A34674:382
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.
Object. Those Rulers of old did thus as Members of the National Church of the Jews, the same persons being Members of Church and Common-wealth; but it is not always so now.
Object. Those Rulers of old did thus as Members of the Nationall Church of the Jewes, the same persons being Members of Church and Common-wealth; but it is not alwayes so now.
Answ. 1 Then at least where Magistrates are Members of Churches, they may in these days exercise such power.
Answ. 1 Then at least where Magistrates are Members of Churches, they may in these dayes exercise such power.
2 Though they were Members both of Church and State, yet they were to put forth their Coercive power civilly, not as Members of the Church, but of the State, else it had been to confound Church and State, yea, to make God (which directed to it) to be the author of that confusion.
3 They were to punish such to whom they stood in no Church relation at all, but merely Civil, for sins against the first Table. Hence Ahab was blamed for not punishing Benhadad blaspheming God, as if a God of the Hills, but not of the valleys: Hence Nehemiah's resolution to punish even any of those strangers which should profane the Sabbath, chap. 13.