A34674:144
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.
Prop. 2. That, true Christian sanctification, which is a work of faith, is many times dark to a sincere Christian. It is generally granted to be so in the first conversion, and in time of temptation and desertion, as also when a man looketh at his justification, and at the glory of God; Woe is me, for I am unclean (saith the Prophet Isaiah) at such a time: there is so much power of flesh, even in spiritual Christians, specially in young Christians, so much power in their lusts and in their passions, as will put their best friends to a stand what to think of them, and much more themselves, when as they come to be pressed with the power of their corruptions, specially when they compare with such hypocrites ⟨p. 75⟩as run away with more freedom of spirit than themselves; for sometimes their corruptions do less appear, and they are more free from temptations, and not exposed to such sinful courses, which sometimes true hearted Christians are subject unto. So a poor Christian is discouraged, & an hypocrite emboldened, seeing himself more sanctified than the other in view.
Prop. 2. That, true Christian sanctification, which is a work of faith, is many times darke to a sincere Christian. It is generally granted to be so in the first conversion, and in time of temptation and desertion, as also when a man looketh at his justification, and at the glory of God; Woe is me, for I am uncleane (saith the Prophet Isaiah) at such a time: there is so much power of flesh, even in spirituall Christians, specially in young Christians, so much power in their lusts and in their passions, as will put their best friends to a stand what to thinke of them, and much more themselves, when as they come to be pressed with the power of their corruptions, specially when they compare with such hypocrites ⟨p. 75⟩as run away with more freedome of spirit than themselves; for sometimes their corruptions doe lesse appeare, and they are more free from temptations, and not exposed to such sinfull courses, which sometimes true hearted Christians are subject unto. So a poore Christian is discouraged, & an hypocrite emboldened, seeing himselfe more sanctified than the other in view.