A76991:392
The True Bounds of Christian Freedom
The true bounds of Christian freedom or a treatise wherein the rights of the law are vindicated, the liberties of grace maintained, and the several late opinions against the law are examined and confuted. Whereunto is annexed a discourse of the learned John Cameron's, touching the threefold covenant of God with man, / faithfully translated, by Samuel Bolton minister of the word of God at Saviours-Southwark.The true bounds of Christian freedome or a treatise wherein the rights of the law are vindicated, the liberties of grace maintained, and the severall late opinions against the law are examined and confuted. Whereunto is annexed a discourse of the learned Iohn Camerons, touching the threefold covenant of God with man, / faithfully translated, by Samuel Bolton minister of the word of God at Saviours-Southwark.
London: printed by J.L. for Philemon Stephens, 1645
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.
1. 1The covenant of works is a covenant between two friends. It is a covenant of friendship; but God could not make such a covenant with fallen man: we were enemies, we were guilty sinners: and therefore a covenant of friendship could not be made: Indeed there might be a covenant of Grace made with him, for that is a covenant of reconciliation, & such a covenant might be made with enemies; but there could not be a covenant of works made, for that is a covenant between friends; and such we were not after the fall.
1. 1The covenant of workes is a covenant betweene two friends. It is a covenant of friendship; but God could not make such a covenant with fallen man: we were enemies, we were guilty sinners: and therefore a covenant of friendship could not be made: Indeed there might be a covenant of Grace made with him, for that is a covenant of reconciliation, & such a covenāt might be made with enemies; but there could not be a covenant of works made, for that is a covenant betweene friends; and such we were not after the fall.
- 1Lege Ames. de applicatione Christi. Faedus operis est faedus amicitiae, faedus gratiae est faedus reconciliationis,— Ames.
2. The Covenant of works was a Covenant, wherein each party bad his work; It was a conditional Covenant we had something to do, if we expected that which was promised. But now such a Covenant God could not make with man after his fall; because man was not able to stand to the lowest terms, to perform ⟨p. 135⟩the meanest condition. And therefore.
2. The Covenant of works was a Covenant, wherein each party bad his work; It was a conditionall Covenant we had something to doe, if we expected that which was promised. But now such a Covenant God could not make with man after his fall; because man was not able to stand to the lowest tearms, to performe