A25294:710
The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easy draught of the Christian…The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easie draught of the Christian…
The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easy draught of the Christian catechism in LII lectures on chosen texts of Scripture, for each Lords-day of the year, learnedly and perspicuously illustrated with doctrines, reasons, and uses / by that reverend and worthy labourer in the Lord's vineyard, William Ames ...The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easie draught of the Christian catechisme in LII lectures on chosen texts of Scripture, for each Lords-day of the year, learnedly and perspicuously illustrated with doctrines, reasons, and uses / by that reverend and worthy laborer in the Lord's vineyard, William Ames ...
London: printed by T. Mabb for Thomas Davies, 1659
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
The Apostle had before proved, that all mankind was under most grievous guilt of sin, a•d therefore had need of justification, that they might be saved▪ which justification also he had shown that it could not be had from any […], no• from the Law; which he had set down as the conclusion of his discourse• in the 20▪ verse of this Chapter▪ From then•e he also […] […] further, […] justification is of necessity to be […] in that way of the Gospel, which is proposed in Christ Jesus. The whole dispute may be summed up in this Syllogism▪ Men are either justified by Nature, or by Law, or by the Gospel: But neither by Nature, nor by the Law; and therefore of necessity by the Gospel. The Proposition is presupposed and tacitly understood, as manifest in it self. The Assumption is prov•d in the first part of the Epistle, unto the 21. verse of this Chapter. The Conclusion is proposed and illustrated in that 21. verse to the end of that Chapter, and afterwards. The words in our Text set down, ⟨p. 155⟩contain a description of this Gospel-justification▪ And it is described, 1. From its principal and highest cause, God; Whom God appointed. 2. From the manner of this cause, which consists not in comm• tative justice, that gives like for like, or so much for so much; nor yet from distributive justice, which looks at the worth of men, and deals with them in a proportionable manner; but in mere and pure grace, or free favour; in these words, we are justified freely of his free grace, or free favour▪ where a singular emphasis or force of speech is laid on this part of the description, by this doubling or repetition, freely, and of his fr•e favour. 3. It is is described from its impulsive, or meritorious cause, which becomes also in some sort the formal cause of our justification; to wit, our redemption mae by Jesus Christ. 4. From its instrumental cause; which is faith; by faith in his blood. 5. From its final cause; which is the manifestation of the justice and mercy of God; for showing of his justice, &c.