1. The distance between God and the creature is so great, that although reasoning creatures owe obedience to him as their creator, yet they could never have any fruition of him as their blessedness and reward, except by some voluntary condescension on God’s part, which he has been pleased to express by way of covenant.

2. The first covenant made with mankind was a covenant of works, in which life was promised to Adam, and in him to his posterity, on condition of perfect and personal obedience.

3. Because the man, by his fall, made himself incapable of life by that covenant, the Lord was pleased to make a second covenant, commonly called the covenant of grace, in which he freely offers to sinners life and salvation through Jesus Christ, requiring them to have faith in him so that they may be saved, and promises to give to all those that are ordained to eternal life his Holy Spirit, to make them willing and able to believe.

4. This covenant of grace is frequently set forth in Scripture by the name of a testament, in reference to the death of Jesus Christ, the testator, and to the everlasting inheritance bequeathed by it, with all the things belonging to it.

5. This covenant was differently administered in the time of the Law and in the time of the Gospel. Under the Law, it was administered by promises, prophecies, sacrifices, circumcision, the Passover lamb, and other types and ordinances delivered to the Jewish people, all signifying in advance the Christ to come. These were sufficient and effective for that time, 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 eternal salvation. This is called the Old Testament.

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 Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Although these are fewer in number, and are administered with more simplicity and less outward glory, yet in them the covenant is shown forth in more fullness, evidence, and spiritual effectiveness to all nations, both Jews and Gentiles. It is called the New Testament. Therefore there are not two covenants of grace, differing in substance, but one and the same covenant, under different dispensations.