A76991:995
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 47: 47. 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.
47. Thesis.
Here it may be asked, first of all, how we are drawn by the Covenant of nature unto Christ, by accident, for we said, but now, that it was not ordained mainly for this end. Secondly, how the Covenant of Nature may be said to draw men sweetly, since it doth compel rather? Thirdly, seeing then it doth compel, in what sense or consideration, as touching this part of it, it may be distinguished from the Subservient Covenant.
Here it may be asked, first of all, how we are drawn by the Covenant of nature unto Christ, by accident, for we said, but now, that it was not ordained mainly for this end. Secondly, how the Covenant of Nature may be said to draw men sweetly, since it doth compell rather? Thirdly, seeing then it doth compell, in what sense or consideration, as touching this part of it, it may be distinguished from the Subservient Covenant.
48. Thesis.
To the first I Answer. 1The Covenant of Nature brings men by accident unto Christ, in that it showed what man is indebted unto God, and how sore punishment abideth him, who doth not pay this debt; whence it compels a man to look to the Mediator, seeing he beholds himself both unable to discharge the debt, and as unable every whit to undergo the punishment.