2 administrations of the C of W

Do you believe the Sinaitic covenant was a second administration of the covenant of works?

After reading the quote below, taking time to think about it, it would make good sense for covenantal Baptists to reject infant baptism based on their understanding of the Sinaitic covenant.

"Keach taught that the Bible reveals two administrations of the covenant of works. The first administration appeared in the garden before Adam's fall. That garden covenant promised eternal life to Adam on the condition of his perfect obedience to God's law and threatened eternal death for sin. In addition to the first edition of the covenant of works, Keach wrote that "there was another Edition or Administration of it given to Israel, which tho' it was a Covenant of Works, i.e. Do this and live, yet it was not given by the Lord to the same End and Design… It was not given to justify them." Referencing John Owen, Keach argued that the Mosaic covenant given to the Israelite nation serves to reveal God's perfect holiness. It also serves to prove that sinners, who are without such perfect holiness, can never be justified in God's sight. Therefore, one function of the Mosaic covenant is to drive men outside of themselves, away from their own righteousness, and to the alien righteousness of Christ for justification (Romans 3:19-20; Galatians 3:21-22). Keach's covenant theology was significantly influenced by John Owen, who was not a Baptist, but a Congregationalist."

Such an interesting subject, one with practical ramifications, and I am thankful for your input.

jm

Found a quote directly taken from Keach's work on the covenants:

Pink follows John Owen and Thomas Bell in that the covenant of works was republished on Sinai.

When we say that in substance it was a renewal of the Adamic covenant of works, we mean that Israel was placed under the same law (in principle) as the federal head of the race was, and that as Adam’s continued enjoyment of Eden was contingent upon his obedience. In saying that the Sinaitic constitution was an appendage to the Abrahamic covenant, we mean that it gathered up into itself the primordial and patriarchal institutions—the sabbath, sacrifices, circumcision—while it added a multitude of new ordinances which, though in themselves "weak and beggarly elements," were both instructive symbols and typical prefigurations of future spiritual blessings.

Click to expand...

I found a section in Dr. Beeke's book A Puritan Theology titled the Minority Report and I guess it deals with this subject. I look forward to reading it.

Notes From Hebrews 8.6-9 | Feileadh Mor

A. W. Pink on Hebrews 8.

The republication of the covenant of works at Sinai:Pink, following Owen’s lead, views the old Mosaic covenant as a republication of the covenant of works made with Adam before the fall. He also finds evidence for the new covenant of grace promised to Adam after the fall, fulfilled by the death of the testator Jesus Christ. [Proto-Evangelium]

Commenting on Hebrews 8.6:The ministry of the old covenant was powerless, it never obtained anything and only looked forward to the promised Messiah.
“For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.” Hebrews 8.7Pink asks the question, Wherein lay its “faultiness?”

"...move it on over." - Hank Williams Sr.