A30141:471
The doctrine of the law and grace unfolded, or, A discourse touching the law…
The doctrine of the law and grace unfolded, or, A discourse touching the law and grace the nature of the one and the nature of the other, showing what they are as they are the two covenants ... wherein for the better understanding of the reader there is several questions answered touching the law and grace ... : also several titles set over the several truths contained in this book, for thy sooner finding of them, which are those following the epistle / published by that poor and contemptible creature, John Bunyan of Bedford.The doctrine of the law and grace unfolded, or, A discourse touching the law and grace the nature of the one and the nature of the other, shewing what they are as they are the two covenants ... wherein for the better understanding of the reader there is several questions answered touching the law and grace ... : also several titles set over the several truths contained in this book, for thy sooner finding of them, which are those following the epistle / published by that poor and contemptible creature, John Bunyan of Bedford.
London: printed for Nath. Ponder, 1685
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.
Object. But how cometh it to pass then that many fall off again, from the grace of the Gospel, after a profession of it for some time; some •o delusions, and some to their open sins again.
Answ. They are fallen away, not from the everlasting love of God to them; but from the profession of the love of God to them: men may process that God loves them, when there is no such matter, and that they are the Children of God, when the Devil is their father; (as it is in John 8. 40, 41, 42, 43, 44) Therefore they that do finally fall away from a profession of the grace of the Gospel: It is first, because, they are Bastards and not Sons. Secondly, Because as they are not Sons, so God suffereth them to fall, to make it appear that they are not Sons, not of the household of God. They went out from us, for they were not of us; for if they had been of us, no doubt, mark that, no doubt, saith he, they would have continued with us; but they went out from us, that it might be made man ⟨p. 182⟩fest that they were not all of us. (1 John 2. 19.) And though Hymeneus and Philetus, do throw themselves headlong to hell, Nevertheless the Foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his, 2 Tim. 2. 17, 18, 19.
Answ. They are fallen away, not from the everlasting love of God to them; but from the profession of the love of God to them: men may process that God loves them, when there is no such matter, and that they are the Children of God, when the Devil is their father; (as it is in John 8. 40, 41, 42, 43, 44) Therefore they that do finally fall away from a profession of the grace of the Gospel: It is first, because, they are Bastards and not Sons. Secondly, Because as they are not Sons, so God suffereth them to fall, to make it appear that they are not Sons, not of the houshold of God. They went out from us, for they were not of us; for if they had been of us, no doubt, mark that, no doubt, saith he, they would have continued with us; but they went out from us, that it might be made man