The Ten Commandments as grace

The preface to the ten commandments deserves a particular notice in the matter of the Sinai transaction, Exod. xx. 2, “I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” Hence it is evident to me, that the covenant of grace was delivered to the Israelites on Mount Sinai. For the Son of God, the messenger of the covenant of grace, spoke these words to a select people, the natural seed of Abraham, typical of his whole spiritual seed. He avoucheth himself to be their God; namely, in virtue of the promise, or covenant made with Abraham, Gen. xvii. 7, “I will establish my covenant – to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee:” and their God, and their God, which brought them out of the land of Egypt; according to the promise made to Abraham at the most solemn renewal of the covenant with him. – Gen. xv. 14, “Afterwards shall they come out with great substance.” And he first declares himself their God, and then requires obedience, according to the manner of the covenant with Abraham, Gen. xvii. 1; “I am the Almighty God, (i.e., in the language of the covenant, The Almighty God TO THEE, to make THEE for ever blest through the promised SEED,) walk thou before me, and be thou perfect.”

via Boston – Sinai Covenant.

What is noteworthy about this claim is that it is obviously taught in the Westminster documents, especially both catechisms as well as in Chapter 7 of the Confession.

What is also noteworthy is that virtually nothing else Boston says–where he attempt to backpedal and argue that “the covenant of works was also, for special ends, repeated and delivered to the Israelites on Mount Sinai” referring not simply to the content of God’s moral law, but also to a scheme of demanding perfect obedience as a condition for eternal life–is anywhere found in the Westminster Confession or Catechisms (though hints of it may be gleaned from the appended prooftexts, which are not considered part of the doctrinal standards).

Boston claims that “two covenants … have been both delivered on Mount Sinai.”  The Westminster Confession states explicitly that Sinai was the deliverance of the Covenant of Grace; it knows nothing of another covenant given by Moses.

2 thoughts on “The Ten Commandments as grace

  1. Pingback: Mark Horne » Does Boston offer proof of a Covenant of Works at Sinai? (1)

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