1689 & Federal Theology

[JM]

The Westminster Confession is unambiguous in its federal theology. The first covenant made with man was a Covenant of Works (7.2) which, after man had sinned (7.3), was replaced by a Covenant of Grace (7.3). The Baptist Confession, on the other hand, is far more elusive. Although the distinction between God and the Creature is described in terms of Covenant (7.1) and the salvific relationship between God and the elect is described in terms of a Covenant of Grace (7.2), there is no mention of a Covenant of Works in the chapter ‘Of God’s Covenant with Man’. This unwillingness to mention the Covenant of Works seems to directly contravene the Westminster Confession’s strict division between the pre-fall and post-fall covenants. However, a closer analysis of the whole text of the Baptist Confession reveals three references to the Covenant of Works in the section on the Law of God (19.6, twice) and in the chapter added from Savoy on the extent of the Gospel (20.1). This undoubtedly leads to the question: Why is there an avoidance of any language of a Covenant of Works in the chapter on ‘God’s Covenant with Man’?

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God's Covenant:


1. The distance between God and the creature is so great, that although reasonable creatures do owe obedience to him as their creator, yet they could never have attained the reward of life but by some voluntary condescension on God's part, which he hath been pleased to express by way of covenant. ( Luke 17:10; Job 35:7,8 )


2. Moreover, man having brought himself under the curse of the law by his fall, it pleased the Lord to make a covenant of grace, wherein he freely offereth 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 eternal life, his Holy Spirit, to make them willing and able to believe. ( Genesis 2:17; Galatians 3:10; Romans 3:20, 21; Romans 8:3; Mark 16:15, 16; John 3:16; Ezekiel 36:26, 27; John 6:44, 45; Psalms 110:3 )


3. This covenant is revealed in the gospel; first of all to Adam in the promise of salvation by the seed of the woman, and afterwards by farther steps, until the full discovery thereof was completed in the New Testament; and it is founded in that eternal covenant transaction that was between the Father and the Son about the redemption of the elect; and it is alone by the grace of this covenant that all the posterity of fallen Adam that ever were saved did obtain life and blessed immortality, man being now utterly incapable of acceptance with God upon those terms on which Adam stood in his state of innocency. ( Genesis 3:15; Hebrews 1:1; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 11;6, 13; Romans 4:1, 2, &c.; Acts 4:12; John 8:56 )

Tabular Comparison of 1646 WCF and 1689 LBCF

Interesting study I've been having the last week. To read more of the article: http://www.sicliff.co.uk/jon/1689.pdf

jm

 

[heymikey80]

Isn't Locke's letter on religious toleration from this period? Maybe it offers some more perspective on the state of religious connections among men, nations, churches and God at this time.