The Covenant of Gods Free Grace Unfolded and Applied, Title page – To the reader
THE COVENANT OF Gods free Grace, Moſt ſweetly unfolded, and comfortably applied to a diſquieted Soul, from that Text of 2 SAM. 23. VER. 5.
Alſo a Doctrinall Concluſion, that there is in all ſuch who are effectually called, in-dwelling ſpirituall Gifs and Graces, wrought and created in them by the Holy Ghoſt.
By that Reverend and faithfull Miniſter of Gods Word, Mr. JOHN COTTON, Teacher of the Church at Boſton in NEW-ENGLAND.
Whereunto is added, A Profeſsion of Faith, made by the Reverend Divine, Mr. John Davenport, in New-England, at his admiſſion into one of the Churches there.
Imprimatur,
JOHN DOWNAME.
LONDON, Printed M. S. for Iohn Hancock, and are to be ſold at his Shop in Popes-head Alley, 1645.
To all who have Intereſt in the COVENANT OF GRACE.
CHRISTIAN FRIENDS,
THeſe comfortable Notes being in the hands of a friend to the Authour, who commending the worth and excellencie of them, thought not good to ſmother them by burying them in oblivion, but to expoſe them to publique view, for the generall good and eſtabliſhment of troubled ſouls, that they underſtanding their right and title to this ſure and everlaſting Covenant, may take comfort to themſelves, and be ſupported againſt all the tempeſtuous ſtormes ariſing from Satan and the world without, or the diſtempers of their own hearts within: David was unſetled, and his family diſordered, yet Gods Covenant is everlaſting, ordered, and ſure. The condition that is required of us as part of the Covenant, is the performance of theſe things; to believe, repent, and ſerve the Lord in newneſſe of life: But the power and ability by which wee do them, is a part of the Covenant on Gods part, to have new hearts, and new ſpirits, whereby wee come to repentance, and bringing forth fruit worthy of amendment of life; this inward abilitie, and new frame of heart, by which we are renewed in the ſpirit of our mindes, the writing of his Law in our inward parts, that is a branch of Gods Covenant: but the bringing forth the fruits of theſe inward abilities and graces that are ingraffed in us by Chriſt, is required in us: As for example; the grace and power of believing that God hath promiſed (to give it belongs to him) but to believe, to take hold of the promiſes, to accept of Jeſus Chriſt, to receive him as our Lord and Saviour, and the gift of righteouſneſſe by him is required as a condition on our part: As wee are to make uſe of the Covenant in the matter of our juſtification againſt the gilt-of-ſin; ſo it will be good for us to make uſe of it for ſanctification againſt the power of ſin; when wee are troubled with any ſtrong luſt or violent temptation, which is too hard for us to overcome, know this for thy comfort, that it is a part of the Lords own Covenant, to deliver thee from all thine enemies, that thou mayeſt ſerve him in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe all the dayes of thy life; hee hath promiſed to give the Holy Ghoſt, and to create a new heart and a new ſpirit in us, and to cauſe us to walk in his wayes: He hath promiſed, that if we be in trouble, and call upon him, he will deliver us; and if we confeſſe and forſake our ſins, he is faithfull and juſt to forgive us our ſins, and to cleanſe us from all unrighteouſneſſe. If thou reapeſt any comfort by that which followeth, let God have all the glory. Vale.