A80637:56
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.
2. He will have them know, that those things are nothing, without the working of his Grace. It is true, he may circumcise Isaac, but who shall circumcise the heart of Isaac? it is a small matter to circumcise the flesh: so it is a small matter for us to baptize with water; but who must wash us from our sins, save only the Lord our God? so that he doth secretly intimate, that what his poor servants do outwardly, he would do it inwardly and effectually. The children of Israel shall at the Lords commandment march about the city Jericho seven days together, and not speak a word, and hereby the walls of the city shall fall down flat; of what use were these weapons to such an end? what would the Lord show his people hereby? hereby he teacheth them to know by what ability and power to bring mighty things to pass: they shall do duties as the Lord commandeth them, but he himself will breath in them to make them effectual. For though we do never so much, yet we cannot reach unto the accomplishment of any good thing; not by might, nor by strength, but by my Spirit: the Lord therefore by his Spirit must work all our works for us: Here is the freeness of Gods Covenant, in that the Lord giveth himself first, Jer. 32.40. I will make an everlasting Covenant with them, that I will not turn ⟨p. 15⟩away from them to do them good: but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. You may speak of Conditions in this kind: but the Lord doth undertake both for his own part, and for our parts also: for as the Covenant is free, so the Lord will freely maintain, and preserve all his Elect, and all from the immutable Nature of God; it is not possible that God should lye: I am Jehovah, I change not, Mal. 3.6. therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed: Hence springeth our Eternity, and perseverance unto it (Rom. 11.29.) for the gifts and callings of God are without repentance: And I am persuaded (saith the Apostle Paul) that he that hath begun this work will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ, Phil. 1.6. The Lord took your Father Abram, and brought him from the other side of the flood: