N01348:26
A treatise I. Of faith. II. Twelve fundamental articles of Christian religion. III. A…
A treatise I. Of faith. II. Twelve fundamental articles of Christian religion. III. A doctrinal conclusion. IV. Questions and answers upon church-government. Taken from written copies long since delivered by the late Reverend Mr. John Cotton, teacher of the First Church in Boston, in New-England.
Boston: printed by Bartholemew Green?, 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.
The Opening of the Terms of this Doctrine.
By Gifts and Grace, I mean Holy Qualities, the same which Philosophers call Virtues, Habits, or good Dispositions, whereby the faculties and affections of the Soul, which by Corrupt Nature are set upon a mans self and Earthly Things, and cannot savour the things of God (and so are said to be dead) are hereby sanctified and lifted up to God, and set upon him, and Heavenly Things; and so are said to be quickened and made alive unto God; whence we are said to be begotten again to a lively hope, 1 Pet. 1.3. And the Faith of the Righteous is opposed to the dead Faith of vain men. Jam. 2.20. These Gifts (we say) are wrought or created by the Holy Ghost, because they are the fruits or the effects of the Spirit of God in us. Gal. 5.22, 23. Wrought by his Almighty Creating Power (out of nothing) Col. 2.12. Psal. 51.10. and thereby making us Spiritual men, 1 Cor. 2.15. Living Stones, and fit instruments for Gods Spiritual Service, 1 Pet. 2.5. and therefore every one of those gifts and graces whereby any faculty or affection of the Soul is sanctified; it is called the Spirit of such a faculty or affection, as the sanctified disposition of the mind, is called the Spirit of a Sound Mind,