A34674:290
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.
The 2d. Query.
The 2d. Querie.
Presupposing then the Presbyterian Congregations to be true Churches, Whether hence It will not clearly follow, that the Ministers called by them (being otherwise men of Ministerial gifts) are true Ministers; and the Sacraments administered ⟨p. 5⟩by them are true Seals of the Covenant of Grace?
Presupposing then the Prerbyterian Congregations to be true Churches, Whether hence It will not cleerely follow, that the Ministers called by them (being otherwise men of Ministeriall gifts) are true Ministers; and the Sacraments administred ⟨p. 5⟩by them are true Seales of the Covenant of Grace?
The 3d. Query.
The 3d. Querie.
Nevertheless, Whether may it not be justly doubted, that the estate of both Churches is sinfully defective; The Presbyterian, partly in their Materials, in case the Members, diverse of them, be (not professed Saints, but) either ignorant or scandalous, and apparently carnal and worldly: partly in their Government, by the Presbyters of other Churches; which way of Government, though it had place (in sundry Cases) in the National Church of the old Testament, yea, and in the New Testament, might be practised for a time by the Apostles themselves (who were Ecumenical Governors of all Christian Churches:) yet the same was never delegated nor commended to the Pastors and Teachers of particular Congregations? The Congregational likewise how can they be excused, in case there be any such as do admit all manner of Sects into their Covenant and Communion; and will not allow the Civill Magistrates to proceed to the Censure of seducing Heretics and profane Blasphemers?