1) 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;a in this promise the gospel, as to
the substance of it, was revealed, and [is] therein effectual for
the conversion and salvation of sinners.b
(a Genesis
3:15; b Revelation 13:8)
2) This promise of Christ, and salvation by him, is
revealed only by the Word of God;c 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;d 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.e
(c Romans
1:17; d Romans
10:14,15,17; e Proverbs 29:18, Isaiah
25:7, Isaiah
60:2,3)
3) 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;f 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;g and therefore in all ages, the preaching
of the gospel has been granted unto persons and nations, as to
the extent or straitening of it, in great variety, according to
the counsel of the will of God.
(f Psalms
147:20, Acts
16:7; g Romans
1:18-32)
4) 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;h without which no other means will effect
their conversion unto God.i
(h Psalms
110:3, 1
Corinthians 2:14, Ephesians 1:19,20;
i John
6:44, 2
Corinthians 4:4,6)