"The book surveys the origins of the doctrine of the covenant of works. The doctrine originates in the patristic era and fully flowers in the sixteenth century among Reformed theologians. The doctrine develops from a web of biblical texts and becomes codified in confessions of the seventeenth century. But in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, support for the doctrine began to wane until Reformed theologians in the twentieth century outright rejected it. There were, however, theologians who continued to promote the doctrine because they continued to use the same interpretive methods as earlier proponents of the doctrine"--

This work by master theologian Edmund Calamy is a work of the highest order on covenant theology. Calamy says that there are two covenants, following the received standards of the Westminster Confession. There is the Covenant of Works, where all men by nature lie under the pollution and guilt of Adam’s sin, and liable to all the curses and penalties due to them for breach of that covenant. And then, secondly, there is the Covenant of Grace which God the Father made with Jesus Christ from all eternity to save some of the posterity of Adam. Calamy carefully and methodically explains that the Covenant of Grace was prepared and readied against the fall of Adam to take place at the very moment of his fall; otherwise the justice of God would have immediately seized on all of creation under heaven, and consumed them to nothing. But Jesus Christ came with the covenant in his hand saying, “Be gracious unto him, and deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom,” (Job 33:24). Calamy proves that the Covenant of Grace was made with Jesus Christ, and this was the contract of God the Father with God the Son from all eternity as mediator for the salvation of the elect. This is not a scan or facsimile, has been updated in modern English for easy reading and has an active table of contents for electronic versions.

Hermann Witsius (1636 – 1708) was a Dutch theologian whose massive, pioneering work on the covenants in Scripture remains a significant contribution to Reformed theology. This classic work is organized as follows: Preface The Life of the Author Book I Chapter I. Of the Divine Covenants in General Chapter II. Of the Contracting Parties in the Covenant of Works Chapter III. Of the Law or Condition of the Covenant of Works Chapter IV. Of the Promises of the Covenant of Works Chapter V. Of the Penal Sanction Chapter VI. Of the Sacraments of the Covenant of Works Chapter VII. Of the First Sabbath Chapter VIII. Of the Violation of the Covenant of Works on the Part of Man Chapter IX. Of the Abrogation of the Covenant of Works on the Part of God Book II Chapter I. Introduction to the Covenant of Grace Chapter II. Of the Covenant Between God the Father and the Son Chapter III. The Nature of the Covenant Between the Father and the Son More Fully Explained Chapter IV. Of the Person of the Surety Chapter V. Of the Suretiship and Satisfaction of Christ Chapter VI. What Sufferings of Christ Are Satisfactory Chapter VII. Of the Efficacy of Christ’s Satisfaction Chapter VIII. Of the Necessity of Christ’s Satisfaction Chapter IX. Of the Persons for Whom Christ Engaged and Satisfied Chapter X. After What Manner Christ Used the Sacraments Book III Chapter I. Of the Covenant of God With the Elect Chapter II. Of the Oneness of the Covenant of Grace, as to Its Substance Chapter III. Of the Different Economies or Dispensations of the Covenant of Grace Chapter IV. Of Election Chapter V. Of Effectual Calling Chapter VI. Of Regeneration Chapter VII. Of Faith Chapter VIII. Of Justification Chapter IX. Of Spiritual Peace Chapter X. Of Adoption Book III Chapter XI. Of the Spirit of Adoption Chapter XII. Of Sanctification Chapter XIII. Of Conservation Chapter XIV. Of Glorification Book IV Chapter I. Of the Doctrine of Salvation in the First Age of the World Chapter II. Of the Doctrine of Grace Under Noah Chapter III. Of the Doctrine of Grace From Abraham to Moses Chapter IV. Of the Decalogue Chapter V. Of the Doctrine of the Prophets Chapter VI. Of the Types Chapter VII. Of the Sacraments of Grace Down to Abraham Chapter VIII. Of Circumcision Chapter IX. Of the Passover Chapter X. Of the Extraordinary Sacraments in the Wilderness Chapter XI. Of the Blessings of the Old Testament Chapter XII. Of the Imperfections Falsely Ascribed to the Old Testament Chapter XIII. Of the Real Defects of the Old Testament Chapter XIV. Of the Abrogation of the Old Testament Chapter XV. Of the Benefits of the New Testament Chapter XVI. Of Baptism Chapter XVII. Of the Lord’s Supper

In the development of Covenant Works I follow neither the way of the seventeenth-century Federal Theology, nor the way of nineteenth-century Critical Theology, nor the way of twentieth-century Federal Vision, nor the way of a compromise. Covenant Works lays open the Scriptures' biblical structure. The author integrates the covenant, Christology, the trinity, the kingdom, the church, and historical linearity into the Scriptures to reveal its architectonic unity.

Broken Covenant, Fallen World THE COVENANT OF WORKS The first of five volumes in the series, Covenants of the Almighty. The purpose of this series is to help ordinary Christians understand God's covenants at an easier reading level than most theology, the reading level of those who speak English as a second language. Collegiate language is minimal, colloquial idiosyncrasies are avoided, and illustrations can be universally understood. Difficult points are explained as simply as possible, sometimes from several approaches for readers who may not quickly grasp spiritual concepts. This series views the divine covenants through the lens of the New Testament, especially through the writings of the apostle Paul. The apostle's comments are taken as divinely inspired commentary explaining the true meaning of the text. Volume One examines the covenant God established with the first man in the Garden of Eden. For centuries this covenant has been described by theologians as a "covenant of works." The Covenant of Works is normally seen as a contrast to the Covenant of Grace that God established through Jesus Christ for man's salvation. Recent debates have questioned these distinctions. This book skips the debate, to avoid putting some readers on the defensive, while making a case for the validity and essential nature of the Covenant of Works. The first part of the book is a "Synopsis of Covenant Theology" for readers who want an overview of the covenants or need to understand how to bring together the details described in later chapters of the series. This is a survey of main points of the covenants within their historical context. The second part of this first volume explains the history, meaning and application of the Covenant of Works, and its importance for a correct understanding of Biblical concepts such as the covenant, the fall of man into sin, the final judgment, redemption, Christ's role as Mediator and Last Adam, and Edenic themes in the promises of the new covenant in Christ Jesus. Other books planned for the series, Covenants of the Almighty: Volume Two: Camp of the Saints. (Release date: July/August 2012) God's Covenant with Abraham promised justification by grace through faith for believers from all nations. A study of the basics of the Covenant of Grace within the Abrahamic Covenant. Important lessons for all pilgrims who walk in the steps of Abraham's faith today. Volume Three: The Lighthouse Kingdom (January 2013) God created the kingdom of Israel for His own glory, to reveal His righteousness to the nations, and to proclaim the future appearance of the Messiah who would bring salvation to all the earth and rule over all nations. Understand the old covenant through the illumination of the apostles, and sit at Moses' feet to ponder mysteries of the Messiah and the kingdom of heaven and gain insights valuable for citizens of heaven's kingdom. Volume Four: Dawn of Heaven's Light (Summer 2013) The way into the kingdom of heaven is opened only through the death and resurrection of the King of heaven. He came from heaven to establish His kingdom in the hearts of believers from every language, tribe, people and nation. After conquering the grave, Christ returned to heaven to serve His kingdom forever as King and High Priest of the new covenant. Volume Five: Heaven's Lamps in the Valley of Sorrows (Early 2014) The close relationship of the lines of covenant and eschatology throughout Biblical history until they come together and find their fulfillment in one man, Jesus Christ.