A80637:195
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 100-150
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.
for were they of another nature, and did they serve our turns more, as we think, we should not then account them tedious: If I were to sit and tell money all day long, this is for my self (saith a man) and for my profit; and if it were for another, we should not think the time long, it may be, at that work neither: but (mind you) when it cometh to any thing which doth concern the Lord, then it's so far above a mans reach, whatsoever we have to do in the things of God, that we should soon be weary of reaching forth our hands all the day long unto the Lord, and to be constantly for God, from God, and with God, in all our Actions: our base spirits are soon ready to be withdrawing from the Lord; therefore the Apostle biddeth us follow after Peace, and Holiness, without which no man shall see God: so that great is the necessity of Holiness, and worthy ⟨p. 105⟩to be followed after: for though a mans own heart, and the world, and men, and Satan withdraw us from it, yet follow after it, for without it no man shall see God. There is a kind of holiness which some men have attained unto, many a fair day ago, but 'tis a thousand to one, whether it be the holiness which doth accompany salvation, for that Holiness is not easily attained unto; but the other will easily cleave close unto a man.
Now if you shall ask me, Quest. 1 wherefore the Lord will have us pursue after Holiness; and what needeth it, if the Spirit of Holiness dwell in me by an everlasting Covenant? if it did withdraw from us as it did from Adam, it was another matter; but though it may be quenched in us, yet abideth it for ever: what need then of gifts of Holiness?
That one word may be sufficient, Answ. which we find in 2 Tim. 2.21. If any man purge himself from these evils, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified and meet for the Masters use, and prepared unto every good work. This showeth us why gifts of Holiness are requisite to be in Gods people, namely, that they might become meet instruments in the hands of God, and fitted unto every good word and work; therefore it is, that the Lord will have us to be filled with all the gifts of Righteousness, and fruits of his Spirit, that we might be more fit Temples for the Holy Ghost to dwell in: and this is the principal Reason of the Point.