A treatise of original sin ... proving that it is

1. That heresy and error can no ways make to our Christian-Discipleship, they cannot set us at liberty from any lust or sin; and therefore no wonder if you see men of corrupt judgements at last fall into sinful and corrupt practices; For the word of God is only the instrument and instituted means of sanctification, Sanctify them by thy word, Joh. 17.

1. That heresie and errour can no wayes make to our Christian-Discipleship, they cannot set us at liberty from any lust or sinne; and therefore no wonder if you see men of corrupt judgements at last fall into sinfull and corrupt practices; For the word of God is only the instrument and instituted means of sanctification, Sanctifie them by thy word, Joh. 17.

2. Hereby we see the necessity of the Ministry of it; by the preaching of Gods word they are first brought to believe, and after that are continually to depend on it; The Ministry is both for the begetting of grace, and the increase of it; Those that despise and neglect the Word preached, do greatly demonstrate they never got any good by it.

The consequent Privilege upon this continuance in the Word, is to be Christs Disciples indeed; From whence we have a distinction of a Disciple in appearance and show, or profession only, and a Disciple indeed. There were many that became Christs Disciples in profession only, they followed him for a season, but afterwards forsook him, which caused our Saviour so much in his Parables and Sermons to press them upon a pure. through and deep work of grace upon their souls: The title without reality will be no advantage. Musculus observeth, That Christ useth the Present tense, Then are ye my Disciples indeed; From whence he gathers, That Continuance or Perseverance in grace doth not make the truth of grace, but the truth of grace maketh the perseverance, they do continue, and therefore are Disciples indeed, but they are Disciples indeed, therefore they continue in Christs Word. But Beza maketh [Greek or Hebrew], as in other places; and if so, then it must be thus understood, That our Perseverance in grace doth not make grace to be true, but doth demonstrate and evidence the Truth; such will appear to be stars indeed fixed in the firmament, when others like blazing Comets will quickly vanish away: But this is not all the Privilege, there is a two-fold mentioned in the next verse,