A34674:262
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 I hope I can seek and wait in that way, though I can do nothing else, and so the poor soul maketh account that in time he shall find Christ in the Ordinances, and so hammereth out a faith from thence, and therein blesseth himself. Now (mind you) the Spirit of God (when the Lord God the Father will draw home the soul throughly to Jesus ⟨p. 182⟩Christ) will burn up all thy confidence; for if thy soul be not utterly lost, so long as it hath any root, or power in it self, it is not come to an utter self-denial; though I cannot work I will believe, and if I cannot believe, I can wait that I may believe, and so here is still the old root of Adam left alive in us, whereby men seek to establish their own righteousness. This old root putteth forth it self, and will not suffer the soul to be wholly from Christ and for Christ alone, and all because there is a sprig of Adam left in the soul; whence it is, that the soul is marvellously apt to have hope and confidence more or less from some virtue or power in himself, therefore its no small matter to be cut off from Adam; that's contrary to nature; As saith the Apostle, Rom. 11.24. this is a marvellous strong work, when the Spirit of God comes to act things contrary to nature; for nature is fully possessed, that what God commandeth, I am able to do it: nature will not be persuaded to the contrary; If I hear God command any thing, I will do it (saith a carnal heart) and if I cannot ⟨p. 183⟩do it, I will believe, and if I cannot believe I will wait, and I can wait that I may believe; this is still but nature: Now when the Lord cometh indeed to engraft us into Jesus Christ, this is quite contrary to nature. Why, wherein is it so contrary? I answer, whereas nature is active for it self, now it cometh to pass, that whereas a soul hath been stirring and busy in his own strength, at length the Spirit of God, by the mighty power of his grace, being shed abroad into the soul, doth burn up root and branch, not only the root of Abraham's Covenant, but all the fatness of the root of the Wild Olive, by which we are fat and lively to all spiritual work in our own apprehensions;
And I hope I can seeke and waite in that way, though I can do nothing else, and so the poore soule maketh account that in time he shall finde Christ in the Ordinances, and so hammereth out a faith from thence, and therein blesseth himselfe. Now (minde you) the Spirit of God (when the Lord God the Father will draw home the soule throughly to Jesus