A34674:108
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.
Use 2. I might also here (in the 2d place) from hence gather an Argument against the whole body of Arminianism, for they look at no gift of God, but merely upon the faith or works of the Creature foreseen: If God speak of Election or any other gift of his grace, they tell you it is of Faith foreseen: but we see how contrary it is unto this truth of God, for he giveth himself first in order of nature, before he ⟨p. 49⟩giveth any thing else accompanying Salvation. He gave us Christ in his Eternal Counsel before Election, and so doth he also in our Effectual Calling; not any Grace before Christ, or power to choose whether we will have him or not have him: but he is God, and first giveth himself, and with him faith, and so worketh our wills unto himself; not otherwise, leaving it unto us to choose whether we will have him to be our God or no. Many things in Popery and Arminianism come to be confuted from hence, and both are utterly rooted out; for in truth they hold forth no more but a Covenant of works: And if we will not grant faith to be the cause of all the blessed gifts of God, they will take it marvellously unkindly, but they were as good deliver unto us another Gospel; for it is not of Grace, that Faith is given us?
Ʋse 2. I might also here (in the 2d place) from hence gather an Argument against the whole body of Arminianism, for they look at no gift of God, but meerly upon the faith or works of the Creature foreseen: If God speake of Election or any other gift of his grace, they tell you it is of Faith foreseen: but we see how contrary it is unto this truth of God, for he giveth himselfe first in order of nature, before he ⟨p. 49⟩giveth any thing else accompanying Salvation. He gave us Christ in his Eternall Counsel before Election, and so doth he also in our Effectuall Calling; not any Grace before Christ, or power to choose whether we will have him or not have him: but he is God, and first giveth himselfe, and with him faith, and so worketh our wills unto himselfe; not otherwise, leaving it unto us to choose whether we will have him to be our God or no. Many things in Popery and Arminianisme come to be consuted from hence, and both are utterly rooted out; for in truth they hold forth no more but a Covenant of works: And if we will not grant faith to be the cause of all the blessed gifts of God, they will take it marvelously unkindly, but they were as good deliver unto us another Gospel; for it is not of Grace, that Faith is given us?