Before starting, we raise this gem.
Frances Ridley Havergal.
No known tune to this scribe, but it works with the “Old 100th.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcyUMT7uhzE
1. Jehovah’s covenant shall endure,
All ordered, everlasting, sure!
O child of God, rejoice to trace
Thy portion in its glorious grace
2.
‘Tis thine, for Christ is given to be
The covenant of God to thee;
In him, God’s golden scroll of light
The darkest truths are clear and bright.
3.
O sorrowing sinner, well he knew,
Ere time began, what he would do!
Then rest thy hope within the veil;
His covenant mercies shall not fail.
4.
O doubting one, Eternal Three
Are pledged in faithfulness for thee;
Claim every promise sweet and sure,
By covenant oath of God secure.
5.
O feeble one, look up and see
Strong consolation sworn for thee;
Jehovah’s glorious arm is shown
His covenant strength is all thine own.
6.
O mourning one, each stroke of love
A covenant blessing yet shall prove;
His covenant love shall be thy stay;
His covenant grace be as thy day.
7.
O Love that chose, O Love that died,
O Love that sealed and sanctified
All glory, glory be,
O covenant Triune God, to thee!
22
October 1708. Herman Witsius dies.
A Wikipedia article. Followed by Monergism’s online
resources for Witsius.
Hermann Witsius (Herman Wits or in Latin Hermannus Witsius) (12 February 1636 –
22 October 1708) was a Dutch theologian.Life
He was born at Enkhuizen. He studied at the University of Groningen, Leiden, and Utrecht. He was ordained in the ministry, becoming the pastor of Westwoud in 1656 and afterwards at Wormer, Goes, and Leeuwarden. He became professor of divinity successively at the University of Franeker in 1675 and at the University of Utrecht in 1680. In 1698 he was appointed to the University of Leiden as the successor of the younger Friedrich Spanheim. He died in Leiden.Views
While in his theology Witsius aimed at a reconciliation between the reigning orthodoxy and Covenant Theology (also known as federalism), he was first of all a Biblical theologian, his principal field being systematic theology. His chief work is entitled The Economy of the Covenants between God and Man (originally published in Latin: De oeconomia foderum Dei cum hominibus, Leeuwarden, 1677). He was induced to publish this work by his grief at the controversies between Voetians and Cocceians. Although himself a member of the federalistic school, he was in no way blind to the value of the scholastically established dogmatic system of the Church. In the end, he did not succeed in pleasing either party.Works
- The Economy of the Covenants between God and Man (originally published
in Latin: De oeconomia foderum Dei cum hominibus, Leeuwarden, 1677)
- Hermanni Witsii De œconomia foederum Dei cum hominibus libri quatuor: Ex ... (1739) http://archive.org/details/hermanniwitsiid00witsgoog
- Judaeus christianizans circa principia fidei et SS. Trinitatem (Utrecht, 1661)
- Diatribe de septem epistolarum apocalypticarum sensu historico et prophetico (Franeker, 1678)
- Exercitationes sacrae in symbolum quod apostolorum dicitur et in
orationem Dominicam (Franeker, 1681)
- Exercitationes sacræ in symbolum quod
Apostolorum dicitur (1697) (1697)OL23390157M
- Miscellanea sacra (Utrecht, 1692-1700,
2 vols).
- Hermanni Witsii Aegyptiaca et
Dekaphylon : sive, De Aegyptiacorum sacrorum cum Hebraicis collatione
libri tres. Et de decem tribubus Israelis liber singularis. Accessit
diatribe de legione fulminatrice christianorum, sub imperatore Marco
Aurelio Antonino (1696) OL23303262M
- Hermanni Witsii Meletemata leidensia: Quibus
continentur praelectiones de vita et rebus gestis ... (1739)
- Hermanni Witsii Miscellaneorum sacrorum libri
IV.: quibus de prophetis & prophetia, de ... (tomus primus) (1736) (volume 1)
- Hermanni Witsii Miscellaneorum sacrorum libri IV.: quibus de prophetis & prophetia, de ... (tomus alter) (1736) (volume 2)
- A Treatise on Christian Faith (London, 1761);
- On the Character of a True Theologian (Edinburgh, 1877); and
- The Question: Was Moses the Author of the
Pentateuch Answered in the Affirmative (1877). OL18093496M
- Sacred dissertations on the Lord's Prayer (1839); Translation of: Exercitationes in Orationem Dominicam; OL6426114M
- Sacred Dissertations: On what is Commonly Called the Apostles' Creed
(Volume 1) (1823)
- http://archive.org/details/sacreddissertat02witsgoog
- http://archive.org/details/sacreddissertat00witsgoog
- Sacred Dissertations: On what is Commonly Called the Apostles' Creed
(Volume 2) (1823)
- http://archive.org/details/sacreddissertat01witsgoog
- http://archive.org/details/sacreddissertat03witsgoog
- Conciliatory or irenical animadversions on
the controversies agitated in Britain : under the unhappy names of
antinomians and neonomians (1807) OL25183530M
- The restoration of the Jews - Herman Witsius (London, 1806) -- Infant baptism - Herman Witsius (London, 1806) in The stone laid before Joshua : the substance of a sermon http://archive.org/details/stonelaidbeforej00whit OL25009519M
External links
- A summary of Witsius' The Economy
of the Covenants Between God and Man by C. Matthew McMahon
- Introduction to The Economy of the Covenants by J. I. Packer
References
This article incorporates text from a publication now in
the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press- This article incorporates text from a publication now in
the public domain: Jackson, Samuel Macauley, ed. (1914). New
Schaff–Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge (third ed.). London and New York: Funk and
Wagnalls.
