A80637:300
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 150-200
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.
and it is a wonderful Indulgence of the most High, that dwells in temples made without hands, so to be pleased to dwell in the sons and daughters of men, to make good his own eternal counsel for their salvation. There is I confess also some kind of presence of the Spirit of God even in hypocrites, that are only fitted to some work of God, and therefore only attain to some work of common Grace, but not such as doth accompany salvation: you will find this difference between them, and Gods own children; the Spirit of God indeed comes upon them, as he ⟨p. 176⟩did upon Saul, 1 Sam. 10.10. so that he prophesied; and more then so, he doth sometimes continue with them for a season, and so journeth a while in them, according as sometimes it is said, Jer. 14.8. he is like a stranger, or a wayfaring man, that tarrieth for a night; thus we read, 1 Sam. 16.14, The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him; a sign the Spirit of God had been with him before. So Zedekiah, when he smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of God from me, to speak unto thee? 1 King. 22.24. a sign it may be that he had sometimes found the Spirit of God, but now he was departed: however it be, the Spirit of God is in them but for a season, until he be grieved by them, and then he doth depart; and indeed did never bestow any regenerating grace upon them, but only fitted them for some kind of service for his Church, or the Common-wealth. So likewise Jehu, and Judas, and Demas, did much for a season, by the Spirit of God; he did enlighten their minds, and open their mouths, and gave free passage to their administrations; and you may sometimes wonder how men have been assisted in the pulpit both in prayer and preaching, that have been notorious in wickedness: thus it pleaseth God to come, and sojourn in them, and work great works by them, such as may be of great use among his people, and may leave themselves without excuse: but you see where the difference lieth, even as it lay between the anointing of Saul, and Jehu; David, and Solomon; the anointing ⟨p. 177⟩