A27048:95
A treatise of death, the last enemy to be destroyed showing wherein its enmity…A treatise of death, the last enemy to be destroyed shewing wherein its enmity…
A treatise of death, the last enemy to be destroyed showing wherein its enmity consisteth and how it is destroyed : part of it was preached at the funerals [sic] of Elizabeth, the late wife of Mr. Joseph Baker ... / by Rich. Baxter ; with some few passages of the life of the said Mrs. Baker observed.A treatise of death, the last enemy to be destroyed shewing wherein its enmity consisteth and how it is destroyed : part of it was preached at the funerals [sic] of Elizabeth, the late wife of Mr. Joseph Baker ... / by Rich. Baxter ; with some few passages of the life of the said Mrs. Baker observed.
London: printed by R.W. for Nev. Simmons, 1660
Sermon › Section 5 › Application 3: Use 3.Sermon › Section 5 › Application 3: Ʋse 3.
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.
Use 3.
Ʋse 3.
FROM the Enmity of Death we may further learn, that Man hath now a need of Grace for such exceeding difficulties, which were not before him in his state of innocency. Though Adam was able to have obeyed perfectly, without sin, and had Grace sufficient to have upheld him, and conquered temptations, if he had done his part, which by that Grace he might have done; yet whether that Grace was sufficient to the works that we are called to, is a doubt that many have been much troubled with. It is certain that he was able to have done any ⟨p. 73⟩thing that was suitable to his present state, if it were commanded him: And it is certain tha• much that is now our duty, would have been unsuitable to his state. But whether it belonged to his perfection, to be able and fit for such duties (that were then unsuitable to him) or supposition they had been suitable and duties, this is the difficulty: which some make use of to prove that such works cannot now be required of us, without suitable help, because we lost no such grace in Adam. But this need not trouble us: For 1. Though Adam was put on no such difficulty in particular, as to encounter death: yet the perfect obedience to the whole Law, required a great degree of internal Habitual holiness: and to determine the case, whether our particular difficulties, or his sinless perfect ob• dience, required greater strength ⟨p. 74⟩and help, is a matter of more difficulty then use. For 2. It is but about the Degrees of Holiness in him and us, and not about the Kind, that the difficulty lieth. For it is the same End that he was created for and disposed to by Nature, and that we are redeemed for and disposed to supernaturally.