A80637:104
A treatise of the covenant of grace, as it is dispensed to the elect…
A treatise of the covenant of grace, as it is dispensed to the elect seed, effectually unto salvation. Being the substance of divers sermons preached upon Act. 7. 8. / by that eminently holy and judicious man of God, Mr. John Cotton, teacher of the church at Boston in N.E.
London: printed by Ja. Cottrel for John Allen, 1659
THE COVENANT OF GRACE, As it is Dispensed to the Elect Seed, effect… › Part 1-50
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.
But whether doth not the Lord give us some saving preparations, before Jesus Christ? Object.
Reserving due honour to such gracious and precious Saints, as may be otherwise minded, Answ. I confess I do not discern, that the Lord worketh and giveth any saving preparation, in the heart, till he give union with Christ; for if the Lord do give any saving Qualification before Christ, then the soul may be in the state of salvation before Christ; and that seemeth to be prejudicial unto the Grace and Truth ⟨p. 40⟩of Jesus Christ: for if there be no Name under heaven given, whereby we must be saved, but only Jesus Christ; nor his Name, but in a way of fellowship with him; then it seemeth to me apparently to follow, that whatsoever saving work there be in the soul, it is not there before Christ be there. It is true, John Baptist was sent to subdue all flesh, by a Spirit of Burning, which burneth up carnal confidence in the Covenant of Abraham, and all their fruits of righteousness: here were indeed preparations for Christ, but these were not saving, they were still children of wrath; ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, notwithstanding all this. Further, John did indeed dispense poverty of Spirit, unto which a saving Promise was made; but then Jesus Christ was there also; whether they knew it, or knew it not, that is not greatly material in this Argument: but if the Kingdom of Heaven was there, Jesus Christ was there first, otherwise it will prove dishonourable unto the Name of Christ. Indeed there is a saving preparation before consolation in Christ, and the manifestation of our gracious union with him; but for our first union, there are no steps unto that Altar, Exod. 20. ult. but Christ doth prepare his Tabernacle for himself to dwell in. This is in the first place for instruction, concerning what is the first gift which the Lord giveth unto the soul, before any work. He giveth spiritual union with his Son: this standeth firm from the tenor of the Covenant, and the nature of it.
Reserving due honour to such gracious and precious Saints, as may be otherwise minded, Answ. I confess I do not discern, that the Lord worketh and giveth any saving preparation, in the heart, till he give union with Christ; for if the Lord do give any saving Qualification before Christ, then the soul may be in the state of salvation before Christ; and that seemeth to be prejudicial unto the Grace and Truth