Expl. 12. The wise and gracious Creator having made man a reasonable creature, and having also stamped his own image upon him, and thereby rendered him fit for and capable of happiness in the enjoyment of himself; and there being no other way to this enjoyment, but by union and communion with himself, he was most graciously pleased in order thereunto, to make a Covenant with man, (giving a Law to him as soon as he had made him,) and in him with all his posterity; wherein he promised life to him, and in him to all mankind, upon condition of perfect and personal obedience. And that God might try him, how he would carry it, being now brought within the bounds of this Covenant, he was pleased to lay this particular positive Precept upon him, That he should not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, &c. upon pain of death; which Precept he having broken, became liable unto ⟨p. 23⟩death, or to the curse of the Law. This Covenant which God entered into with the first Adam was in Paradise, a Covenant or Law of Works, Do this and live: But that Covenant which God hath established in Christ the second Adam with all Believers (since the Fall) whether in the Old or New Testament, 'tis a Covenant of Grace; and the grand Condition of this Covenant on mans part, or the qualification whereby he is fitted and capacitated to receive the benefit of this Covenant, 'tis the righteousness of Faith; for it runs thus, Believe and live; not that the Covenant of Grace (whether in the Old or New Testament) does not require new obedience, but that it does not require this in order to justification; for this new obedience, or this obedience of Faith, it is rather the fruit or effect, than the instrumental cause, means, or condition of justification. But more distinctly, amongst those many differences which are wont to be assigned by Divines betwixt the Covenant of Works and the Covenant of Grace, we may take notice of these: (1.) The Covenant of Works was made with man before the Fall, before he had sinned against God; the Covenant of Grace, afterward. (2.) The Covenant of Works did not promise pardon upon repentance; the Covenant of Grace does, because Christ the Mediator of this Covenant has purchased pardon for all penitent sinners, who have but a hand of Faith to receive it. (3.)
Expl. 12. The wise and gracious Creator having made man a reasonable creature, and having also stampt his own image upon him, and thereby rendered him fit for and capable of happiness in the enjoyment of himself; and there being no other way to this enjoyment, but by union and communion with himself, he was most graciously pleased in order thereunto, to make a Covenant with man, (giving a Law to him as soon as he had made him,) and in him with all his posterity; wherein he promised life to him, and in him to all mankind, upon condition of perfect and personal obedience. And that God might try him, how he would carry it, being now brought within the bounds of this Covenant, he was pleased to lay this particular positive Precept upon him, That he should not eat of the tree of knowledg of good and evil, &c. upon pain of death; which Precept he having broken, became liable unto ⟨p. 23⟩death, or to the curse of the Law. This Covenant which God entered into with the first Adam was in Paradise, a Covenant or Law of Works, Do this and live: But that Covenant which God hath establisht in Christ the second Adam with all Believers (since the Fall) whether in the Old or New Testament, 'tis a Covenant of Grace; and the grand Condition of this Covenant on mans part, or the qualification whereby he is fitted and capacitated to receive the benefit of this Covenant, 'tis the righteousness of Faith; for it runs thus, Believe and live; not that the Covenant of Grace (whether in the Old or New Testament) does not require new obedience, but that it does not require this in order to justification; for this new obedience, or this obedience of Faith, it is rather the fruit or effect, than the instrumental cause, means, or condition of justification. But more distinctly, amongst those many differences which are wont to be assigned by Divines betwixt the Covenant of Works and the Covenant of Grace, we may take notice of these: (1.) The Covenant of Works was made with man before the Fall, before he had sinned against God; the Covenant of Grace, afterward. (2.) The Covenant of Works did not promise pardon upon repentance; the Covenant of Grace does, because Christ the Mediator of this Covenant has purchased pardon for all penitent sinners, who have but a hand of Faith to receive it. (3.)
