Chapter VII: Of God's Covenant with Man. De foedere Dei cum nomine.

Of God's Covenant with Man. De foedere Dei cum nomine.
I. 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 God's part, which he hath been pleased to express by way of covenant. [1137] I. Tanta est inter deum et creaturam distantia, ut licet creaturæ rationales obedientiam illi ut creatori suo debeant, nullam tamen fruitionem ejus tanquam suæ beatitudinis ac præmii habere unquam potuissent, ni voluntaria fuisset aliqua ex parte Dei condescentio; quam ipsi exprimere placuit icto foedere. [1138] II. The first covenant made with II. Primum foedus cum hominibus

man was a covenant of works, [1139] wherein life was promised to Adam, and in him to his posterity, [1140] upon condition of perfect and personal obedience. [1141] initum erat foedus operum, [1142] quo vita Adamo promissa erat, ejusque in eo posteris, [1143] sub conditione obedientiæ perfectæ ac personalis. [1144] III. Man by his fall having made himself incapable of life by that covenant, the Lord was pleased to make a second, [1145] 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, [1146] and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto life his Holy Spirit, to make them willing and able to believe.
[1147] III. Quum autem homo lapsu suo omnem sibi præstruxisset ad vitam aditum per illud foedus, complacuit Domino secundum inire, [1148] quod vulgo dicimus Foedus Gratiæ; in quo peccatoribus offert gratuito vitam ac salutem per Jesum Christum, fidem in illum ab iis requirens ut salventur; [1149] promittensque omnibus qui ad vitam ordinantur se spiritum suum sanctum daturum, qui in illis operetur credendi cum voluntatem tum potentiam. [1150] 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. [1151] IV. Hoc foedus Gratiæ in Scriptura sæpe nomine Testamenti indigitatur, respectu nimirum mortis Testatoris Jesu Christi, æternæque illius hæreditatis, quam is una cum omnibus eam spectantibus inibi legabat. [1152]
V. This covenant was differently administered in the time of the law and in the time of the gospel: [1153] under the law it was administered by promises, prophecies, V. Hoc foedus sub Lege atque sub Evangelio administratum est modo alio atque alio. [1154] Sub Lege quidem per promissiones, prophetias et sacrificia, per circumcisionem, agnum

sacrifices, circumcision, the paschal lamb, and other types and ordinances delivered to the people of the Jews, all fore-signifying Christ to come, [1155] 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, [1156] by whom they had full remission of sins and eternal salvation; and is called the Old Testament. [1157] pascalem, aliosque typos ac instituta populo Judaico tradita, quæ omnia Venturum Christum præsignificabant; [1158] erantque pro ratione illorum temporum sufficientia, et per operationem spiritus efficacia ad electos instruendum ac ædificandum in fide in promissum Messiam, [1159] per quem plenum peccatorum remissionem et salutem æternam sunt consecuti; diciturque Vetus Testamentum. [1160] VI. Under the gospel, when Christ the substance [1161] 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; [1162] which, though fewer in number, and administered with more simplicity aud less outward glory, yet in them it is held forth in more fullness, evidence, and spiritual efficacy, [1163] to all nations, both Jews and Gentiles; [1164] and is called the New Testament. [1165] There are not, therefore, two covenants of grace differing in substance, but one and the same under various dispensations. [1166] VI. Sub evangelio autem, exhibito jam Christo, substantia [1167] scilicet ac antitypo, præscriptæ rationes in quibus hoc foedus dispensatur, sunt prædicatio verbi, et administratio sacramentorum, baptismi nempe ac coenæ Dominicæ; [1168] in quibus quidem utut numero paucioribus, iisque simplicius ac minore cum externa gloria administratis, cum majore tamen plenitudine, evidentia, et efficacia spirituali [1169] populis cunctis tam Judæis quam Gentibus
[1170] exhibetur; Diciturque Novum Testamentum. [1171] Non sunt ergo duo foedera gratiæ, re atque natura discrepantia; sed unum idemque, licet non uno modo dispensatum. [1172] .