A25294:766
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.
Reas. 1. Because since Sacraments are fitly and conveniently referred to faith and to grace, they ought of necessity to tend either to the first begetting of grace, or to the confirmation of it. And the first is performed by the Holy Spirit in our first calling, by the preaching of the Gospel; and the Sacraments are not instruments of our first call; therefore ⟨p. 168⟩they tend not to the first breeding of faith in us, but to the confirming and strengthening of it more and more in us, after it is first begotten in us.
Reas. 1. Because since Sacraments are fitly and conveniently referred to faith and to grace, they ought of necessity to tend either to the first begetting of grace, or to the confirmation of it. And the first is performed by the Holy Spirit in our first calling, by the preaching of the Gospell; and the Sacraments are not instruments of our first call; therefore ⟨p. 168⟩they tend not to the first breeding of faith in us, but to the confirming and strengthening of it more and more in us, after it is first begotten in us.
Reas. 2. Because often faith is begotten, though Sacraments be wanting, if they be not despised: But in any ordinary way, it is never so confirmed and strengthened, as it is when Sacraments are joined with the Word.
Reas. 2. Because often faith is begotten, though Sacraments be wanting, if they be not despised: But in any ordinary way, it is never so confirmed and strengthened, as it is when Sacraments are joyned with the Word.
Reas. 3. Because Sacraments properly belong not but to such as have faith already, and so can have no other use, but to confirm such parties faith, and to advance by it all other graces in them.