Monergism with online resources for Herman Witsius:
·
Justification by Faith Alone as the
Central Dogma of the Reformed Church 
Quotes from Herman Witsius, Thomas Watson, Francis Turretin, Wilhelmus a Brakel and more...
Quotes from Herman Witsius, Thomas Watson, Francis Turretin, Wilhelmus a Brakel and more...
·
Economy of the Covenants (PDF
Version)
Herman Witsius - the same hand, is a body of divinity, in its method so well digested ; in its doctrines so truly evangelical; and (what is not very usual with our systematic writers) in its language so refined and elegant;
Herman Witsius - the same hand, is a body of divinity, in its method so well digested ; in its doctrines so truly evangelical; and (what is not very usual with our systematic writers) in its language so refined and elegant;
Contents
Dedication to William III
Pacific Address
The Life of the Author
BOOK
ONE
Chap. 1—Of the Divine Covenants in General
Chap. 2—Of the Contracting Parties in the Covenant of Works
Chap. 3—Of the Law, or Condition, of the Covenant of Works
Chap. 4—Of the Promises of the Covenant of Works
Chap. 5—Of the Penal Sanction
Chap. 6—Of the Sacraments of the Covenant of Works
Chap. 7—Of the First Sabbath
Chap. 8—Of the Violation of the Covenant of Works on the
Part of Man
Chap. 9—Of the Abrogation of the Covenant of Works on the
Part of God
BOOK
TWO
Chap. 1—Introduction to the Covenant of Grace
Chap. 2—Of the Covenant between God the Father and the Son
Chap. 3—The Nature of the Covenant between the Father and
the Son, More Fully Explained
Chap. 4—Of the Person of the Surety
Chap. 5—Of the Suretiship and Satisfaction of Christ
Chap. 6—What Sufferings of Christ are Satisfactory
Chap. 7—Of the Efficacy of Christ’s Satisfaction
Chap. 8—Of the Necessity of Christ’s Satisfaction
Chap. 9—Of the Persons, for Whom Christ Engaged and
Satisfied
Chap. 10—After What Manner Christ Used the Sacraments
BOOK
THREE
Chap. 1—Of the Covenant of God with the Elect
Chap. 2—Of the Oneness of the Covenant of Grace, as to its
Substance
Chap. 3—Of the Different Economies or Dispensations of the
Covenant of Grace
Chap. 4—Of Election
Chap. 5—Of Effectual Calling
Chap. 6—Of Regeneration
Chap. 7—Of Faith
Chap. 8—Of Justification
Chap. 9—Of Spiritual Peace
Chap. 10—Of Adoption
Chap. 11—Of the Spirit of Adoption
Mr. (Rev. Dr. Prof.) James Innes Packer’s “Introduction to
Covenant”
Mr. (Rev. Dr. Prof.) Herman Witsius has been “unjustly
forgotten.” Here’s Mr. Packer’s language
for the Reformed divine:
1.
Unjustly forgotten
2.
Mighty in the Scriptures
3.
Practical
4.
Experimental (= connected to life)
5.
Calm
6.
Judicious
7.
Systematic
8.
Calm
9.
Clear
10. Free
from personal oddities and animosities
Covenant theology is:
1.
An hermeneutic and procedure of reading the
Bible
2.
Recognizing God’s sustained action in creation,
comprehensive providence and redemption
3.
Revealed by the Triune God—in a cooperative,
sustained, and determined enterprise—in the redemption of His people
4.
Often missed because people programmed to
smaller thinking and things
5.
Comprehensive—all themes lead back to God’s covenant
a.
God’s promises
b. Faith
c.
Plan of salvation
d. Jesus
Christ as Prophet, Priest and King
e.
Circumcision and baptism
f.
Passover and Lord’s Supper
g.
Worship
h. Holiness
and ethics
i.
Prayer
j.
Community of saints, worship, and discipline of
doctrine
k.
Anchored in Divine resolve to relate to His
people: Jim, as a Church of England man,
actually, favorably, and even explosively (since Anglicans hate the Reformed
Confessions) cites the Westminster Confession of Faith 7.1 “The distance
between God and the creature is so great, that although reasonable creatures do
owe obedience unto Him as their Creator, yet they could never have any fruition
of Him as their blessedness and reward, but by some voluntary condescension on
God's part, which He has been pleased to express by way of covenant.” God’s initiative are resolve are noted.
l.
Anchored in the Intra-Trinitarian life
m.
