A34674:401
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.
2 The Objection would make only offences against the rules of the second Table, or at most, those that are against the Law of nature and Nations (which come under the view of the Magistrate, as a public Minister of God) to be evil works, and not other sins of like public cognizance & concernment, respecting other matters of Religion. For if both sorts of offences are evil, he being a terror to evil works indefinitely, which come to his public cognizance, he is a terrour ex ⟨p. 32⟩officio, to both; and it is vain to say, he saith evil works, not all evil works; for so he saith, he is not a terror to good works, but saith not, to all good works, and therefore if that indefinite (good works) be not equivalent to that general (all good works) he may then it seems be a terror to some good works which come under his public cognizance.
2 The Objection would make onely offences against the rules of the second Table, or at most, those that are against the Law of nature and Nations (which come under the view of the Magistrate, as a publick Minister of God) to be evill works, and not other sins of like publick cognizance & concernment, respecting other matters of Religion. For if both sorts of offences are evil, he being a terrour to evil works indefinitely, which come to his publick cognizance, he is a terrour ex ⟨p. 32⟩officio, to both; and it is vaine to say, he saith evill works, not all evil works; for so he saith, he is not a terrour to good works, but saith not, to all good works, and therefore if that indefinite (good works) be not equivalent to that general (all good works) he may then it seems be a terrour to some good works which come under his publick cognizance.
3 We are yet to speak of that limitation, where the New Testament alloweth the civil Magistrate power, as in matters of righteousness, so in matters of Religion; so far namely as the light of nature, and Law of Nations extendeth in matters of the outward man, which come to his public view: but restraineth him from meddling further in any matters of Religion, of like public cognizance and concernment. That Scripture ground of this distinction and restriction, would be produced.