A12183:138
The excellency of the Gospel above the law Wherein the liberty of the sons…The excellencie of the Gospell above the law Wherein the liberty of the sonnes…
The excellency of the Gospel above the law Wherein the liberty of the sons of God is showed. With the image of their graces here, and glory hereafter. Which affords much comfort and great encouragement, to all such as begin timely, and continue constantly in the ways of God. By R. Sibbs, D.D. Mr. of Katherin Hall Cambridge, and preacher of Gray's-Inn, London. Begun in his life time, and published by T.G. and P.N.The excellencie of the Gospell above the law Wherein the liberty of the sonnes of God is shewed. With the image of their graces here, and glory hereafter. Which affords much comfort and great incouragement, to all such as begin timely, and continue constantly in the wayes of God. By R. Sibbs, D.D. Mr. of Katherin Hall Cambridge, and preacher of Grayes-Inne, London. Begun in his life time, and published by T.G. and P.N.
London: printed by Tho. Cotes and John Dawson, 1639
Excellency of the GOSPEL above the LAW. › PartExcellency of the GOSPEL above the LAVV. › Part
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.
Object. Oh say they, (which is ⟨p. 137⟩their main objection) here is a prejudice to the liberty of the will, this is to overthrow the nature of man?
Object. Oh say they, (which is ⟨p. 137⟩their maine objection) here is a prejudice to the liberty of the will, this is to overthrow the nature of man?
Answ. Oh by no means, this is no prejudice to the liberty of the will;1 for the Spirit of God is so wise an agent that he works upon the soul, preserving the principles of a man, it alters the judgement by presenting greater reasons, and further light than it saw before, and then it alters the will, that we Will contrary to that we did before, by presenting to the will greater reasons to be good, than ever it had to be ill before: then the soul chooseth freely of ⟨p. 138⟩its own will any thing when it doth it upon discovery of light, and reason, with advisement and reason, then the soul doth things freely, when i• doth them upon the designment of reason, when judgement tells me this is good. Now when the Spirit changeth the soul, it presents such strong reasons to come out of that cursed estate I am in, and to come to the blessed estate in Christ, that the will presently follows that that the understanding presents as the chief good of all, here the freedom is preserved, because the will is so stirred by the holy Ghost, as that ⟨p. 139⟩it stirs it self, being stirred by the holy Ghost, and upon this ground, it sees a better good. So that grace takes not away liberty no; it stablisheth liberty: though we hold that in effectual grace the Spirit of God works upon the soul throughly, yet notwithstanding we preserve liberty, because we say that the soul works of its own principles, notwithstanding grace, because the Spirit of God acts,