The Covenant of Grace, Table of contents – Errata

The Covenant of Grace · Table of contents – Errata

The Contents of the Treatiſe concerning the Covenant.

Doct. THat God in the Covenant gave himſelfe to be a God unto Abraham and his ſeed, and received Abraham and his Seed to be his people, and took Chriſt to be the Mediatour and Surety of this Covenant between both. Page 4.

In which are theſe 3 things.

1 That God gave himſelfe to Abraham to be a God to him and his Seed. 5. & 7.

Here is conſidered,

1 What 'tis for God to give himſelfe to Abraham. 7.

Viz.

1 The whole nature of God in his Perſons and Attributes. 8.

2 All the Ordinances, Creatures, and works of God. 10.

2 The Order of Gods giving in the Covenant. 14.

Viz.

1 God doth firſt give, and not the Creature. ibid.

2 God alſo is the firſt thing that is given. ibid.

3 The Manner of giving, viz. freely and for ever. 15.

Obj. But the Lord required that he ſhould give himſelfe back again. Anſwered. 16.

Obj. The Lord required him to circumciſe his Seed, anſwered. 17.

2 How the Lord doth take Abraham and his Seed to be his people. 5. & 19.

By preparing them by a ſpirit of

Bondage. 20.

Burning. 21.

By taking poſſeſſion of them by his ſpirit. 24.

Which ſpirit doth

Convince the ſoule of unbeliefe. 25.

Work Faith, and unites to Chriſt by ſome Promiſe of grace. 26.

Qu. Whether may not true Faith be built on a Conditionall Promiſe, anſwered. 29. ſee 56.

From Union followeth Communion with Chriſt in all ſpirituall Bleſſings. 31.

Viz.

Relative, as

Adoption ibid.

Iuſtification ibid.

Poſitive, wrought in us, as

Sanctification. 34.

Glorification. 35.

3 How the Lord did conſtitute Jeſus Chriſt to be the Mediatour of the Coven: 7. 36.

By receiving him, the Son of the Virgin Mary, to be one perſon with the ſecond in the Trinity. ibid.

By giving him to be a Covenant or a Mediatour of it,

In filling him with all fullneſſe, to be a King, Prieſt, and Prophet. 37.

In his performing whatever is required on our parts. ibid.

Uſe.

1 It teacheth the difference between the Covenant of Works & of Grace. 39.

1 In the one, all is given upon the condition of obedience; in the other not. ibid.

2 The Covenant of Grace is built upon a free Promiſe of Grace, the other upon ſomething elſe, as Ordinances, Duties, &c. 40.

3 In the Continuance: the Benefits of the one (as Juſtification and Sanctification) doe abide, the other not ſo. 42.

Two ſorts of Hypocrites have a kind of Sanctification.

Viz Waſhed Swine, and Goates. 44.

The Goates fall ſhort of Sheep in two things. 45.

1 Goats are Capricious, affecting eminency. ibid.

2 They are Rankiſh, not having the ſweetneſſe of ſheep. 47.

4 In reſpect of the Mediator, both of the one and the other. ibid.

2 It yieldeth an Argument againſt the Body of Arminianiſme. 48.

3 Gods people … to reſpect them that are under a Covenant of Workes, and not be hopeleſſe of their Salvation. 49.

4 It helps to clear ſundry Queſtions about the Covenant. 51.

1 Qu. What is the firſt Gift that ever the Lord giveth to the Elect? 52.

Anſ. He giveth Himſelf, and not ſaving Preparations fi…ſt, ibid.

2 Qu. Whether are the Bleſſings of the Covenant given before faith to apply them? 55.

Anſ. The Spirit is given to work faith. ibid.

3. Qu. Whether the Promiſe wherein the Lord giveth Himſelfe, be abſolute or conditionall? 56.

Anſ. 'Ti… abſolute. ibid.

4. Qu. Whether a mans Union with Chriſt may be evidenced by his Sanctification? Anſwered in foure Propoſitions. 58.

1 Propoſ. That a Sanctification which the Terrours of the Law may produce, is no evidence of Union with Chriſt. ibid.

Here three things are to be attended unto concerning Sanctification. 60.

1 The Root from which it ſpringeth. 61.

2 The Rule by which 'tis guided. 67.

3 The End at which it aimeth. 70.

2 Propoſ. That true Sanctification is many times dark unto a Chriſtian. 74.

3 Propoſ. That true Sanctification is not diſcernable before Faith be diſcerned. 75.

4 Propoſ. There is a reall Difference between legall and Evangelicall Sanctification; and wherein it lyeth. 77.

5 Qu. Of what uſe are Promiſes (eſpecially Conditionall) if not to bring us unto Chriſt? 86.

Anſ. There is a three fold uſe of them.

1 Before Union with Chriſt, both for

Doctrine. 87.

Inſtruction. 88.

Exhortation. 89.

