A34674:101
The Covenant of Grace
The covenant of grace discovering the great work of a sinners reconciliation to God / by John Cotton ... ; whereunto are added Certain queries tending to accommodation [sic] between the Presbyterian and Congregational churches ; also a discussion of the civill magistrates power in matters of religion ; by the same author.The covenant of grace discovering the great work of a sinners reconciliation to God / by John Cotton ... ; whereunto are added Certain queries tending to accommodadation [sic] between the Presbyterian and Congregationall churches ; also a discussion of the civill magistrates power in matters of religion ; by the same author.
London: printed by M.S. for Francis Eglesfield and John Allen, 1655
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
3 There is a difference also that springeth from the fruits of these two Covenants i• their continuance; for tho in the Covenant of works there be a semblance of Justification and Adoption, and a kind of Sanctification, yet they endure but for a season, and therefore he calleth them Lo-ammi, for ye are not my people, and Lo-ruhamah, for I will no more have mercy, though sometimes they were his people, and he then had mercy on them: They may also have pardon of sin, that is forbearance ⟨p. 43⟩of punishment for a season, Psal. 78.37,38. Being full of compassion he forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not, yet they were such whose heart was not upright with him, neither were they steadfast in his Covenant. This is plainly held forth in the Parable, Matth. 18.23. to the end. When the Servant had not wherewith to pay his Lord, he fell down and worshipped him, saying, Lord have patience with me and I will pay thee all, his Lord was moved with compassion and loosed him & forgave him the debt, but when he had not like compassion on his fellow-servant, then his Lord was wroth and charged all his iniquities upon him, and cast him into prison, until he should pay all that was due to him. So that the Pardon is not everlasting, but only respite from outward punishment, and from inward pangs of Conscience many times, and this they take for pardon of sin, and acceptance with Jesus Christ, when indeed they are deluded. So likewise there Sanctification is but for a moment, they come at last to tread under foot the blood of the Covenant wherewith they were sanctified, Heb. 10.29. for ⟨p. 44⟩Christ was but a Conditional Redeemer unto them; they had only gifts of Tongues, and utterance, and wisdom, and discerning of spirits, and a common Faith; which things are not that Sanctification which is a fruit of saving Faith, but only such gifts as do sanctify them unto the work of the Ministry perhaps, or Magistracy, and fit them for household Government, or the like; and so much Positive work there is in them as doth make them in some measure fit for the work or service they are called unto.