The Savoy Declaration
An addendum to the Westminster
Confession made by John Owen.
The difference between this confession (or
declaration) and the Westminster Confession is this chapter.
There are some other small revisions, but this is the major change. This
chapter does not appear in the Westminster Confession.
Chapter
20
Of the Gospel,
and of the Extent of the Grace Thereof
1.
The covenant of works being broken by sin, and made unprofitable
unto life, God was pleased to give unto the elect the promise of Christ,
the seed of the woman, as the means of calling them, and begetting in them
faith and repentance: in this promise the gospel, as to the substance of
it, was revealed, and was therein effectual for the conversion and
salvation of sinners.
2.
This promise of Christ, and salvation by him, is revealed only in
and by the Word of God; 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; 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.
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, 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 so do. And therefore in all ages the preaching
of the gospel hath 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.
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, irresistible work
of the Holy Ghost upon the whole soul, for the producing in them a new
spiritual life, without which no other means are sufficient for their
conversion unto God.
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