A34674:261
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.
And again the Lord by this spirit of burning doth burn up all our branches also, how fair and green soever they have been; All our fastings, and humiliations, and almsdeeds, and prayers, such things as the Pharisees much boasted in, Math. 6.1,2,3. &c. but these things are all burnt up. The fruit of bondage worketh unto fear, and now all the hope is that a man setteth upon reformation; but if the Lord love a mans soul, he will not let him stay there, but goeth further with him, and showeth him that his prayers and fastings, ⟨p. 180⟩are all empty and fall short of the life and power of Jesus Christ; but yet the soul is not quite out of hope, though the Law cannot save me, if it cannot, I must get me unto Jesus Christ, and lay hold upon him for salvation; as if all were to be had by faith in Jesus Christ, if once we can lay hold upon him, and nothing else were required but faith in Christ, and thereby my laying hold upon him: I see plainly (saith a man in this case) that there is no hope in me, as hath been rightly observed, and therefore Isle trust upon Jesus Christ, and give up my self to him: but now if the Lord love thy soul, he will not suffer thee there to rest, he will not leave thee so, He will press thee further. How comest thou by faith in Christ? Why, thou tookest it up of thine own accord, thou thoughtest all thy gifts a•d duties were in vain, and therefore now thou wilt believe in Jesus Christ: Is it so easy a matter? Can any man come unto Christ except the Father draw him? And is thy faith any more than a resolution of thine own, when thou wast convinced of the emptiness of thine own gifts and abilities? ⟨p. 181⟩When this spirit of burning hath blasted this thy faith also, and that by the clear evidence of the Gospel put upon it. Now saith the soul, I see that I am not in Christ, though I said that I would trust in Christ, yet I see, it is not every one that saith, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. Now I see it is not my faith (such a Faith as mine is) that will reach Jesus Christ; it is not a faith of my own undertaking that will serve the turn. I see now Christ alone must work this great work in me, and Christ in the way of his own Ordinances, therefore I must look for it in his word, and in the fellowship of the Sacraments; therefore I will look up unto the Lord in all these, and wait for him, and seek him therein: