The
first covenant made with man was a covenant of works, [2] wherein life
was promised to Adam, and in him to his posterity, [3] upon condition
of perfect and personal obedience.[4]
- Man
by his fall having made himself incapable of life by that covenant, the
Lord was pleased to make a second, [5] commonly called the Covenant of
Grace; whereby he freely offereth unto sinners life and salvation by
Jesus Christ, requiring of them faith in him, that they may be saved;
[6] and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto life
his Holy Spirit, to make them willing and able to believe. [7].
- This
covenant of grace is frequently set forth in the Scripture by the name
of a Testament, in reference to the death of Jesus Christ, the
testator, and to the everlasting inheritance, with all things belonging
to it, therein bequeathed. [8].
- This
covenant was differently administered in the time of the law, and in
the time of the gospel, [9] under the law it was administered by
promises, prophecies, sacrifices, circumcision, the paschal lamb, and
other types and ordinances delivered to the people of the Jews, all
fore-signifying Christ to come, [10] which were for that time
sufficient and efficacious, through the operation of the Spirit, to
instruct and build up the elect in faith in the promised Messiah, [11]
by whom they had full remission of sins, and eternal salvation; and is
called the Old Testament. [12]
- Under
the gospel, when Christ the substance, [13] was exhibited, the
ordinances in which this covenant is dispensed are the preaching of the
word, and the administration of the sacraments of Baptism and the
Lord's Supper; [14] which though fewer in number, and administered with
more simplicity and less outward glory, yet in them it is held forth in
more fullness, evidence, and spiritual efficacy, [15] to all nations,
both Jews and Gentiles, [16] and is called the New Testament. [17]
There are not, therefore, two covenants of grace differing in
substance, but one and the same under various dispensations. [18].
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