Confession of Faith Ratification Act 1690

Chap. vii. Of Gods covenant with man S

1

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 Gods part which he hath been pleased to express by way of Covenant

2

THE first Covenant made with man was a Covenant of Works wherein life was promised to Adam and in him to his posterity upon condition of perfect and personall obedience

3

MAN by his fall having made himself uncapable of life by that Covenant the Lord was pleased to make a second commonly called the Covenant of Grace wherein he freely offered unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ requiring of them faith in him that they may be saved and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto life his holy Spirit to make them willing and able to believe

4

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

5

THIS Covenant was differently administred in the time of the Law and in the time of the Gospell under the Law it was administred by promises prophesies sacrifices circumcision the paschall lamb and other types and ordinances delivered to the people of the Jews all foresignifying Christ to come 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 by whom they had full remission of sins and eternall salvation and is called the Old Testament

6

UNDER the Gospell when Christ the substance was exhibited the ordinances in which his Covenant is dispensed are the preaching of the word and the administration of the sacraments of Baptism and the Lords Supper which though fewer in number and administred with more simplicity and less outward glory yet in them it is held forth in more fullness evidence and spirituall efficacy to all nations both Jews and Gentiles and is called the New Testament There are not therefore two Covenants of Grace differing in substance but one and the same under various dispensations