A34674:78
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 1. They being thus prepared, the Spirit of God taketh up his seat in the soul by making it a Temple unto himself, in the name of the Father and of the Son, and so are they made an habitation of God through the Spirit, Eph. 2.22. Gal. 4.6. And because ye are Sons, &c. where he speaketh not of Sons by actual regeneration, but by Gods Eternal Counsel. The same Spirit is also called the Comforter, whom Jesus Christ hath promised to send, John 16.7,8,9. If I depart, I will send you the Comforter, and when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement.: Of sin because they believe not in me. This the holy ghost convinceth men of, to be the greatest misery of the soul, that they have not believed upon Jesus Christ. And look as a Talent of gold or some weighty metal falling into a Vessel of water, dasheth out all that is in the vessel to make room for it self: So ⟨p. 26⟩the Lord Jesus Christ coming into the soul, dasheth out all watery confidences, and maketh room for himself, so as that you may say the Eternal God is there; and in very deed, because the heart of man is not only like unto water, but is hard and stony, therefore the Spirit of God cometh like fire, and melteth the iron stone of the heart, and softeneth it into flesh, that now the soul is utterly at a loss not only in regard of his sins, but in regard of his best works also, and is most of all convinced of his unbelief. Now the Holy Spirit of God bring thus shed abroad into the heart, at the very first entrance of it into the soul, us it doth chiefly convince the soul of Unbelief, so
Answ 1. They being thus prepared, the Spirit of God taketh up his seat in the soule by making it a Temple unto himselfe, in the name of the Father and of the Son, and so are they made an habitation of God through the Spirit, Eph. 2.22. Gal. 4.6. And because yee are Sons, &c. where he speaketh not of Sons by actuall regeneration, but by Gods Eternall Counsell. The same Spirit is also called the Comforter, whom Jesus Christ hath promised to send,