N01347:73
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.
Object. But thou wilt say, I know the Pangs of Conscience, and the terrors of it, and I have seen the error of my way, and have cast off my lewd Company; and since I know that the Lord requireth that I should seek him in Church Estate; I have come some thousands of Miles for that end, and I could not endure to see such things as are done by the devices of men: will not this hold?
Object. But thou wilt say, I know the Pangs of Conscience, and the terrors of it, and I have seen the error of my way, and have cast off my leud Company; and since I know that the Lord requireth that I should seek him in Church Estate; I have come some thousands of Miles for that end, and I could not endure to see such things as are done by the devices of men: will not this hold?
Ans. I beseech you consider it, you have fallen upon this Reformation, you have undertaken a Covenant, yet now you have failed, and what then have you done? I go to Christ, and desire him to sprinkle me with the blood of his ⟨p. 30⟩Covenant. Is not this a safe Estate? Truly this is no more than the very Covenant of Works, which the People of Israel entered into at Horeb, the Lord shook the foundations of their hearts; upon it they entered into a Covenant; All that God commandeth us, we will hear it and do it; and if they did offend, they then go to the appointed Sacrifice; and what, saith the Soul in such a case? I thank God, I find some Peace to my Conscience. All this you may do, you may reform your Selves and Families, and Churches; and when you fail at any time, you may return to Christ, and He may give you some remorse, as he did to the Israelites, Psal. 78.34, 35, 36. All this may be by a Spirit of Bondage: He in Mercy forgave their Iniquities, and destroyed them not. So they may come to have their Sins Pardoned, but this kind of Pardon, is but a reprievement; it is not in everlasting Righteousness & Mercy: they Pray for Christ, and Mercy, and He doth sprinkle them, and then they see & find, that the Lord hath been Merciful unto them: but this will not do, the Lord will soon call back such Pardon, as may plainly appear: