A34674:193
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.
The Apostle also presseth the moral Law upon several relations of men, Eph. 6.1,2,3. &c. It is an honour to Christ, that his servants should be holy, as he is holy; it is for the glory of God, and he requireth it; the Apostle James presseth it, Chap. 2.8. to the end of the Chapter; If you fulfil the Royal Law, according to the Scripture, (Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self) ye do well. And again, Whosoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. Thus we see the Apostles of Jesus Christ put it upon Christians to keep the Law of God; and Christ himself beareth witness to the Law, for God will never justify sin to be no sin, though he will justify the person of a sinner
The Apostle also presseth the morall Law upon severall relations of men, Eph. 6.1,2,3. &c. It is an honour to Christ, that his servants should be holy, as he is holy; it is for the glory of God, and he requireth it; the Apostle James presseth it, Chap. 2.8. to the end of the Chapter; If you fullfill the Royall Law, according to the Scripture, (Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy selfe) ye doe well. And againe, Whosoever shall keepe the whole Law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. Thus wee see the Apostles of Jesus Christ put it upon Christians to keepe the Law of God; and Christ himselfe beareth witnes to the Law, for God will never justifie sin to be no sin, though he will justifie the person of a sinner
Now as the Lord Jesus giveth the ⟨p. 118⟩Law, and as it were reneweth it, so he doth also give his Spirit unto his servants, enabling them to keep it. Jer. 31.33. and Ezek. 36.27. Now this Law would he not write in the hearts of his people, nor give unto them his holy Spirit, enabling them to keep it, were it not his will in Jesus Christ, that the Law should be the Rule of holiness and righteousness unto his people; hence it is that the children of God, though they be not under the Covenant of the Law, yet take themselves to be bound to the obedience of it, for if Christ have given the Law as well as Moses, and if he have ratified it by giving them his Spirit to teach and strengthen them to keep it, though not perfectly, yet sincerely, then they take themselves bound to obey the Law, though they be under the Covenant of grace; for do we make void the Law through faith? God forbid; yea, we establish the Law; for what need have Christians of free justification by Christ, if they were not bound unto the obedience of the Law by the Commandment of the Law? therefore the free justification of men under a free Covenant of grace doth establish the