A80637:225
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.
Thus we may perceive that the Lord is gracious, and marvellous gracious, in that he giveth us his dear Son, the second person in Trinity; and thus he saith to his elect, I will be a God unto thee, and give thee my Son, that shall redeem thee out of all distress, and danger: This doth the Lord for his people, and it is a clear evidence of his grace, and showeth that his love unto his people is beyond all banks, and bottoms, for the Lord to give us his Son, and this Son so soon as he was promised; not the Lord only, but his people saw him afar off, Job. 8.5, 6. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it, and was glad. For when the Lord Jesus Christ was promised unto him, Gen. 17.16, 17. and the Lord had said unto him, I will bless Sarah, and give thee a son of her; yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of many nations, kings of people shall be of her; then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed; he did rejoice that the Lord would give him a Saviour out of his loins: how it could be brought to pass, it may be he knew not; ⟨p. 127⟩but by a Spirit of Prophecy did he discern it much, no doubt. This is the first work of God in giving himself by Covenant; and this was done long ago, before we were born: he gave him in his eternal Counsel, when he did elect us in him; he gave him when he sent him into the world: but this is more, when he giveth us unto his Christ, by Covenant, and draweth us unto him, and giveth Christ unto us also: and this grace of God cometh nearer unto us; the other did leave us like Lambs in a large pasture: but now as he giveth us unto Christ, so he giveth him to us, and both in present possession; and this the Father doth, Joh. 6.44. for no man, saith Christ, can come unto me, except the Father, which hath sent me, draw him: and every one that hath heard and learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Now this hearing, and learning of the Father, is a strange kind of learning, which the Lord teacheth the soul by, when he draweth him unto Christ; an effectual Teaching, and powerful, 1 Cor. 1.9. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. This is our effectual calling, and this is the Lords giving us unto his Son,