A Brakel on the Covenant of Works - I

I've read this quotation in several contexts, but it is worth repeating. Brakel begins his chapter on the covenant of works by emphasizing its importance. His point is that the structure of God's relationship with Adam in the beginning of creation will determine the structure of how that relationship is restored in Christ. He writes:

"We shall now speak of Adam as being in covenant with God--the covenatn of works. Acquaintance with this covenant is of the greatest importance, for whoever errs here or denies the existence of the covenant of works, will not understand the covenant of grace, and will readily err concerning the mediatorship of the Lord Jesus. Such a person will ver readily deny that Christ by His active obedience has merited a right to eternal life for the elect. This is to be observed with several parties who, becasue they err concerning the covenant of grace, also deny the covenant of works. Conversely, whoever denies the covenant of works must rightly be suspected to be in error concerning the covenant of grace."