A34674:59
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 And as God himself is implied; so when God is given by Covenant, all ⟨p. 11⟩the Ordinances and Creatures, and works of God are given also, for so it was in all Covenants of old time; when Jehoshaphat maketh a Covenant with Ahab King of Israel, 2 Kings 22.4. then I am as thou art, and my people as thy people, and my Horses as thy Horses, and all that he hath is for Ahab's service, as the King goeth, so goeth his strength; so thus it comes to pass, that if the Lord of Hosts be for us, and give himself unto us, then also he gives unto us his Eternal Election and Redemption, and whatsoever he hath wrought for the salvation of his Elect; He hath not so dealt with any Nation (Psal. 147.20.) but only with the Israel of God, unto them hath he given his Laws and showed them his judgements: And for his Creatures, they are all given to be for his People, to whom he hath given himself. If God be a God unto Abraham, then shall all Gods people be for him, Melchizedek shall bless him, Aner, Eshcot, and Mamre, shall be Confederates with him; the Sun, Moon, and Stars shall fight in their courses for the people of God; the Sea shall give way to pass through it on dry ground, ⟨p. 12⟩What ailed you ye streams of Jordan to go back? Why, all the Creatures of God must stoop unto the people of God w• he is in Covenant with them. This is that which the Lord promiseth unto his people, Hos. 2.18. to 22. when the Lord shall marry them to him in faithfulness; and 1 Cor. 3.22. This is the large gift of Gods Covenant. Nay, and which is wonderful and beyond all comprehension, when I say, all the Creatures and Ordinances of God are ours, the very expression of the phrase doth imply that the Lord giveth himself to be the staff and strength of them; so that you shall see the presence of God in them, he will not only give a man wife and children, and Ordinances, and providences, but he will be in all these, and bless his people in the enjoyment of them all, so as that they shall enjoy God in all.