A80637:417
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 200-250
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 you will say, Answ. Do we not pray the Saints on earth to pray for us?
It is true we do so: Object. and Christ hath bidden us, and given us patterns to pray one for another: but if we in this Country should pray to a friend in England to pray for us, it were Idolatry: Paul indeed doth write unto the Churches to pray for him, but not unto the Saints or Angels in heaven.
It is true we do so: Object. and Christ hath bidden us, and given us paterns to pray one for another: but if we in this Country should pray to a friend in England to pray for us, it were Idolatry: Paul indeed doth write unto the Churches to pray for him, but not unto the Saints or Angels in heaven.
2. We do not depend upon their prayers, that by the merit of them they should prevail: but we look at it only as a way, wherein the Lord calleth us to wait upon him: so as that when we have done desiring, we look for all blessing from Jesus Christ, even then when we beg the prayers of our friends. When as God was angry with the friends of Job, because they falsely accused Job, chap. 42.7, 8. he bids them take a sacrifice, and go to Job, and he shall pray for you; for him will I accept: but must they now trust upon Job? or upon his acquaintance with God? no verily, but upon the Lord Jesus, who was held forth by the Sacrifice. So that though we crave the help of our brethren's prayers, yet the Lord doth not allow us, to make our friends Mediators between Christ and us; we look not for any thing from them, but from the Lord Jesus Christ alone in that way. Now they look at Mary as able to command the Lord Jesus, (Jube Matter Filium, command thy Son,) and when they pray to this Saint and that Saint, they look that the right and merit, and efficacy of their prayers shall carry all an end: whereas they need a Mediator themselves; and therefore they cannot by their own right be Mediators unto us. But that we might the better understand the mystery of iniquity: do not they make the Saints and Angels the Mediators of their Redemption also? what is the ground of the Popish indulgences? have not they a treasure of Church-merit which they boast of? and therefore have they power, as they say, to grant pardons, and to apply the