195. Some man may think that the high things required in the Gospel, self-denial, forsaking all, running, striving, working, loving, overcoming, 1&c. are more than the mere Receiving of a free Gift. But, 1. If it were so, yet our first faith would be no more, by which we are Justified from all the sins of our unregeneracy. 2. But upon consideration, it will all appear to be no more materially: For, 1. When we say that it is the Receiving of the free Gift, we must mean According to the Nature and to the use of that Gift. As if you be required to take food, the meaning is, to Eat it, and not to throw it away: If you be required to take such a man to be your King, your Master, your Tutor, your Husband, your Physician, &c. the meaning is, As such, to the use of his proper office. And so Accept of God as God, that is, our Absolute Owner, Ruler, and End, and Christ as our Saviour, Prophet, Priest and King, and the Holy Ghost as our Sanctifier to Illuminate, quicken and renew us, is the su• of all the Positives of the Gospel. 2. For this very Acceptance of them in this Nature, and to this Use, includeth the using of them after accordingly: And if we do not so use them, we thereby reject them, and lose our own benefit of them; as he that eateth not his meat, refuseth and loseth it; and he that weareth not his Clothes; and he that learneth not of his Teacher. 3. And then Self-denial, and forsaking contraries, ⟨p. 81⟩and resisting impediments, is but the same motus ut a termino a quo; And he that refuseth to come out of his Prison and Chains, refuseth his Liberty; and he refuseth the Gold, that will not cast away his handful of dirt to take it. So that really all is but a Thankful Accepting of the mercy of the new Covenant according to its nature and use as it is offered.
195. Some man may think that the high things required in the Gospel, self-denyal, forsaking all, running, striving, working, loving, overcoming, 1&c. are more than the meer Receiving of a free Gift. But, 1. If it were so, yet our first faith would be no more, by which we are Justified from all the sins of our unregeneracy. 2. But upon consideration, it will all appear to be no more materially: For, 1. When we say that it is the Receiving of the free Gift, we must mean According to the Nature and to the use of that Gift. As if you be required to take food, the meaning is, to Eat it, and not to throw it away: If you be required to take such a man to be your King, your Master, your Tutor, your Husband, your Physician, &c. the meaning is, As such, to the use of his proper office. And so Accept of God as God, that is, our Absolute Owner, Ruler, and End, and Christ as our Saviour, Prophet, Priest and King, and the Holy Ghost as our Sanctifyer to Illuminate, quicken and renew us, is the su• of all the Positives of the Gospel. 2. For this very Acceptance of them in this Nature, and to this Use, includeth the using of them after accordingly: And if we do not so use them, we thereby reject them, and lose our own benefit of them; as he that eateth not his meat, refuseth and loseth it; and he that weareth not his Cloaths; and he that learneth not of his Teacher. 3. And then Self-denyal, and forsaking contraries, ⟨p. 81⟩and resisting impediments, is but the same motus ut a termino a quo; And he that refuseth to come out of his Prison and Chains, refuseth his Liberty; and he refuseth the Gold, that will not cast away his handful of dirt to take it. So that really all is but a Thankful Accepting of the mercy of the new Covenant according to its nature and use as it is offered.
- 1Whether faith be not the mere Acceptance of a free gift according to its Nature? Against Merit, read of Papists Waldens. de Sacram. tit. 1. Gregor. Armin. 1. d. 17. q. 1. a. 2. Durand. 1. d. 27. q. 2. Marsil. 2. d. 27. Brugers. in Psal. 35. Eckins in Centur. de Praedest. Et inquit Fr. a Sancta Clara Deus, Nat. Grat. p. 138. tribuitur etiam Cusano, nec longe differt Stapletonus nostras Leg. & Suarez in 3. p. Tho. Disp. 10. Sect. 7. q. 3. See the Thomists sense of Merit, in Lud. Carbo Tho. Compend. 1. 2. q. 23. art. 4. p. 240.Whether faith be not the meer Acceptance of a free gift according to its Nature? Against Merit, read of Papists Waldens. de Sacram. tit. 1. Gregor. Armin. 1. d. 17. q. 1. a. 2. Durand. 1. d. 27. q. 2. Marsil. 2. d. 27. Brugers. in Psal. 35. Eckins in Centur. de Praedest. Et inquit Fr. a Sancta Clara Deus, Nat. Grat. p. 138. tribuitur etiam Cusano, nec longe differt Stapletonus nostras Leg. & Suarez in 3. p. Tho. Disp. 10. Sect. 7. q. 3. See the Thomists sence of Merit, in Lud. Carbo Tho. Compend. 1. 2. q. 23. art. 4. p. 240.
