A34674:391
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.
Argum: 3
The third Argument is, in that it is recorded as a matter of special guidance and direction of God, and acknowledged by Ezra, inspired by the Spirit, as a special mercy of God to his people, that Artaxerxes an Heathen King, had an heart to put forth his coercive power enjoining things commanded of God, and forbidding, with sanction of suitable punishments, the evils, whether against the Laws of the King, or against the Laws of God, whether concerning Religion, or righteousness: whence we argue, that this use of the civil power was of God of old, and therefore the same is as well of God now. Artaxerxes was indeed an instrument in the hand of Christ, but ⟨p. 29⟩not therefore a Type of Christ: Nor was this of the nature of a mere Jewish judicial Law, because enjoining punishments, moral offences being punishable; and yet not therefore of a mere judicial nature, or merely against a judicial Law; besides this act of Artaxerxes respected civil matters, and matters of the second Table (which none will challenge as not imitable) as well as matters of Religion. And that which some object, that he did this for fear of wrath, rather confirmeth the morality of the use of such power, then otherwise. For what ground of fear in not putting forth such coercive power, if the omission of it were not sinful? Yea, if the use of such a coercive power in matters of Religion, were not according to Gods mind (as our opposites say) he might rather more groundedly have feared Gods wrath for such an high offence, as usurpation of a power which the Lord disliked, and forbade.
The third Argument is, in that it is recorded as a matter of speciall guidance and direction of God, and acknowledged by Ezra, inspired by the Spirit, as a special mercy of God to his people, that Artaxerxes an Heathen King, had an heart to put forth his coercive power injoyning things commanded of God, and forbidding, with sanction of sutable punishments, the evils, whether against the Lawes of the King, or against the Lawes of God, whether concerning Religion, or righteousnesse: whence we argue, that this use of the civil power was of God of old, and therefore the same is as well of God now. Artaxerxes was indeed an instrument in the hand of Christ, but