A34674:406
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.
4 A fourth Argument is taken from Zech. 13.2,3,4,5,6. it is Prophesied of as an approved act, of the zealous Members of the purest Churches to be in the days of the Gospel, to make use of the coercive power of the civil Magistrate in matters of doctrine (a matter of Religion:) therefore it's the ⟨p. 38⟩mind of God that in these days such coercive power in matters of Religion should be exercised; nor may any here restrain these words to Church-censures, it being not the use of the Holy Ghost to express Church-censures greater and lesser, by taking away the life, wounds, and works in the hands, but rather proveth that power of civil Authority to inflict death in some cases of false doctrine, and some other reproachful corporal punishments, in some cases of errors which are not of moment as the other.
4 A fourth Argument is taken from Zech. 13.2,3,4,5,6. it is Prophecyed of as an approved act, of the zealous Members of the purest Churches to be in the dayes of the Gospel, to make use of the coercive power of the civil Magistrate in matters of doctrine (a matter of Religion:) therefore it's the ⟨p. 38⟩mind of God that in these dayes such coercive power in matters of Religion should be exercised; nor may any here restrain these words to Church-censures, it being not the use of the Holy Ghost to expresse Church-censures greater and lesser, by taking away the life, wounds, and works in the hands, but rather proveth that power of civil Authority to inflict death in some cases of false doctrine, and some other reproachfull corporal punishments, in some cases of errors which are not of moment as the other.