Steve Owen
Puritan Board Sophomore
Hello Matthew,
In reply to my post:-
You wrote:-
I did not say that only two of the Westminster Divines believed in the CoR. I said that it is not found in the WCF proper, but only in the Sum of Saving Knowledge which, as I understand it, was not written by all the Divines but only by two of them. Certainly the SSK is not in my copy of the Westminster Confession. Whether others of the Divines 'believed' it, I cannot say. I only know that they did not put it in the WCF which I understand to be your standard of orthodoxy.
I also know that Turretine does not mention the CoR by name, though I note that you claim to find it in embryo in his works. Personally, I do not find a need to conjure up another covenant which is not named in the Bible. If the WCF can do without it, surely you can too? I would suggest that you turn your attention to the Covenants of Promise which are at least mentioned in the Bible (Eph 2:12 ). I have brought them up several times, but no one seems to want to talk about them.
Grace & Peace,
Martin
In reply to my post:-
There indeed is the rub. The fact is that the WCF knows nothing of a Covenant or Council of Redemption. It was added later in the SSK by (I believe) only two of the Westminster Divines.
You wrote:-
I am unsure why you would say that only 2 believed the CoR. That is grossly inaccurate.
I did not say that only two of the Westminster Divines believed in the CoR. I said that it is not found in the WCF proper, but only in the Sum of Saving Knowledge which, as I understand it, was not written by all the Divines but only by two of them. Certainly the SSK is not in my copy of the Westminster Confession. Whether others of the Divines 'believed' it, I cannot say. I only know that they did not put it in the WCF which I understand to be your standard of orthodoxy.
I also know that Turretine does not mention the CoR by name, though I note that you claim to find it in embryo in his works. Personally, I do not find a need to conjure up another covenant which is not named in the Bible. If the WCF can do without it, surely you can too? I would suggest that you turn your attention to the Covenants of Promise which are at least mentioned in the Bible (Eph 2:12 ). I have brought them up several times, but no one seems to want to talk about them.
Grace & Peace,
Martin