A34674:363
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.
Answ. We say no: because whilst he keepeth his opinion to himself, and whilst his lusts are confined within his breast, he is to be left to the sword of the Spirit, and to the Word of God, thereby only to be convinced; the Magistrates power only extending to the outward man, but if either his mental errors, or hearts lust break out into open expression ⟨p. 16⟩and view, and become scandalous and spreading, then they become breaches of rules by the outward man, yea, tend to infringe that outward godly peace, of which he is to be a preserver, and so in both respects he is to deal with the same.
Answ. We say no: because whilst he keepeth his opinion to himselfe, and whilest his lusts are confined within his breast, he is to be left to the sword of the Spirit, and to the Word of God, thereby onely to be convinced; the Magistrates power onely extending to the outward man, but if either his mentall errours, or hearts lust breake out into open expression ⟨p. 16⟩and view, and become scandalous and spreading, then they become breaches of rules by the outward man, yea, tend to infringe that outward godly peace, of which he is to be a preserver, and so in both respects he is to deale with the same.
Object. 2. Must a Magistrate command men to believe with all their heart, to repent and mortify their sins and lusts?
Object. 2. Must a Magistrate command men to believe with all their heart, to repent and mortifie their sins and lusts?
Answ. We say no: because these appertain to the inward man and soul of man, to attend so far as they are inward, but if we speak of any outward profession of these, so far he may command as to profess the faith by coming to hear the Word, and to repent by public fasting and prayer. And if Princes have no power in such external things, then have they no power instrumentally to remove the wrath of God from their Kingdoms by general humiliations.