A03603:104
The pattern of perfection exhibited in Gods image on AdamThe paterne of perfection exhibited in Gods image on Adam
The pattern of perfection exhibited in Gods image on Adam: and Gods covenant made with him. Whereunto is added an exhortation, to redeem the time for recovering our losses in the premisses. And also some miscellanies, viz. I. The prayer of faith. II. A preparative to the Lords Supper. III. The character of a sound Christian, in 17. marks. By T.H.The paterne of perfection exhibited in Gods image on Adam: and Gods covenant made with him. Whereunto is added an exhortation, to redeem the time for recovering our losses in the premisses. And also some miscellanies, viz. I. The prayer of faith. II. A preparative to the Lords Supper. III. The character of a sound Christian, in 17. markes. By T.H.
London: printed by R. Young for R. Young, 1640
THE PATTERN of perfection. › Section 4: §. 4.THE PATERNE of perfection. › Section 4: §. 4.
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.
Three things are in this description.
1. It is a spiritual power. It is not the very nature of the faculty of the will, but a frame put into the will, that sets it on, and carries it out to God: for the will of it self is not able to close with God, but only so far as it is carried out to him. As it is in the body, the tongue is the instrument of tasting; of it self it cannot taste, but there is ⟨p. 64⟩a moisture there that makes it taste; hence if it be evilly affected, it tasteth evil; sweet things seem sour, and sour things seem sweet: or as it is with the hand; it cannot work about any thing barely as it is an hand, unless it receive strength and motion from the vital faculty: for a dead hand, or a benumbed hand, can exercise it self about nothing: so it is with the will; that power of it self cannot relish the things of life and happiness, but it must be an holy will that can close with an holy God: it is not barely the will, but there must be an wholesome constitution put into it, and then it can close with an heavenly God, having this heavenly frame. Hence it is ⟨p. 65⟩death to the wicked to be under the ordinances of God. The devils have a natural faculty of will, but corruption possesseth it, and therefore they abhor the holiness of God, because they themselves are unholy: but Adams will had a spiritual frame of holiness put into it, whereby it was able perfectly to please God.
1. It is a spirituall power. It is not the very nature of the faculty of the will, but a frame put into the will, that sets it on, and carries it out to God: for the will of it selfe is not able to close with God, but onely so farre as it is carried out to him. As it is in the body, the tongue is the instrument of tasting; of it self it cannot taste, but there is ⟨p. 64⟩a moisture there that makes it taste; hence if it be evilly affected, it tasteth evill; sweet things seeme soure, and soure things seeme sweet: or as it is with the hand; it cannot worke about any thing barely as it is an hand, unlesse it receive strength and motion from the vitall faculty: for a dead hand, or a benummed hand, can exercise it selfe about nothing: so it is with the will; that power of it self cannot rellish the things of life and happinesse, but it must be an holy will that can close with an holy God: it is not barely the will, but there must bee an wholesome constitution put into it, and then it can close with an heavenly God, having this heavenly frame. Hence it is