A34674:74
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 Lord also Prepareth his people by a Spirit of Burning, which upon a spirit of bondage he doth shed abroad into the hearts of men: This we read of, Mal. 4.1. It is spoken of the Ministry of John the Baptist, which did burn like an oven against all the Scribes and Pharisees, and left them neither the root of Abraham's Covenant, nor the branch of their own good works: he cutteth them off from the Covenant ⟨p. 22⟩of Abraham, Mat. 3.9. Think not to say that you have Abraham to be your father, &c. and so by cutting them off from the root, he leaveth them no ground to trust on. From their good works the Lord Jesus Christ also cutteth them off, Mat. 6.2.5.16. This was a Spirit of Burning, which the Lord conveyed by the M nistry of Christ and of John Baptist, to burn up all the Hypocrites like stubble, and the beauty of their works was blasted by it; and this is Gods usual manner of dealing. Now there are many under a Spirit of bondage, that never came under a Spirit of burning; yet many under a Spirit of bondage do fear the Lord with some kind of reverence unto his Ordinances; for as an Angel of God they received Paul, and yet, for many of them, they were but under the Law, and therefore the Apostle saith, He is afraid of them least he hath bestowed his labour in vain, Gal. 4.9,10,11. compared with ver. 21. where he saith, Tell me ye that desire to be under the Law, &c. A sign that this bondage under which they were, did not only bind them under fear of wrath, but did bind them also to obey ⟨p. 23⟩the Ordinances of God with some kind of devout reverence: Now you have many men that rest there, but when the Lord doth carry men further, then he sendeth a spirit of burning, thereby to blast all the fruits and branches of their righteousness, and to burn up all, that under a Covenant of works a man hath wrought; and this is that which the Prophet Isaiah speaketh of, Isa. 4.4