一、神与受造物之间的差距如此之大，以致虽然有理性的受造物本当把祂作为他们的造物主来顺服，但他们永远不可能从祂那里有所得着，作为他们的祝福和赏赐，除非是神那方自愿屈尊俯就，而祂乐意用立约的方式表达这种俯就（赛40:13-17；伯9:32-33；诗113:5,6；伯22:2,3；35:7-8；路17:10；徒17:24-25）。

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 blessedness and reward, but by some voluntary condescension on God’s part, which He hath been pleased to express by way of covenant.

二、第一个与人所立的约是行为之约（创2:16-17；何6:7；加3:12），在其中，生命被应许给亚当，并且在他里面给他的后裔（创3:22；罗10:5；5:12-14,15-20），条件是完全的、个人的顺服（创2:17；加3:10）。

The first covenant made with man was a covenant of works, wherein life was promised to Adam, and in him to his posterity, upon condition of perfect and personal obedience.

三、人因着堕落，使自己再无能力借着那约得生命，主就乐意设立第二个约（加3:21；罗3:20-21；8:3；创3:15；赛42:6），通常被称为恩典之约。在其中，祂借着耶稣基督将生命和拯救白白赐给罪人，要求他们信靠祂、使他们可以得救（约3:16；罗10:6,9； 启22:17），并应许将祂的圣灵赐给一切被命定得生命的人，使他们愿意、并且能够相信（徒13:48；结36:26-27；约6:37,44-45；林前12:3）。（译注：恩典是白白的，但恩典之约是有条件的。神的拣选和人的自由并无矛盾，在神的掌管之下，要求人的意志有所回应。）

Man by his fall having made himself incapable of life by that covenant, the Lord was pleased to make a second, commonly called the covenant of grace: wherein He freely offered 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.

四、这个恩典之约在圣经中常被称为遗命，是指立遗命者耶稣基督的死，并指由遗命留下的永恒产业、以及属于这产业的一切（来9:15-17）。（译注：出埃及记也用君臣关系来表达恩典之约。）

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

五、这约在律法时代和福音时代（林后3:6-9）的施行方式不同：在律法之下，它是通过应许、预言、献祭、割礼、逾越节羔羊，以及其他传给犹太人的预表和典章施行，都是预表那将要来的基督（来8-10；罗4:11；西2:11-12；林前5:7）；在当时，这些通过圣灵的运行，足以有效地教导并建立选民对所应许的弥赛亚的信心（林前10:1-4；来11:13；约8:56），知道他们借着祂将得到完全的赦罪和永远的拯救。这种施行方式被称为旧约（加3:7-9,14；诗32:1-2,5）。

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 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 eternal salvation, and is called the Old Testament.

六、在福音之下，当本体基督显现的时候（西2:17），施行此约的典章就是宣讲圣言、施行洗礼和圣餐的圣礼（林前1:21；太28:19-20；林前11:23-25）；这些虽然数目更少，施行起来更简单、外表的荣耀更少，但这约在其中却以更丰富、更明显、更具属灵功效（来12:22-24；林后3:9-11；耶31:33-34）的方式显明给万民，包括犹太人和外邦人（路2:32；徒10:34；弗2:15-19）。这种施行方式被称为新约（路22:20）。因此，并没有两个本质不同的恩典之约，而是同一个约的不同施行方式（加3:8-9,14,16；罗3:21-23,30；罗4:3,6-8；创15:6；诗32:1-2；罗4:16-17,23-24；来4:2；罗10:6-10；林前10:3-4）。

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; which, though fewer in number, and administered with more simplicity and less outward glory, yet in them it is held forth in more fullness, evidence, and spiritual 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.