A34674:68
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.
Answ. So he doth indeed, but the Lord giveth him that also: God the Father seeth it needful for the confirmation of their Faith, and their everlasting salvation, therefore he giveth him Circumcision, and giveth him the grace to circumcise his Children: I think indeed the Lord doth call for many things under a Covenant of Grace, but so as that the Lord 1 Worketh those things in them out of Grace, not give Grace out of works: 2 He will have them know, that those things which they work are nothing without the working of his grace. It is true, Abraham may circumcise Isaac, but who shall circumcise the heart of Isaac? It is a small matter to circumcise the flesh: so it is a small matter for us to baptize with water, but who must wash us from our sins, save only the Lord our God? So that he doth secretly intimate, that what his poor servants do outwardly, he would do it in effect. The Children ⟨p. 18⟩of Israel shall at the Lords Commandment march about the City of Jericho seven days together, and not speak a word, and hereby the walls of the City shall fa•l down flat: of what use were these weapons to such an end? what would the Lord show his people hereby? hereby he teacheth them to know by what ability and power to bring mighty things to pass, they shall do duties as the Lord commandeth them, but he himself shall breath in them to make them effectual: for though we do never so much, yet we cannot reach unto the accomplishment of any good thing. Not by might, nor by strength, but by my Spirit; The Lord therefore by his Spirit must work all our works for us. Here is the freeness of Gods Covenant, in that the Lord giveth himself first, Jer. 32 40. You may speak of Conditions in this kind, but the Lord doth undertake both for his own part and for our parts also: for as the Covenant is free, so the Lord will freely maintain and preserve all his Elect, and all from the immutable nature of God; it is not possible that God should lye, Mal. 3.6. Hence springeth ⟨p. 19⟩our eternity & perseverance (Rom. 11.29.)