A34674:248
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.
What is the reason that so many servants of God are not so lively in their profession as they were wont to be many years ago? Truly we attend upon Ordinances, but it is only upon the outward act of them, and not upon Jesus Christ in them; this is many times ⟨p. 167⟩wanting in the hearts of Gods people; but truly if this be our constant frame, and we do not recover our selves, then is not our sanctification such as floweth from fellowship with Jesus Christ; for you shall find this to be true, that there is no gift of Christ, nor no sanctification accompanying salvation, but it doth knit us nearer and nearer unto Christ; and the more we are filled with true spiritual gifts, the more empty we are of our own strength, and self conceits; and so we ought to be, otherwise we shall constantly find this, that if the Lord do not preserve this empty frame in us, the more full we are of any gift, the more full shall we be of our own strength, and consequently the less need shall we feel of Christ; and if this be our constant frame, it will be a sad argument that our best sanctification will not endure but fall away, unless we be knit unto Christ by the Spirit of his grace; for by all true sanctification we are the more knit unto him, so that if any man would know whether the superscription of Christ and his Image be stamped upon his sanctification, this ⟨p. 168⟩you shall ever find to be the stamp of the grace of Christ, that the more you receive from him, the more you stand in need of him; in so much that notwithstanding all the gifts of the Spirit, there is not the ablest Minister of the New Testament, but (if his gifts flow from the Spirit of Christ, and knit you unto Christ) you will find as great need to cleave unto Christ, as ever you did the first day when you came trembling into the Pulpit. If therefore we feel our selves full, so that the more we have received, the more sufficient we are, and go not about the duties we have in hand in fear & trembling, but in self-confidence, if this be our usual and constant practise, it is but counterfeit Christianity; I do not say that the gifts are counterfeit, for they are from the Spirit of God, and men may by them be very serviceable to Church and Common-weal, but this is certain, that the stronger and the more your gifts are, if you sit loose from Christ, the emptier your hearts are of him.
What is the reason that so many servants of God are not so lively in their profession as they were wont to be many yeares agoe? Truly wee attend upon Ordinances, but it is onely upon the outward act of them, and not upon Jesus Christ in them; this is many times