A52591:256
A Declaration of the faith and order owned and practiced in the Congregational churches…
A Declaration of the faith and order owned and practiced in the Congregational churches in England agreed upon and consented unto by their elders and messengers in their meeting at the Savoy, October 12, 1658.
London: printed by John Field, 1659
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Chapter 20: Of the Gospel, and of the extent of the Grace thereof.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
CHAP. XX. Of the Gospel, and of the extent of the Grace thereof.
The Covenant of Works being broken by sin, and made unprofitable unto life, God was pleased to give unto the Elect the promise of Christ, the seed of the Woman, as the means of calling them, and begetting in them Faith and Repentance: In this promise, the Gospel, as to the substance of it, was revealed, and was therein effectual for the conversion and salvation of sinners.
THe Covenant of Works being broken by sin, and made unprofitable unto life, God was pleased to give unto the Elect the promise of Christ, the seed of the Woman, as the means of calling them, and begetting in them Faith and Repentance: In this promise, the Gospel, as to the substance of it, was revealed, and was therein effectual for the conversion and salvation of sinners.
II.
This promise of Christ, and salvation by him, is revealed only in and by the Word of God, neither do the works of Creation or Providence, with the Light of Nature, make discovery of Christ, or of Grace by him, so much as in a general or obscure way; much less that men destitute of the revelation of him by the Promise or Gospel, should be enabled thereby to attain saving Faith or Repentance.