A34674:214
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.
Use 1. If any therefore shall accuse the Doctrine of the Covenant of free grace, of Antinomianism, and say it teacheth men freedom from the Law of Moses, and if they commit any sin, they plead they are not bound unto the Law; we see how false such an aspersion would be, for all the people of God know that the Lord is an avenger of every such wickedness; There is none under a Covenant of Grace that dare allow himself in any fin, for if a man should negligently ⟨p. 135⟩commit any sin, the Lord will school him throughly, and make him sadly to apprehend how unworthily he hath made bold to abuse & embezzle the treasures of the grace of God. Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid. None that have a portion in the grace of God dare allow himself in sin; but if through strength of temptation he be at any time carried aside, it is his greatest burden. 2 Sam. 12.8,9. compared with 13. Hath not the Lord (saith Nathan) done these and these things for thee? Wherefore then hast thou despised the Commandment of the Lord? Then David confesseth, I have sinned. It pierced him to the heart to consider it, that he should abuse his neighbours wife, and kill her husband, and above all, that he should commit that wickedness against God that had dealt so graciously with him.
Ʋse 1. If any therefore shall accuse the Doctrine of the Covenant of free grace, of Antinomianisme, and say it teacheth men freedome from the Law of Moses, and if they commit any sin, they plead they are not bound unto the Law; we see how false such an aspersion would be, for all the people of God know that the Lord is an avenger of every such wickednesse; There is none under a Covenant of Grace that dare allow himselfe in any fin, for if a man should negligently ⟨p. 135⟩commit any sin, the Lord will schoole him throughly, and make him sadly to apprehend how unworthily he hath made bold to abuse & imbeazle the treasures of the grace of God. Shall we continue in sinne that grace may abound? God forbid. None that have a portion in the grace of God dare allow himselfe in sin; but if through strength of temptation he be at any time carried aside, it is his greatest burthen. 2 Sam. 12.8,9