A34674:267
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.
If you ask me how this spirit cometh into the soul to make it thus to stoop unto Christ?
If you ask me how this spirit cometh into the soule to make it thus to stoop unto Christ?
You shall find that the Lord useth to convey himself unto the soul in some word of Promise of the Gospel that showeth unto the soul the riches of the grace of God in Jesus Christ; something or other is declared of ⟨p. 189⟩Christ. This word being taught in the public Ministry of the word, or brought to remembrance in some spiritual duty, as Prayer, or Conference, or the like, (for I will not limit the Holy One of Israel) yet usually it is done in the Ministry of the Gospel; and though the Lord doth not limit himself, yet he doth limit us to attend upon the means which he usually worketh by; but whatsoever the way be, this is the manner of Gods working, he doth universally come into the soul in some word or other of his grace; as for instance, that in 2 Cor. 5.19. or that in 1 Tim. 1.15. In some such word of his grace he cometh and putteth life into the soul, and maketh it somewhat quies, and causeth it to see that there is hope in Israel, and the Lord is able, and there is riches enough in Christ to save me. By such kind of work it is that the Lord bringeth the souls of his servants effectually to Christ, and now hath God the Father given us unto him, and until now thou never camest unto him savingly. This is the second Act whereby God the Father giveth himself unto the soul.
You shall find that the Lord useth to convey himselfe unto the soule in some word of Promise of the Gospel that sheweth unto the soule the riches of the grace of God in Jesus Christ; something or other is declared of ⟨p. 189⟩