A03603:176
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 6: §. 6.THE PATERNE of perfection. › Section 6: §. 6.
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.
For the opening of this, two questions may be scanned.
Quest. 1. What was the ground of the manner of this choice of good and evil in Adam?
Quest. 1. What was the ground of the manner of this choice of good and evill in Adam?
Ans. It lay in the nature of Adam, and flowed from that mutability which was in the nature of Adam, who was a reasonable creature. Though nothing could force Adam ⟨p. 128⟩to turn from a good course, yet there was a mutability joined with his liberty, that he might turn himself from God. Solomon having discoursed of the deceit of a woman, supposing it demanded whence it came? He answereth,1 I know, that God made man upright, but he sought out inventions: inventions were of his own devising, not of Gods ordering. Nothing in the world could compel man to do it; but he sought out crooked ways. This was intended in the two Sacraments, that Adam had, Gen. 2.9. the Lord set two trees in the garden: first, the tree of life, to intimate, that as verily as he saw that tree, so verily, if he loved God, he should live for ever; and secondly, ⟨p. 129⟩the tree of knowledge of good and evil, to wit, if he did eat of that fruit, he should know what it was to have the image of God, and what to be deprived of it. These two Sacraments intimated, that God had set life and death before Adam; he might choose the one, and refuse the other. Our Sacraments signify not so. Baptism signifies our implanting into Christ, the Lords Supper signifies our growth in Christ: but in the Sacraments of Adam, the one showed a possibility he had to live, the other the possibility he had to dye. This mutability was no part of the liberty of Adam; for it destroyed his liberty: but it was a quality, that did accompany the condition of Adam.