A34674:109
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 3. This may also teach the people of God, to bear a gracious respect unto those that are under a Covenant of works, and not forthwith to condemn them, as if there were no hope of their Salvation: For God doth not call any into fellowship with himself in a ⟨p. 50⟩Covenant of Grace, but ordinarily he first bringeth them into a Covenant of works, and casteth them out of doors by a spirit of bondage and of burning, and then bringeth them in by the true door, and Jesus Christ is that door, Joh. 10.9. Though the Children of the Faithful be born under the outward dispensation of the Covenant of Grace, yet if they be not of the Elect seed, they will chose life by their works, and so fall under the Covenant of works, Gal. 4.24. to 30. So will Professors also, Gal. 4.21. yea, the Elect themselves, before their Effectual Calling, will seek life by their works. Hence those that are under a Covenant of works may belong unto the Lord as well as my self, pray for them therefore. Paul was under a Covenant of works, Steven prayeth for him, and as most conceive, that Prayer was effectual unto his Conversion, and Paul was as dear unto the Lord in his Eternal purpose, as Steven himself was: And thus Paul himself speaketh of Onesimus, He therefore departed for a season that he might be received for ever: So may we say of men under a Covenant of works, the ⟨p. 51⟩Lord may bring any of them home unto himself by dashing all his works in pieces, and showing him the presidence of his Spirit, though the Lord hath melted him formerly in his Prayers, and Preachings, and Hearing, and Sacraments, by a Spirit of burning; yet the Lord will discover that he is but hardened by it into another lump of pride against the Lord his God: And the Lord will also pluck away the caul from their hearts, and then they will have none in Heaven but Christ, nor in the earth in comparison of him, and then the Holy Ghost convinceth them of this sin above all their other sins, that they have not believed on Jesus Christ. Do not therefore censure any such, as to say there is no likelihood that they should have fellowship with Christ, for if the Lord make them to fall down before him, and to yield up their spirits unto the Lord in holy reverence and fear, these have now received some secret smoking affections (besides a Spirit of burning) which the Lord will not quench.