A14096:195
The doctrine of the synod of Dort and Arles, reduced to the practise With…
The doctrine of the synod of Dort and Arles, reduced to the practise With a consideration thereof, and representation with what sobriety it proceeds.
Amsterdam : Successors to G. Thorp, 1631?
Title page typeset from the transcription.
THE TREATISE, Consisting of three parts. › Part 2 › Section 1: The first Section.
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.
He is no Darby-shire man belike, for their tales commonly end with woodcock on the one side, as well as with woodcock on the other side. And we willingly confess, that our doctrine teacheth men not to trust to their selves, for the doing of ought that is good, but merely to the grace of God, & to give it the glory of working us to every thing that is pleasing in the sight of our heavenly Father; Now this, our adversary conceives, is it which makes us dissolute, because we have learnt of S. Paul that God is he who makes us perfect to every good work,1 & works in us that which is pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ. As for these old Evangelists, they have a better opinion of their sufficiency then so, and Aristotle hath taught them another lesson, and it stands them upon to maintain their credit and reputation in this point, by the exercise of their morality in a very accurate manner; least otherwise they should seem to vaunt much in words, but to perform little or nothing when they come to deeds. Therefore they provide accordingly to hold up the credit of their Tenets, and very artificially and histrionically they turn over all the debauched Christians in the world on our side; we must father them, or at least our parish must keep them, and that for good reason, because they can no where be maintained so conveniently as by our trenchers. For we must not be ignorant, that every thing which is done by men on earth, be it good or evil, cometh not to pass but by the most efficacious decree and ordinance of God, which doth all in all. Now what follows here hence, by this Authors artifice, but that therefore there is either no filthiness in sin, no scandal thereby to our neighbour, no ingratitude to our creator and redeemer, and that the menaces of the law and vengeance of God are represented in vain; or at least that they are not to be reproved for their sin.
He is no Darby-shire man belike, for their tales commonly ende with woodcocke on the one side, as well as with woodcocke on the other side. And we willingly confesse, that our doctrine teacheth men not to trust to their selves, for the doing of ought that is good, but merely to the grace of God, & to give it the glory of working us to every thing that is pleasing in the sight of our heavenly Father; Now this, our adversary conceaves, is it which makes us dissolute, because we have learnt of S. Paul that God is he who makes us perfect to every good work,1