A34674:354
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.
The Result of the Disputations of the Synod, or Assembly, at Cambri… › Part › Question 1
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.
8. That thereby persons are put upon acting with doubting consciences; the Magistrates Injunctions being ofttimes not clear to such as are to obey them, and so they are thereby compelled to sin. When the position affirmeth this power in matters cleared in the Word, which if not cleared to this or that subject in a Christian Common-wealth, that is his own fault, by his own ignorance ⟨p. 12⟩of matters which he is bound to know, to bring any such snare upon his conscience, and in such a case he may desire the Magistrate to use the best means to clear up the matters enjoined or forbidden, to be commanded or forbidden in the Word; but neither of these hinder but that the Magistrate is to command or forbid that which God hath commanded or forbidden; even that which Christ hath commanded or forbidden, should not then be urged upon mens consciences by Church-Officers, or Church-censures be executed against obstinate gain-sayers, because through error in judgement, and corruption in conscience, men will say th•nd after all means used for convict•, they may still affirm that they think otherwise, or at best that they still doubt of the matters in question, yea albeit the matters be fundamental.
8. That thereby persons are put upon acting with doubting consciences; the Magistrates Injunctions being ofttimes not cleare to such as are to obey them, and so they are thereby compelled to sin. When the position affirmeth this power in matters cleared in the Word, which if not cleared to this or that subject in a Christian Common-wealth, that is his owne fault, by his owne ignorance ⟨p. 12⟩of matters which he is bound to know, to bring any such snare upon his conscience, and in such a case he may desire the Magistrate to use the best meanes to cleare up the matters enjoyned or forbidden, to be commanded or forbidden in the Word; but neither of these hinder but that the Magistrate is to command or forbid that which God hath commanded or forbidden; even that which Christ hath commanded or forbidden, should not then be urged upon mens consciences by Church-Officers, or Church-censures be executed against obstinate gaine-sayers, because through error in judgement, and corruption in conscience, men will say th•nd after all meanes used for convict, they may still affirme that they thinke otherwise, or at best that they still doubt of the matters in question, yea albeit the matters be fundamentall.