The Westminster Confession of Faith
CHAPTER 7
Of God's Covenant with Man.
I. The distance between God and the creature is go
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.a
a Isa. 40:13-17; Job.
9:32,33; 1 Sam. 2:25; Ps. 113:5,6; Ps. 100:2,3; Job. 22:2,3; Job
35:7,8; Luke 17:10; Acts 17:24,25.
II. The first covenant made with man was a
covenant of works,b wherein life was promised to
Adam, and in him to his posterity,c upon
condition of perfect and personal obedience.d
b Gal. 3:12.
c Rom. 10:5, Rom. 5:12-20.
d Gen. 2:17; Gal. 3:10.
III. Man by his fall having made himself incapable
of life by that covenant, the Lord was pleased to make a second,e
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;f and promising to
give unto all those that are ordained unto life his Holy Spirit, to
make them willing and able to believe.g
e Gal. 3:21; Rom. 8:3; Rom.
3:20,21; Gen. 3:15; Isa. 42:6.
f Mark 16:15,16; John 3:16; Rom.
10:6,9; Gal. 3:11.
g Ezek. 36:26,27; John 6:44,45.
IV. 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.h
h Heb. 9:15-17; Heb. 7:22;
Luke 22:20; 1 Cor. 11:25.
V. This covenant was differently administered in
the time of the law, and in the time of the gospel;i
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 foresignifying Christ to come,k
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,l by whom they had full
remission of sins, and eternal salvation; and is called, the Old
Testament.m
i 2 Cor. 3:6-9.
k Heb. chap. 8 to 10; Rom. 4:11;
Col. 2:11,12; 1 Cor. 5:7.
l 1 Cor. 10:1-4; Heb. 11:13; John
8:56.
m Gal. 3:7-9,14.
VI. Under the gospel, when Christ the substancen
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,o which, though
fewer in number, and administered with more simplicity and less outward
glory, yet, in them it is held forth in more fulness, evidence, and
spiritual efficacy,p to all nations, both Jews
and Gentiles;q and is called the New Testament.r
There are not therefore two covenants of grace differing in substance,
but one and the same under various dispensations.s
n Col. 2:17.
o Matt. 28:19,20; 1 Cor. 11:23-25.
p Heb. 12:22-28; Jer. 31:33,34.
q Matt. 28:19; Eph. 2:15-19.
r Luke 22:20.
s Gal. 3:14,16; Rom 3:21-23,30; Ps.
32:1 with Rom. 4:3,6,16,17,23,24; Heb. 13:8; Acts 15:11.
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