A76991:992
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.
CERTAIN THESES, or, Positions of the Learned JOHN CAMERON, Concerni… › Thesis 46: 46. Thesis.
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.
46. Thesis.
But they differ. 1First, in that the Covenant of Nature was made altogether with all men, this only with the Israelites. ⟨p. 383⟩Secondly, in that the Covenant of Nature was presently made wth man, at the instant of his Creation, and had no praeparatories at all unto it; the old Covenant long after, and had many praeparatories. Thirdly, that the Covenant of Nature doth only bind us by the law of Nature unto due obedience. The old covenant doth oblige us farther, unto ceremonies. Fourthly, seeing life is promised in both Covenants, in this, it is designed us, by the fruition of the land of Canaan, in that of Paradise. Fifthly, seeing both covenants do lead us unto Christ, the covenant of nature doth not this by it self, but by accident, the old covenant doth this by it self; for it is its true and proper scope: For God made not the Covenant of Nature with men, for this end, that being oppressed with the weight of it, they should breath after Christ, but the last and main end of it is this, that men should render up unto God that which is his due; but in the subservient Covenant, God requires not his right, for any other end then this, that men, upon conviction of their own weakness, should fly into the arms of Christ. Sixthly, the Covenant of Nature, is founded upon the Creation and general Conservation, the subservient Covenant is founded upon the Election of the people of ⟨p. 384⟩Israel. And lastly upon their freedom out of Egypt, and their conservation in the land of Canaan. Seventhly, the Covenant of Nature was therefore made, that by it men might be drawn sweetly, for it was written in their hearts, but the subservient Covenant for this end, to compel men, a