Related to “seed,” “elections,” “promises” and,
to use Livingston’s words, “The gentleman who always keeps his word”
n.
“For us” (Rom. 8.31), is “on our side” (Ps.
124-1.5), and involves the divine pledge to take us as His people (Ex. 6.7ff.)
o.
Involves both Testaments (Gen. 17.6-8; Ex.
20.2; 29.45ff; Lev. 11.34; Jer. 32.38; Ez. 11.20; Ez. 34.30ff; Ez. 36.28; 2
Cor. 6.16-18; Rev. 21.2ff.)The apparent hermeutic and is “forced” upon the “careful
reader” of the Bible for 4 reasons: (1) Gospel not understood without the
covenantal framework, (2) the Word of God cannot be understood without the
covenantal framework, e.g. Westminster Confession of Faith, Chap. 7, to
wit: “ III. Man, by his fall, having
made himself incapable of life by that covenant, the Lord was pleased to make a
second, commonly called the covenant of grace; wherein He freely offers unto
sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ; requiring of them faith in Him,
that they may be saved, and promising to give unto all those that are ordained
unto eternal life His Holy Spirit, to make them willing, and able to believe. V.
This covenant was differently administered in the time of the law, and in the
time of the Gospel: under the law it was administered by promises, prophecies,
sacrifices, circumcision, the paschal lamb, and other types and ordinances
delivered to the people of the Jews, all foresignifying Christ to come; which
were, for that time, sufficient and efficacious, through the operation of the
Spirit, to instruct and build up the elect in faith in the promised Messiah, by
whom they had full remission of sins, and eternal salvation; and is called the
Old Testament. VI. Under the Gospel, when Christ, the substance, was exhibited,
the ordinances in which this covenant is dispensed are the preaching of the
Word, and the administration of the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's
Supper: which, though fewer in number, and administered with more simplicity,
and less outward glory, yet, in them, it is held forth in more fullness,
evidence, and spiritual efficacy, to all nations, both Jews and Gentiles; and
is called the New Testament. There are not therefore two covenants of grace,
differing in substance, but one and the same, under various dispensations. (3) God
Himself cannot be understood without the covenantal framework—the intra-Trinitarian
life and covenant of redemption, (4) One
Mediator and Messenger of the covenant, (5) Covenant promises in both
Testaments requires the covenantal framework, and (6) One people of God
throughout both Covenantal administration
p. In
short, the “essence of the covenant” is comprehensive
While summarizing Mr. Packer’s comments, all quite
favorable to the covenant theology of the Westminster Confession…we would note
that the impoverished Church of England ditched all this with their “final solution”
in 1662.
Four
hymns on the covenant of grace:
Mr. Packer cites some hymns which “merit memorizing and
meditating on” in which covenant theology offers “ceaseless strength.”
Mr. (Rev.) Philip Doddridge, an 18th century
Dissenter:
1.
‘Tis mine, the covenant of his grace
And every promise mine:
All sprung from everlasting love,
And sealed by blood divine.
2.
On my unworthy favored head,
Its blessings all unite;
Blessings more numerous than the stars
More lasting, and more bright.
Mr. (Rev.) Augustus Montague Toplady, an 18th century
Church of England man:
1.
A debtor to mercy alone
Of covenant mercy I sing;
Nor fear, with thy righteousness on,
My person and offering to bring.
The terrors of law, and of God,
With me can have nothing to do:
My Savior’s obedience and blood
Hide all my transgressions from view.
2.
The work which his goodness began
The arm of his strength will complete;
His promise is Yea and Amen,
And never was forfeited yet.
Things future, nor thing that are now,
Not all things below or above,
Can make him his purpose forego,
Or sever my soul from his love.
Ms. Frances Ridley Havergal. Ms. Havergal was raised in the home of a 19th
cent. Church of England cleric’s home.
She was baptized and buried in the Church of England, a servant of the
Covenanting-Redeemer, the Eternal
Three-in-One. Mr. Packer does not
connect this grand hymn to a tune, but it works with the “Old 100th.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcyUMT7uhzE
1.
Jehovah’s covenant shall endure,
All ordered, everlasting, sure!
O child of God, rejoice to trace
Thy portion in its glorious grace
2.
‘Tis thine, for Christ is given to be
The covenant of God to thee;
In him, God’s golden scroll of light
The darkest truths are clear and bright.
3.
O sorrowing sinner, well he knew,
Ere time began, what he would do!
Then rest thy hope within the veil;
His covenant mercies shall not fail.
4.
O doubting one, Eternal Three
Are pledged in faithfulness for thee;
Claim every promise sweet and sure,
By covenant oath of God secure.
5.
O feeble one, look up and see
Strong consolation sworn for thee;
Jehovah’s glorious arm is shown
His covenant strength is all thine own.
6.
O mourning one, each stroke of love
A covenant blessing yet shall prove;
His covenant love shall be thy stay;
His covenant grace be as thy day.
7.
O Love that chose, O Love that died,
O Love that sealed and sanctified
All glory, glory be,
O covenant Triune God, to thee!
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