N01348:59
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.
Obj. But God himself is said to be our Gifts and Graces, and therefore they are nothing but his Spirit in us; as God is said to be our confidence (which is all one with Faith) Psal. 65.5. So he is said to be our hope, Jer. 14.8. Psal. 71.5. our love, or love it self. 1 Joh. 4.16.
A. 1. God is said to be our confidence and hope, because he is the Object of our Faith and Hope; and therefore we are said to put our confidence, or to believe on him, 1 Pet. 2.6. Now if it were meant, God is the very Grace of Faith, or Confidence which is in us, then when we believe or put our Confidence on God, we should put God upon God, which were absurd; and if some things were lacking in our Faith (as there is, 1 Thes. 3.10.) then some things were lacking in God. And if it were meant that God is the grace of ⟨p. 19⟩that Hope which is in us; then, when David prayed he might not be ashamed of his hope; he meant that he might not be ashamed of his God.
A. 2. God may also be said to be our Confidence or Hope, because he is the Author and Giver of those Gifts to his People, Psal. 119.49.