A34674:210
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 As a Christian looketh not for salvation by his obedience to the Law, nor feareth condemnation by his disobedience: ⟨p. 129⟩So neither doth he seek for any blessing from his obedience, nor fear any curse from his disobedience. And therefore if there be any Promises of blessing made to any obedience (though God should help him to as much obedience as might be) he doth not look for any blessing from that obedience, Rom. 4.4,5,6. He looketh not for his blessedness from his works, though he should perform all the conditions to which the Promises are made, yet he expecteth all his blessing from free Justification and union with the Lord Jesus Christ: Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not sin; this is the blessedness of Christians. It is true, the Lord doth bless the workings of his servants, and accept them, Mat. 25.34,35,36.— Thus Christ blesseth them, but they are not sensible of their good deeds, so as to expect blessings for their obedience sake, and therefore they make answer, and say, Lord when saw we thee an hungry, and fed thee, or thirsty, and gave thee drink &c? Neither do they fear the curse of God, or that their sins should separate them from God; those that are under the law indeed are cursed, ⟨p. 130⟩if they do not continue in all things that are written in the Law to do them: But this Curse is removed from the Elect by Jesus Christ.
2 As a Christian looketh not for salvation by his obedience to the Law, nor feareth condemnation by his disobedience: ⟨p. 129⟩So neither doth he seek for any blessing from his obedience, nor fear any curse from his disobedience. And therefore if there be any Promises of blessing made to any obedience (though God should help him to as much obedience as might be) he doth not look for any blessing from that obedience, Rom. 4.4,5,6. He looketh not for his blessednesse from his works, though he should perform all the conditions to which the Promises are made, yet he expecteth all his blessing from free Justification and union with the Lord Jesus Christ: Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not sin; this is the blessednesse of Christians. It is true, the Lord doth blesse the workings of his servants, and accept them,