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Review ArticleThe Westminster Larger Catechism declares that "the covenantofgrace was made with Christ as the second Adam, and inhim with all the elect as his seed" (Q. and A. 31). In harmony withthis teaching that God made the covenant of grace with Christ asthe head of the covenant and therefore with the elect only, theWestminster Confession of Faith restricts the promise of thecovenant to the elect. With explicit reference to the promise ofthecovenant ofgrace, by which the covenant is realized with the electsinnerpersonally and its salvation enjoyed, the Confession speaksofGod "promisingto give unto all those that are ordained unto lifehis Holy Spirit, to make them willing and able to believe" (West.Conf., 7.3).The Westminster Standards teach a particular. unilateral,unconditional, and sure covenant ofgrace with Christ as the headof the covenant and with the elect as His members. God establishes,maintains, and perfects this covenant by a particular.unconditional, and efficacious promise. This is the teaching oftheWestminster Standards inasmuch as the Westminster Assemblywas determined to confess salvation by sovereign, particular graceas a system ofdoctrine. The covenant concerns the salvation thatis in Jesus Christ, nothing less. A general, bilateral, conditional,and breakable covenant is a covenant that depends upon man. Butif the covenant depends upon man, so also does its salvationdepend upon man.Lillback is determined to find a conditional covenant inCalvin because Lillback is afraid ofelection. He sees election asa threat to the covenant and its life. He wants to keep election atbay like some dangerous beast. Election must not be allowed todetermine thecovenant: with whom God establishes the covenant;how the covenant is established and maintained; who receive itsblessings; the godly life of the covenant people.Calvin's use ofthe covenant was not hampered (sic) because ofhisbelief in the doctrines ofsovereign election and reprobation. Evenin his discussion of these ideas, he was able to give the covenantsignificance for time and space. The hypocrite is not told that heis non-eJect, rather he is reminded ofhis duty to obey the covenantupon which his hope ofparticipation in the covenantal blessings isNovember, 200 I 53