Chapter 19: Of the Law of God
The Westminster Confession (1646), the Savoy Declaration (1658) and the Second London Confession (1677/1689), paragraph by paragraph. Marked: what each has that the one before it lacks.
| Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) | Savoy Declaration of Faith and Order (1658) | Second London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689) |
|---|---|---|
Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) 19.1 God gave to Adam a Law, as a Covenant of Works, by which he bound him, and all his posterity to personall, entire, exact, and perpetuall obedience; promised life upon the fullfilling, and threatned death upon the breach of it: and indued him with power and ability to keep it. | Savoy Declaration of Faith and Order (1658) 19.1 God gave to Adam a Law of universal obedience written in his heart, and a particular precept of not eating the Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil, as a Covenant of Works, by which he bound him and all his posterity to personal, entire, exact and perpetual obedience, promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatned death upon the breach of it, and indued him with power and ability to keep it. | Second London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689) 19.1 God gave to Adam a Law of Universal Obedience, written in his Heart, and a particular Precept of not eating the Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil; by which he bound him, and all his Posterity to personal, entire, exact and perpetual Obedience; promised Life upon the fulfilling, and threatned Death upon the breach of it, and indued him with Power and Ability to keep it. |
Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) 19.2 This Law, after his fall, continued to be a perfect rule of righteousnesse, and, as such, was delivered by God upon Mount Sinai, in ten Commandements, and written in two Tables: the four first Commandements containing our duty towards God; and the other six, our duty to man. | Savoy Declaration of Faith and Order (1658) 19.2 This Law so written in the heart, continued to be a perfect Rule of righteousness after the fall of man, and was delivered by God upon mount Sinai in ten Commandments, and written in two Tables, the four first Commandments containing our duty towards God, and the other six our duty to man. | Second London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689) 19.2 The same Law that was first written in the Heart of Man, continued to be a perfect Rule of Righteousness after the Fall, and was delivered by God upon Mount Sinai, in Ten Commandments, and written in two Tables, the four first containing our Duty towards God, and the other six our Duty to Man. |
Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) 19.3 Beside this Law, commonly called Moral, God was pleased to give to the people of Israel, as a Church under age, Ceremoniall Laws containing severall typicall Ordinances, partly of worship, prefiguring Christ, his graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits; and partly, holding forth divers instructions of moral duties. All which Ceremonial Laws are now abrogated, under the new Testament. | Savoy Declaration of Faith and Order (1658) 19.3 Beside this Law commonly called Moral, God was pleased to give to the people of Israel Ceremonial Laws, containing several Typical Ordinances, partly of Worship, prefiguring Christ, his Graces, Actions, Sufferings and Benefits, and partly holding forth divers Instructions of Moral Duties: All which Ceremonial Laws being appointed onely to the time of Reformation, are by Jesus Christ the true Messiah and onely Law-giver, who was furnished with power from the Father for that end, abrogated and taken away. | Second London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689) 19.3 Besides this Law, commonly called Moral, God was pleased to give to the People of Israel Ceremonial Laws, containing several typical Ordinances, partly of Worship, prefiguring Christ, his Graces, Actions, Sufferings, and Benefits; and partly holding forth divers Instructions of Moral Duties, all which Ceremonial Laws being appointed only to the time of Reformation, are by Jesus Christ the true Messiah, and only Law-giver, who was furnished with Power from the Father, for that end, abrogated and taken away. |
Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) 19.4 To them also, as a Body Politique, he gave sundry Judicial Laws, which expired together with the State of that people; not obliging any other now, further than the general equity thereof may require. | Savoy Declaration of Faith and Order (1658) 19.4 To them also he gave sundry Judicial Laws, which expired together with the State of that people, not obliging any now by vertue of that Institution, their general equity onely being still of moral use. | Second London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689) 19.4 To them also he gave sundry Judicial Laws, which expired together with the state of that People, not obliging any now by vertue of that Institution; their general Equity only being of moral Use. |
Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) 19.5 The Moral Law doth for ever binde all, as well justified persons as others, to the obedience thereof; and that, not only in regard of the matter contained in it, but also in respect of the authority of God the Creatour, who gave it Neither doth Christ, in the Gospel, any way dissolve, but much strengthen this obligation. | Savoy Declaration of Faith and Order (1658) 19.5 The Moral Law doth for ever binde all, as well justified persons as others, to the obedience thereof; and that not onely in regard of the matter contained in it, but also in respect of the Authority of God the Creator, who gave it: neither doth Christ in the Gospel any way dissolve, but much strengthen this obligation. | Second London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689) 19.5 The Moral Law doth for ever bind all, as well justified Persons as others, to the Obedience thereof, and that not only in regard of the Matter contained in it, but also in respect of the Authority of God the Creator, who gave it; neither doth Christ in the Gospel any way dissolve, but much strengthen this Obligation. |
Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) 19.6 Although true Beleevers be not under the Law, as a Covenant of Works, to be thereby justified, or condemned; yet, is it of great use to them, as well as to others; in that, as a Rule of life informing them of the will of God, and their duty, it directs, and binds them to walk accordingly; discovering also the sinfull pollutions of their nature, hearts, and lives; so as, examining themselves thereby, they may come to further conviction of, humiliation for, and hatred against sin; together with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ, and the perfection of his obedience. It is likewise of use to the Regenerate, to restrain their corruptions, in that it forbids sin: and, the threatnings of it serve to shew, what, even their sins, deserve; and, what afflictions, in this life, they may expect for them, although freed from the curse thereof threatned in the Law. The Promises of it, in like manner, shew them Gods approbation of obedience, and what blessings they may expect upon the performance thereof; although, not as due to them by the Law, as a Covenant of Works. So as, a mans doing good, and refraining from evil, because the Law encourageth to the one, and deterreth from the other, is no evidence of his being under the Law; and, not under grace. | Savoy Declaration of Faith and Order (1658) 19.6 Although true believers be not under the Law, as a Covenant of Works, to be thereby justified or condemned; yet it is of great use to them as well as to others, in that, as a rule of life, informing them of the Will of God, and their duty, it directs and bindes them to walk accordingly, discovering also the sinful pollutions of their nature, hearts and lives, so as examining themselves thereby, they may come to further conviction of humiliation for, and hatred against sin, together with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ, and the perfection of his obedience. It is likewise of use to the regenerate, to restrain their corruptions, in that it forbids sin, and the threatnings of it serve to shew what even their sins deserve, and what afflictions in this life they may expect for them, although freed from the curse thereof threatned in the Law. The promises of it in like maner shew them Gods approbation of obedience, and what blessings they may expect upon the performance thereof, although not as due to them by the Law, as a Covenant of Works; so as a mans doing good, and refraining from evil, because the Law incourageth to the one, and deterreth from the other, is no evidence of his being under the Law, and not under Grace. | Second London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689) 19.6 Although true Believers be not under the Law, as a Covenant of Works, to be thereby justified or condemned, yet it is of great Use to them, as well as to others, in that, as a Rule of Life, informing them of the Will of God, and their Duty, it directs and binds them to walk accordingly; discovering also the sinful Pollutions of their Natures, Hearts and Lives, so as examining themselves thereby, they may come to further conviction of, humiliation for, and hatred against Sin; together with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ, and the perfection of his Obedience: It is likewise of use to the Regenerate, to restrain their Corruptions, in that it forbids Sin; and the Threatnings of it serve to shew what even their Sins deserve, and what Afflictions in this Life they may expect for them, although freed from the Curse and unallyed Rigor thereof. These Promises of it likewise shew them God’s approbation of Obedience, and what Blessings they may expect upon the Performance thereof, though not as due to them by the Law as a Covenant of Works; so as Man’s doing Good, and refraining from Evil, because the Law incourageth to the one, and deterreth from the other, is no Evidence of his being under the Law, and not under Grace. |
Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) 19.7 Neither are the forementioned Uses of the Law contrary to the grace of the Gospel, but doe sweetly comply with it; the Spirit of Christ subduing, and inabling the will of man, to do that, freely and chearfully, which the will of God, revealed in the Law, requireth to be done. | Savoy Declaration of Faith and Order (1658) 19.7 Neither are the forementioned uses of the Law contrary to the grace of the Gospel, but do sweetly comply with it, the Spirit of Christ subduing and inabling the will of man to do that freely and chearfully, which the will of God revealed in the Law required to be done. | Second London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689) 19.7 Neither are the forementioned Uses of the Law contrary to the Grace of the Gospel, but do sweetly comply with it, the Spirit of Christ subduing and inabling the Will of Man to do that freely, and chearfully, which the Will of God revealed in the Law, requireth to be done. |