A34674:266
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.
This is the Fathers drawing of the soul, which is expounded to be the hearing and learning of the Father, of which John speaketh, ch. 6.45. He that hath heard and learned of the Father, cometh unto me; which is, when the Lord hath drawn the soul out of his natural corruptions, legal reformations, pretences of Faith, and waiting upon Christ in his own strength for Faith, if it be wanting: Then when the soul doth lie at his feet to be disposed of according to the will of God, and is in some measure subject unto the Lord, though not so much as ⟨p. 187⟩he could desire; and therefore now the soul doth not content or bless himself in any gifts or works of his own, but yieldeth himself humbly to the Lord, to work in him both will and deed of his own good pleasure, and to teach him how to seek, and wait, and believe, and long after Jesus Christ, these things he waiteth for: Otherwise until he be thus taught of God, the soul will always think that he can do something; and is not able to come out of himself to utter denial of himself; but if any man will come unto Christ, he must deny himself, even all his own gifts, and parts, and good works whatsoever; for a man is never utterly denied, until there be nothing left of which a man can say, This I am able to do, or this is an hopeful thing in me; and when it cometh to this pass, then will the soul lie down at the will of God, and acknowledge, that if the Lord would never show him mercy, just and righteous are his judgements. Now when the soul and will of a Christian are convinced of these things, as well as his judgement, that now he waiteth upon Christ as well ⟨p. 188⟩that he may be able to wait and seek the Lord, as he doth for any other good thing from the Lord, he waiteth now upon the Lord for a poor spirit, and cannot perk up himself, no more then a bruised Reed can do. Thus when it cometh unto saving work, the will and soul of a man is so cast down, that a man cannot tell what to make of himself, but there he lieth to see what the Lord will do with him, whether he will reach forth the hand of salvation unto him or no. In this case the soul is left utterly void, and hath in himself neither root nor branch, but seeth how unable he is in himself to believe or wait; nor can he tell whether Jesus Christ be his portion, and now doth the Lord take possession, and fill the empty soul.