A34674:182
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.
Quest. 6. We come now unto a sixth Question. If the Lord do give himself first in the Covenant of his grace, this may then be a doubt and a question in a Christian soul, If God give himself before any blessing, before any promise in order of nature (though he giveth himself always in a promise) if we cannot claim any blessing from God at the first in any conditional promise, therefore not by any condition in our selves, but as we received all things from God, so we claim all things from him in Jesus Christ, and so do first seek for him, and for all things in him: If thus, to what use then ⟨p. 107⟩serveth the Law of God, which requireth such and such conditions in us, do we not abrogate the Law, & make it of none effect, and root it out from having any power over Christians? And truly some, under pretence of the Covenant of grace, have thought it altogether bootless to bind Christians unto the Law of God, and to look at it as any part of the direction of their Course. Now because this is an imputation usually reflected upon the Covenant of Grace, let us Consider therefore and enquire to what use serveth the Law of God, if God give himself first unto his people in the Covenant of his grace.
Quest. 6. Wee come now unto a sixt Question. If the Lord doe give himselfe first in the Covenant of his grace, this may then be a doubt and a question in a Christian soule, If God give himselfe before any blessing, before any promise in order of nature (though he giveth himselfe alwayes in a promise) if wee cannot claime any blessing from God at the first in any conditionall promise, therefore not by any condition in our selves, but as we received all things from God, so wee claime all things from him in Jesus Christ, and so doe first seeke for him, and for all things in him: If thus, to what use then ⟨p. 107⟩serveth the Law of God, which requireth such and such conditions in us, doe we not abrogate the Law, & make it of none effect, and roote it out from having any power over Christians? And truly some, under pretence of the Covenant of grace, have thought it altogether bootlesse to bind Christians unto the Law of God, and to looke at it as any part of the direction of their Course. Now because this is an imputation usually reflected upon the Covenant of Grace, let us Confider therefore and enquire to what use serveth the Law of God, if God give himselfe first unto his people in the Covenant of his grace.