And a three-fold Effect alſo the Promiſes have before Union.

Viz. Of

Illumination. 90.

Affection, to deſpiſe all other things. ibid.

Conviction, ſo as to leave without excuſe. 91.

2 In our Union with Chriſt. 92.

3 After our Union with Chriſt, and that many wayes.

Viz.

1 For Doctrine, that all treaſures are in Chriſt. 96.

2 For Inſtruction where to looke for Qualifications. ibid.

3 To ſtir up to Prayer. 97.

4 To help to diſcern our ſpirituall eſtate. 98.

5 To worke the Qualifications and Conditions of the Promiſes in us. 100.

6 To provoke to ſuch Duties as to which bleſſings are promiſed. 101.

7 To ſtrengthen Faith. ibid.

6 Qu. To what uſe then ſerveth the Law of God, which requireth ſuch and ſuch Conditions in us? Is not this to make it voyd unto Chriſtians, as if they were not under the Law at all? 106.

Anſ. 'Tis of ſpeciall uſe both unto them that are

Carnall, either

Elected, to make them ſee their ſin. 108.

Not Elected, to harden them. 111.

Both by their

Obedience to it. 112.

Comfort in their Obed: ib.

Spirituall; being under the Rule of it. 114.

And the effects of their ſubjection to it, are,

1 They feele the Fatherly diſpleaſure of God for their tranſgreſſing of it. 119.

2 They beleeve Gods gracious acceptance of their Obedience unto it. 120.

2 A Chriſtian is not under the Law, i. e. under the Covenant of it; ſo as he is not to

1 Look for life by his Obedience, nor to fear condemnation by the breach of it. 124.

2 Seek for any bleſſing from his obedience, nor fear any curſe from his diſobedience. 128.

3 Look for Conjugall

Comfort, from his Obedience 130.

Divorce, from his Diſobedience 130.

4

Claime his right to any Conditionall Promiſe by his Obedience.

Deny himſelfe the Bleſſing of the Promiſe becauſe of his diſobedience. 132.

Hence therefore

1 Let none accuſe the Doctrine of the Covenant, of Antinomianiſme. 134.

2 The Servants of God may ſee how far they are freed from the Law. 136.

3 Men may come to have ſome diſcerning of their ſpirituall ſtates. 137.

4 Gods people may learn how to build their Faith and Hope. 138.

7 Qu. If God gives Himſelfe, and ſo if his Holy Spirit be in us, what need we Gifts or Grace to work by? 141.

Anſ. 1. We cannot ſee God without the ſame. 143.

2 Thereby we are made fit Temples for the Holy Ghoſt. 145.

Qu. But if there be Gifts of Holineſſe in us, then what need the Holy Ghoſt to dwell in us? ibid.

Anſ. 1 To keep thoſe gifts in us. 146.

2 To act them in us. 147.

3 To witneſſe to us by them, to our comfort. ibid.

Qu. How are we to imploy the gifts of Sanctification in us? 150.

Anſ. 1 See that we receive them from Chriſt, and that Chriſt be all in all in them. ibid.

2 Truſt not on them. 152.

Either for

The performance of any duty. 153

Juſtification from them. 160.

3 In point of witneſſe, and how. 161.

4 In point of rejoycing. 162.

5 We are to grow up in them to perfection. 164.

9 Qu. How doth God give Himſelfe to be a God Covenant with us? 170.

Anſ. 1 He gave his Son out of his boſome for our Redemption. 171.

2 He giveth us unto Chriſt, and Chriſt unto us. 173.

Qu. How doth the Father give, and call us to Chriſt? 174.

Anſ. By his

Word. ibid.

Spirit,

Of

Bondage. 175.

Burning. 177.

Adoption. 184.

Hence we may learne to diſcerne how we came to ſaving fellowſhip and union with Chriſt. 192.

There are foure ſorts that fall ſhort of this Union with Chriſt. ibid.

Viz. Such as

1 Doe bleſſe themſelves in regard of outward bleſſings. ibid.

2 Find comfort in their Reformations, ibid.

3 Reſt in a Faith of their owne making 193.

4 Waite upon Chriſt for Faith in their owne ſtrength. 195.

FINIS.

Some Faults to be Corrected by the Reader.

In the firſt Treatiſe.

In the ſecond Treatiſ.

In the third Treatiſe

The NEW COVENANT, OR, A Treatiſe, unfolding the order and manner of the giving and receiving of the Covenant of Grace to the Elect. As alſo: Shewing the difference between the Legalliſt and the true Chriſtian. Being the ſubſtance of ſundry Sermons Preached by M^r COTTON At Boſton in New-England, ſome years ſince, and corrected by his owne hand, not long before his death.

LONDON: Printed by M. S. for Francis Egleſfield, & John Allen, at the Marigold, and Riſing Sun in St. Pauls Church-yard. 1654.