The harmony

Chapter 7: Of God’s Covenant

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)

7.1 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 Blessednesse and Reward, but by some voluntary condescension on Gods part, which he hath been pleased to expresse by way of Covenant.

Savoy Declaration of Faith and Order (1658)

7.1 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 attained the reward of life, but by some voluntary condescension on Gods part, which he hath been pleased to express by way of Covenant.

Second London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689)

7.1 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 attained the Reward of Life, but by some voluntary condescension on God’s part, which he hath been pleased to express, by way of Covenant.

Westminster Confession of Faith (1646)

7.3 Man, by his Fall having made himself uncapable of Life by that Covenant, the Lord was pleased to make a Second, commonly called the Covenant of Grace; Wherein he freely offereth unto sinners Life and Salvation by Jesus Christ, requiring of them Faith in Him that they may be saved, and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto Life, his holy Spirit, to make them willing, and able to beleeve.

Savoy Declaration of Faith and Order (1658)

7.3 Man by his fall having made himself uncapable of life by that Covenant, the Lord was pleased to make a second, commonly called the Covenant of Grace; wherein he freely offereth unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ, requiring of them faith in him that they may be saved, and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto life, his holy Spirit, to make them willing and able to believe.

Second London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689)

7.2 Moreover, Man having brought himself under the curse of the Law by his fall, it pleased the Lord to make a Covenant of Grace, wherein he freely offereth unto Sinners, Life and Salvation by Jesus Christ, requiring of them Faith in him, that they may be saved; and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto eternal Life, his holy Spirit, to make them willing, and able to believe.

Westminster Confession of Faith (1646)

7.5 This Covenant was differently administred in the time of the Law, and in the time of the Gospel: Under the Law, it was administred by Promises, Prophecies, Sacrifices, Circumcision, the Paschal Lamb, and other Types and Ordinances delivered to the people of the Jews, all fore-signifying Christ to come: 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, by whom they had full remission of sins, and eternall Salvation: and is called, the Old Testament.
7.6 Under the Gospel, when Christ, the substance, was exhibited, the Ordinances in which this Covenant is dispensed, are the Preaching of the Word, and the Administration of the Sacraments of Baptisme, and the Lords Supper: Which, though fewer in number, and administred with more simplicity, and lesse outward glory; yet, in them, it is held forth in more fulnesse, evidence, and spirituall efficacy, to all Nations, both Jews and Gentiles; and, is called the New Testament. There are not therefore Two Covenants of Grace, differing in substance, but one and the same, under various dispensations.

Savoy Declaration of Faith and Order (1658)

None corresponds.

Second London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689)

7.3 This Covenant is revealed in the Gospel; first of all to Adam in the promise of Salvation by the Seed of the Woman, and afterwards by farther steps, until the full discovery thereof was compleated in the New Testament; and it is founded in that Eternal Covenant transaction, that was between the Father and the Son about the Redemption of the Elect; and it is alone by the Grace of this Covenant, that all of the Posterity of fallen Adam, that ever were saved, did obtain Life and blessed Immortality; Man being now utterly uncapable of acceptance with God upon those terms on which Adam stood in his state of Innocency.