A34674:104
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.
2 There is another sort that go far beyond these, and they are Goats, so called, Matth. 25.32,33. and these are clean Beasts such as chew the cud, meditate upon Ordinances, and they divide the hoof, they live both in a general and particular calling, and will not be idle; they are also fit for sacrifice; what then is wanting? Truly they are not sheep all this while, they are but Goats, yet a Goat doth loath that which a Swine will readily break into; but where then do they fall short of the nature of sheep? A difference there is, which standeth principally in these particulars.
2 There is another sort that goe far beyond these, and they are Goats, so called, Matth. 25.32,33. and these are clean Beasts such as chew the cudd, meditate upon Ordinances, and they divide the hoofe, they live both in a generall and particular calling, and will not be idle; they are also fit for sacrifice; what then is wanting? Truly they are not sheep all this while, they are but Goats, yet a Goat doth loath that which a Swine will readily break into; but where then doe they fall short of the nature of sheep? A difference there is, which standeth principally in these particulars.
1 The Goat is of a Capricious nature, and affecteth Eminency, his gate also is stately, Prov. 30.30. Agur reckoneth ⟨p. 46⟩the He-goat among the 4 things that are comely in going: And they are full of Ambition, they cannot abide swamps and holes, but will be climbing upon the tops of mountains; there is not that plain lowly sheepish frame that attendeth unto the voice of the Shepherd, to be led up and down in fresh pastures: they attend upon their ends, and will outshoot God in his own Bow, and therefore when they have done many things for Christ, he will say unto them, Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity. More Eminency they did affect, then they were guided unto. Thus it was with Jehu, who in his zeal for God thought to promote himself, and herein he will not be persuaded of his sin, and therefore going into crooked ways, he cometh at length to cleave unto the sins of Jeroboam the Son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin; yet notwithstanding, you may receive a Goat into Church-fellowship for all his capricious nature, and he will be a clean creature, and of much good use. The five foolish