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Download Hopkins, Ezekiel - The Two Covenants 1.0

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Author:
Ezekiel Hopkins

e-Sword Version:
9.x - 10.x

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Covenantal, Covenant of Grace, Covenant of Works

Ezekiel Hopkins, born around 1633, remained in the Church of England although his views accorded more towards the Puritan movement. As the Bishop of Derry, Ireland, Hopkins was caught in the midst of the Glorious Revolution of William and Mary. He advised no resistance to a Catholic nation that supported the falling James II. After this unpardonable offense to Ireland, his parish chose to send Hopkins back to protestant England.

The covenants are critical for the Christian’s right understanding of the Gospel and grace of God. There is nothing more beautiful than looking at the unchanging nature of God’s sovereign plan through all of time. Ezekiel Hopkins takes the necessary effort to prove Scripturally the differences between the two covenants that make up the harmonious plan of the Gospel.

From the Introduction:

“Of all the mysterious depths in the Christian religion, there is none more necessary for our information, nor more influential upon our practice, than a right apprehension, and a distinct knowledge, of the Doctrine of the Covenants; for, if we be ignorant or mistaken in this, we must needs be liable to false or confused notions of the law and the gospel; of our fall in Adam, and restoration by Christ; of the true grounds of men's condemnation, and the means and terms of their justification; of the justice of God in punishing sinners, and his glorious mercy in saving believers: and, consequently, neither can many perplexing doubts and questions be resolved, the necessity, and yet different concurrence of faith and obedience unto salvation cleared, the utter insufficiency of our own righteousness to procure acceptance for us with God, evinced, his justice vindicated, nor his grace glorified. For all these great and important truths will readily own themselves to be built upon the foundation of God's covenant and stipulation with man; as I hope to make appear in our farther progress.

“And yet, though this doctrine be thus generally serviceable both to knowledge and practice, how many are there who call themselves Christians, that are grossly ignorant of these transactions between God and man! that know not upon what terms they stand with the Almighty; nor what they may expect, according to the tenor of their mutual compact and agreement!

“This, therefore, I shall endeavor to treat of, as briefly and as clearly as the subject will permit, from the words which I have now read unto you; which are the transcript and copy of those two great contracts made between heaven and earth, God and man: the one, from the beginning of his being, and that is the Covenant of Works; the other, immediately upon his fall and ruin, and that is the Covenant of Grace: the one, called here the Righteousness of the Law; and the other, the Righteousness of Faith.”