A34674:399
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. All this may be true, and yet verified only in matters of the second Table, and is extended to matters of the first, yet only to such things as are against the Law of Nations, or the light of Nature, and so no proof of that for which it is urged. He is a terror to evil works, but it is not said he is so to all evil works.
Object. All this may be true, and yet verified onely in matters of the second Table, and is extended to matters of the first, yet onely to such things as are against the Law of Nations, or the light of Nature, and so no proof of that for which it is urged. He is a terrour to evil works, but it is not said he is so to all evill works.
Answ. 1 If all this be restrained according to the intent of the Objection, then is none to have praise, approbation, encouragement from Civil Authority, by reason of matters of Faith, or of Religion, but for matters of righteousness only: or if for any matters of Religion, ⟨p. 31⟩yet only for such as stand with the light of nature, and Law of Nations, as the third Verse must be Expounded. For if it be supposed, that it is an act of Justice (whereof the Magistrate is Minister) to distribute rewards in any matters of Religion, that appears in the walk of the outward man, and respect godly peace in way of encouragement, it must needs be an act of like justice, to distribute punishments to the contrary. The Magistrate being, according to the Apostles distribution, a Minister of God, as well when he encourageth good, as when he represseth and punisheth evil.
Answ. 1 If all this be restrained according to the intent of the Objection, then is none to have praise, approbation, incouragement from Civil Authority, by reason of matters of Faith, or of Religion, but for matters of righteousnesse onely: or if for any matters of Religion, ⟨p. 31⟩yet onely for such as stand with the light of nature, and Law of Nations, as the third Verse must be Expounded. For if it be supposed, that it is an act of Justice (whereof the Magistrate is Minister) to distribute rewards in any matters of Religion, that appeares in the walk of the outward man, and respect godly peace in way of encouragement, it must needs be an act of like justice, to distribute punishments to the contrary. The Magistrate being, according to the Apostles distribution, a Minister of God, as well when he encourageth good, as when he represseth and punisheth evil.