Helvetic Consensus - Content

Content

The Consensus consists of a preface and twenty-five canons, and states clearly the difference between strict Calvinism and the school of Saumur.

• Canons i–iii treat of divine inspiration, and the preservation of the Scriptures.
• Canons iv–vi relate to election and predestination.
• Canons vii–ix attempt to show that man was originally created holy, and that obedience to law would have led him to eternal life.
• Canons x–xii reject La Place's doctrine of a mediate imputation of the sin of Adam.
• Canons xiii–xvi treat of the particular destination of Christ&mdsash;as he from eternity was elected head, master, and heir of those that are saved through him, so in time he became mediator for those who are granted to him as his own by eternal election.
• Canons xvii–xx state that the call to election has referred at different times to smaller and larger circles
• Canons xxi–xxiii define the total incapacity of man to believe in the Gospel by his own powers as natural, not only moral, so that he could believe if he only tried.
• Canons xxiii–xxv state that there are only two ways of justification before God and consequently a twofold covenant of God, namely the covenant of the works for man in the state of innocence, and the covenant through the obedience of Christ for fallen man. The final canon admonishes to cling firmly to the pure and simple doctrine and avoid vain talk.