A34674:150
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 Difference also in the Rule by which they walk, though both seek to the word, and delight in that, you shall not difference them there, yet this difference you shall find in their apprehensions; the one is confident of his comfort that he hath in the word, the other seeth need that the Lord should maintain his comfort for him, 1 Chron. 29.18. David prayeth thus, &c. as being sensible that this their comfortable frame of spirit would soon fail them, and they would quickly grow lifeless unto such spiritual works as then they had been about; and this is the nature of true Consolation in Christ, it maketh a man to have recourse ⟨p. 83⟩unto the Author of it to preserve it. Now though both attend unto the word, yet here they differ, the one hath enough if he can see the Rule, like to the Israelites, Deut. 5.27. they have enough if they have the rule, but a true Christian, attending rightly unto his rule, findeth it far off from him to walk according to it, unless the Lord be pleased so to set it home unto him, as that by his power he may be carried an end in obedience unto it: for though he know and see his Rule, yet he wanteth help to rule his heart according to his rule; otherwise though the rule be straight, yet his walking will be crooked, as a child will write crooked, though his line be straight: So a Christian man is sensible how his feet and hands will shake when he cometh to walk or do any thing according to a rule; therefore he doth wholly look unto Christ, as being sensible of his own inability, unless he find help and strength from him.
2 There is Difference also in the Rule by which they walk, though both seek to the word, and delight in that, you shall not difference them there, yet this difference you shall find in their apprehensions; the one is confident of his comfort that he hath in the word, the other seeth need that the Lord should maintaine his comfort for him, 1 Chron. 29.18. David prayeth thus, &c. as being sensible that this their comfortable frame of spirit would soon faile them, and they would quickly grow liftlesse unto such spirituall works as then they had been about; and this is the nature of true Consolation in Christ, it maketh a man to have recoure