N01347:65
A sermon preached by the Reverend, Mr. John Cotton, teacher of the First Church…
A sermon preached by the Reverend, Mr. John Cotton, teacher of the First Church in Boston in New-England. Delivered at Salem, 1636. : To which is prefixed, a retraction of his former opinion concerning baptism, uttered by him immediately preceding the sermon emitted. He dyed on the 23. day of December, 1652. Entering [sic] on the 68 year of his age. : [Seven lines from I Corinthians]A sermon preached by the Reverend, Mr. John Cotton, teacher of the First Church in Boston in New-England. Deliver'd at Salem, 1636. : To which is prefixed, a retraction of his former opinion concerning baptism, utter'd by him immediately preceeding the sermon emitted. He dyed on the 23. day of December, 1652. Entring [sic] on the 68 year of his age. : [Seven lines from I Corithians]
Boston: : s.n., Printed in the year, 1713
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
by this means the Covenant will keep us constantly, sweetly, and fruitfully, in an everlasting kind of Serviceable-usefulness one to another.
USE. III. The Use in the third Place, is of Direction, Upon what terms you may Separate. Suppose the Church Promise never to defile themselves more with any Pollutions of the Sons of men, but they do defile themselves, then Covenant is broken; they did Covenant they would ⟨p. 25⟩not come into false Assemblies, & that they would have no fellowship with them, that did allow of false Assemblies; but this Covenant cometh to be broken: If this be your Covenant, it is but a Covenant of Works, and then no marvel tho' it do break & fail, seeing it stands upon duties, and keeping of duties; for being built upon the condition of duties, and standing upon performance of duties, & being broken upon neglect of duties, this is but a Covenant of Works; and yet you may be Married to Christ in this. You come and resolve to walk in all Ordinances, and undertake to reform both Church & Common Wealth; in such a Covenant the Lord is content to take you by the hand and become a Husband to you, Jer. 21.32. And what will a Husband do, he will rejoice with you, and you will find comfort in duties; your heart hath been refreshed that you may see you have Jesus Christ in your bosom, He will also reveal Secrets unto you, he will cast in Seeds of sundry good things among you, so that you shall Prophecy in his Name, and have a Seed of Prayer, and many good things, and yet may want Everlasting love; you may find much comfort, and yet you will find some or other to give offence, or some or other to take offence, and you will break with breaking upon breaking, until you be like Sheep without a Shepherd. This is not the Covenant, therefore Brother, upon which thou & I must live in Church-fellowship everlastingly, tho' herein thou hast had ⟨p. 26⟩comfort, & that unspeakable; such thou mayest have & yet run upon a Covenant of Works.
USE. III. The Use in the third Place, is of Direction, Upon what terms you may Separate. Suppose the Church Promise never to defile themselves more with any Pollutions of the Sons of men, but they do defile themselves, then Covenant is broken; they did Covenant they would