一、上帝與受造者之間的差距大到一個地步，雖然有理性的人都當以上帝為他的創造主而順服祂，但是他們絕不能從上帝得著什麼作為他們的祝福與獎賞，除非上帝自願開恩降卑； 上帝也確實願意這樣做， 而祂降卑的方式是立約。
The distance between God and the creature is so great that, even though rational creatures are responsible to obey him as their Creator, yet they could never experience any enjoyment of him as their blessing and reward except by way of some voluntary condescension on his part, which he has been pleased to express by way of covenant (a).
二、上帝第一個與人立的約是行為(生命)之約，上帝在這約應許賜給亞當，並且在他裡面將這生命給他的後裔，條件是人要完全順服上帝。
The first covenant made with man was a covenant of works (b) in which life was promised to Adam and, in him, to his posterity (c) , upon condition of perfect and personal obedience (d).
三、人墮落後，因此自己無法藉這約得生命，主就熱意立第二個約，這約通稱為『恩典之約』。上帝在這約將生命與救恩藉耶穌基督白白賜給罪人；這約的要求是：罪人必須信耶穌基督，才能得救﹔ 這約的應許是：上帝將聖靈賜給一切預定得生命的人，使他們願意相信，也能夠相信。
Since man, by his fall, made himself incapable of life by that covenant, the Lord was then pleased to make a second covenant (e), commonly called the covenant of grace. In it God freely offers life and salvation by Jesus Christ to sinners, requiring of them faith in him, that they may be saved (f), and promising to give his Holy Spirit to all those who are ordained to eternal life, to make them willing and able to believe (g).
四、《聖經》常常用「遺(囑)命」(Testament) 稱這『恩典之約』，取「耶穌基督受死之前立遺命」之意，也取「耶穌藉這遺命，將永遠的產業及其所屬的一切，遺留給承受這約的人」之意。
This covenant of grace is sometimes presented in the Scriptures by the name of a
五、這個約在律法時期與福音時期有不同的執行方式。在律法時期，恩典之約是藉著應許、預言、獻祭、割禮、逾越節的羔羊，以及傳給猶太人的其他預表禮儀執行，這些都是預表那要來的基督；在當時，這些預表藉著聖靈的運行，足夠有效教導選民，使選民對所應許的彌賽亞 (基督耶穌)有信心，知道藉著祂，才能得著完全的赦罪，與永遠的救恩。這約稱為舊約。
In the time of the law, this covenant was administered differently than in the time of the gospel (i). Under the law, it was administered by promises, prophecies, sacrifices, circumcision, the Passover lamb, and other types and ordinances given to the Jewish people, all of which foreshadowed Christ to come (k). These were, for that time, sufficient and efficacious, through the work of the Holy Spirit, to instruct and build up the elect in their faith in the promised Messiah (l), by whom they received complete forgiveness of sins and eternal salvation. This covenant administration is called the old testament (m).
六、在福音時期，這一切所預表的基督顯現了，執行這約的條例乃是 傳講神的話、 施行洗禮、 施行聖餐；這些條例雖然數目比較少，實施方式比較簡單，外在的榮耀比較少，但是這些條例對萬國選民（包括猶太人和外邦人），以更完整、更多證據、更有屬靈果效的方式，表明這約的意義；這約稱為新約。 這樣看來，這並不是兩個本質上不同的恩典之約，而是一個相同的約，但執行的方式不同。
Under the gospel, Christ (the reality (n)) having been revealed, the ordinances by which this covenant is dispensed are the preaching of the Word and the administration of the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s supper (o). Although these are fewer in number and are administered with more simplicity and less outward glory, yet in them the covenant is set forth in greater fullness, clarity, and spiritual efficacy (p) to all nations, both Jews and Gentiles (q), and is called the New Testament (r). Therefore, there are not two covenants of grace differing in substance, but only one, under various administrations (s).
