A34674:317
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 11. Query.
The 11. Querie.
Whether is it just matter of Offence, If a Member of any Church, which lieth under the Leaven of Corruption, after the use of all good means for the healing of the corruptions of his own Church (be it Presbyterial or Congregational) and after long waiting for the same in vain, shall at the length (for the peace and Comfort of his own Conscience, and out of conscionable Desire to walk before the Lord in all purity) quickly and orderly remove his Relation, and adjoin himself to a Church more reformed, yet not condemning the Church (as no Church) from which he removeth?
Whether is it just matter of Offence, If a Member of any Church, which lyeth under the Leaven of Corruption, after the use of all good meanes for the healing of the corruptions of his owne Church (be it Presbyteriall or Congregationall) and after long waiting for the same in vaine, shall at the length (for the peace and Comfort of his owne Conscience, and out of conscionable Desire to walke before the Lord in all purity) quickly and orderly remove his Relation, and adjoyne himselfe to a Church more reformed, yet not condemning the Church (as no Church) from which he removeth?
For if a man may remove his habitation ⟨p. 15⟩for outward easements and conveniences, and then the removal of his Relation is easily granted without offence: Then why may he not, for the ease of his Conscience, remove his Relation, though not his Habitation? unless his Habitation were Jure divino, an inseparable Adjunct to his Relation, or his relation to his Habitation? Christians (as Brethren) are called of God to bear one another's Burdens,