A34674:484
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.
Resp. 1. We may distinguish between the Synods passing for acts of judgement upon the Question discussed, and the sending of that judgement passed by the Synod. That the Messengers of the Church of Antioch did judge jointly with the Church of Jerusalem, concerning ⟨p. 60⟩the matters agitated in that Synod, appears thus: In every regular discharge of the duty of the Church-messengers in a Synod where there is a concurrence of ability, right, and duty, to pass an actual judgement, as declarative to the truth, there was an actual judgement.
Resp. 1. We may distinguish between the Synods passing for acts of judgement upon the Question discussed, and the sending of that judgement passed by the Synod. That the Messengers of the Church of Antioch did judge joyntly with the Church of Jerusalem, concerning ⟨p. 60⟩the matters agitated in that Synod, appears thus: In every regular discharge of the duty of the Church-messengers in a Synod where there is a concurrence of ability, right, and duty, to passe an actuall judgement, as declarative to the truth, there was an actuall judgement.
But such was the case in this Synod, ergo.
The Reason why the judgement of the Church of Jerusalem, and not of the Messengers of the Church of Antioch, is only made mention of in the letter, might be, because the judgement of the Church-Messengers of Antioch was already known to the Church; nor had they any doubt of their Messengers concurrence with the Church of Jerusalem in the present Conclusions; if there were any doubt in that respect, they were personally present to satisfy it.