This program makes an historic and important document more widely available to the Christian public. It is the"First London Confession, 2nd. Edition, 1646" with "An Appendix" to it, also written in 1646.
These Statements of Faith - the Confession and the Appendix - represent two of the most Christ-exalting expressions of the Baptist faith and practice that have ever been presented in written form. They capture the simplicity of the gospel and they avoid what some would regard as a mistaken doctrinal emphasis on the place of 'the law' that came into the later Baptist Confessions of Faith.
The better known "Second London Confession" of 1689 is readily available (also from Grace Gospel Software and various publishers in print form). In that Confession of Faith one will find stress placed upon the law of God summarily comprehended in the Ten Commandments as a rule of life for the believer . However, in the First London Confession of 1644, and in its second edition of 1646 presented here, the stress is upon the New Covenant commands, or law of Christ.
Although the First and Second London Confessions are in basic agreement concerning the continuance of God's eternal moral law, there is a distinctive New Covenant emphasis concerning biblical law in the 1644 and 1646 editions of the First London Confession, that is lacking in the content of the Second London Confession.
A true, biblical perspective of God's law is essential if we are to properly understand both the role which the law should have in the life of the New Covenant believer, and the relationship which that law should have to the preaching of the Gospel.
For this reason, especially in view of the current debate concerning these matters, we prayerfully trust this program will be of value to many - particularly as it affects and relates to the proclamation of that glorious GOSPEL OF GRACE
Frederick Serjeant.
The Text used: There has been some updating of Old English words - but otherwise no changes have been made to the original texts.