A02182:111
Propositions
Propositions containing answers to certain demands in divers spiritual matters specially concerning the conscience oppressed with the grief of sin. With an epistle against hardness of heat, made by that worthy preacher of the Gospel of Christ, M. R. Greenham pastor of DraytonPropositions containing answers to certaine demaunds in divers spirituall matters specially concerning the conscience oppressed with the griefe of sinne. With an epistle against hardnes of heat, made by that woorthie preacher of the Gospell of Christ, M. R. Greenham pastor of Drayton
Edinburgh: printed by Robert Waldegrave printer to the Kings Majesty, 1597Edinburgh: printed by Robert Waldegraue printer to the Kings Majestie, 1597
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.
100 Though it be the good mercy of God, both to mourn at John Baptists doleful threatenings, and to dance at Christ Jesus his sweet promising and piping; yet it is better to offer a voluntary and free sacrifice in respect of Gods mercy, as do the Angels; than a violent and constrained obedience, as do the devils: and this dare I say, that though the fearful pronouncing of the curse, the wrath and the ⟨image 31⟩judgement of God be fearful in the Law, yet the denouncing of our separation from Gods kingdom, of the gnawing worm, of the second death, is far more fearful in the Gospel; which, by how much it is the more proper seat, and treasury of Gods mercies: so when thunderings and lightnings do proceed from thence, they are the more fearful.
100 Though it be the good mercy of God, both to mourne at Iohn Baptists dolfull threatnings, and to daunce at Christ Iesus his sweet promising and piping; yet it is better to offer a voluntarie and free sacrifice in respect of Gods mercie, as do the Angels; than a violent and constrained obedience, as do the devils: and this dare I say, that though the fearefull pronouncing of the curse, the wrath and the ⟨image 31⟩judegment of God bee fearefull in the Lawe, yet the denouncing of our separation from Gods kingdom, of the gnawing worme, of the second death, is farre more fearefull in the Gospell; which, by howe much it is the more proper seate, and treasurie of Gods mercies: so when thunderings and lightnings do proceed from thence, they are the more fearefull.
101 To know when the use of the doctrine is general, and when particular; which is set down in singular examples, (because we bring our neck out of the yoke, or else tie the mercies of God only to them) three rules are to be observed: First, if we read of any thing in particular, we are to search whether in some other places of the Scriptures, the same thing is not set down generally; that is, whether that which is commended, or discommended in some proper person, be not commanded or forbidden to all; if it be, the use of it is general, not particular; but if it be a particular precept joined to some one, and no warrant found in the word, that it is to be