A treatise of Mr. Cottons clearing certain doubts concerning predestination together with an examination…A treatise of Mr. Cottons clearing certaine doubts concerning predestination together with an examination…

Secondly, if God offer grace and give, though never so small, even as a grain of Mustard-seed, and promise to uphold it freely for Christ his sake, and not according to our works, it is a Covenant of Grace. But if he offer and give never so many gracious helps, and means, and gifts, and uphold them according to the works of the creature; it is still a Covenant of works, as it was to the Angels that fell, and to Adam, though he gave to both of them the whole Image of God, and besides, heaven it self to the one, a Paradise to the other, it is but the same covenant of works which God made with the world of mankind after the fall, and with Adam before the fall: though Adam received greater means and helps to keep it, then his posterity had after the fall.

Secondly, if God offer grace and give, though never so small, even as a grain of Mustard-seed, and promise to uphold it freely for Christ his sake, and not according to our works, it is a Covenant of Grace. But if hee offer and give never so many gracious helps, and means, and gifts, and uphold them according to the works of the creature; it is still a Covenant of works, as it was to the Angels that fell, and to Adam, though hee gave to both of them the whole Image of God, and besides, heaven it self to the one, a Paradise to the other, it is but the same covenant of works which God made with the world of mankinde after the fall, and with Adam before the fall: though Adam received greater means and helps to keep it, then his posterity had after the fall.

Because still the condition of the Covenant was the same in both, to reward them both according to their works. So is it still but the same Covenant of works which God makes with mankind, when he offereth them in Christ, greater grace and helps to keep it, then after the fall they could have attained unto without Christ, because still the condition of the Covenant runneth in the same tenor, to deal with them according to their works.

Because still the condition of the Covenant was the same in both, to reward them both according to their works. So is it still but the same Covenant of works which God makes with mankinde, when hee offereth them in Christ, greater grace and helps to keep it, then after the fall they could have attained unto without Christ, because still the condition of the Covenant runneth in the same tenour, to deal with them according to their works.