The Reign of Grace from Its Rise to Its Consummation

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1793 edition. Excerpt: ...his own righteoufnefs: without the divine assistance. To assert that our own righteousness is the condition of Justisication, is to confound the two opposite covenants of works and grace. What was the covenant of works? Was it not a constitution which. required personal obedience, as the condition of lise, and promised acceptance with God on the performance of that condition? This Was the tenour of it, and in this its distinguishing nature consisted. Whatever covenant therefore proceeds on. the seme terms, whether expressed or implied, is however it may be varied in other respects, a covenant of works. As in the renewal of the sirst promise concerning the Messiah, in which the essence of the covenant of grace was contained; though the sovereign Dispenser of all good was pleased to vary his language, and to exhibit his mercy in disserent views, under the Patriarchal, Mofaic, and Christian dispenfation; yet, in substance, it was always the fame: so, whatever variations we maysuppose to have taken place, respecting the covenant of works, while its grand characteristic, Do This And Live, is retained it is nevertheless the fame covenant.; Philip-iii. p. To To set the point in a dearer light, be it observed; That our sirst parents before the fall were under the covenant of works: and, supposing the condition of it had been performed, they would have had a right to lise, and would have enjoyed the promised blessing. Now though the enjoyment of life was suspended on the performance-ol perfect obedience, yet that was easier to them in their primitive state, than the least supposed condition would be to us in our fallen, corrupted state. And, how great soever the disparity was, between the obedience prescribed and the blessing promised; yet, had the...