Chapter 20
Of the Gospel, and of the Extent of the
Grace Thereof
- The covenant of works being broken by sin, and made unprofitable unto life, God was
pleased to give forth the promise of Christ, the seed of the woman, as the means of
calling the elect, and begetting in them faith and repentance;1 in this
promise, the Gospel, as to the substance of it, was revealed, and therein effectual, for
the conversion and salvation of sinners.2
- This promise of Christ, and salvation by Him, is revealed only by the Word of God;3 neither do the works of creation, or providence, with the light of
nature, make discovery of Christ, or of grace by Him, so much as in a general or obscure
way;4 much less that men destitute of the revelation of Him by the
promise, or gospel, should be enabled thereby to attain saving faith or repentance.5
- The revelation of the gospel unto sinners, made in divers times, and by sundry parts,
with the addition of promises, and precepts, for the obedience required therein, as to the
nations, and persons, to whom it is granted, is merely of the sovereign will and good
pleasure of God,6 not being annexed by virtue of any promise to the due
improvement of men's natural abilities, by virtue of common light received without it;
which none ever did make, or can do so:7 and therefore in all ages the
preaching of the gospel has been granted unto persons and nations, as to the extending or
limiting of it, in great variety, according to the counsel of the will of God.
- Although the gospel be the only outward means of revealing Christ, and saving grace, and
is, as such, abundantly sufficient thereunto; yet that men who are dead in trespasses, may
be born again, quickened or regenerated, there is moreover necessary, an effectual
insuperable work of the Holy Spirit, upon the whole soul, for the producing in them a new
spiritual life;8 without which no other means will effect their
conversion unto God.9
Footnotes:
1. Ge 3:15.
2. Rev 13:8.
3. Ro 1:17.
4. Ro 10:14-15,17.
5. Pr 29:18; Isa 25:7; 60:2-3.
6. Ps 147:20; Ac 16:7.
7. Ro 1:18-32.
8. Ps 110:3; 1Co 2:14; Eph 1:19-20.
9. Jn 6:44; 2Co. 4:4,6.