A30579:123
Gospel-conversation
Gospel-conversation: wherein is showed, I. How the conversation of believers must be above what could be by the light of nature. II. Beyond those that lived under the law. III. And suitable to what truths the Gospel holds forth. By Jeremiah Burroughs, preacher of the Gospel to Stepney and Cripplegate, London. Being the third book published by Thomas Goodwin, William Greenhil, Sydrach Simpson, Philip Nigh, William Bridge, John Yates, William Adderly.Gospel-conversation: wherein is shewed, I. How the conversation of believers must be above what could be by the light of nature. II. Beyond those that lived under the law. III. And suitable to what truths the Gospel holds forth. By Jeremiah Burroughs, preacher of the Gospel to Stepney and Criplegate, London. Being the third book published by Thomas Goodwyn, William Greenhil, Sydrach Simpson, Philip Nye, William Bridge, John Yates, William Adderly.
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1650
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.
First, That Conversation that is meet and becomes the Gospel of Christ, must be a Conversation raised to a higher degree than the light of Nature will raise it. That Conversation that is no higher than possibly may be raised by the light of Nature, certainly that's not a Conversation becoming the Gospel of Christ, that's beneath not fit for the Gospel of Christ. As thus,
Suppose a man in his Boat here in the Thames rows, very exactly, I but this is not a work suitable to show the skill of a Navigator, ⟨p. 33⟩of one that professes the art of Navigation, it's beneath that. Why so; To live exactly according to the light of Nature it is beneath the Conversation that becomes the Gospel of Christ: if so be that a man should make his boast that he hath great skill in the art of Navigation; And how will he show this skill? he will go into a Boat and there he will row over the Thames, and by that you may see what a mighty Navigator he is; this would be ridiculous to any man. And so if one that professes the Gospel of Christ, would manifest that he is a good Christian, What doth he do? the life that he lives it is no other than a man by the light of Nature may be enabled to, this is even as ridiculous as the other.
Suppose a man in his Boat here in the Thames rows, very exactly, I but this is not a work sutable to shew the skill of a Navigator, ⟨p. 33⟩of one that professes the art of Navigation, it's beneath that. Why so; To live exactly according to the light of Nature it is beneath the Conversation that becomes the Gospel of Christ: if so be that a man should make his boast that he hath great skill in the art of Navigation; And how will he shew this skill? he will go into a Boat and there he will row over the Thames, and by that you may see what a mighty Navigator he is; this would be ridiculous to any man. And so if one that professes the Gospel of Christ, would manifest that he is a good Christian, What doth he do? the life that he lives it is no other than a man by the light of Nature may be enabled to, this is even as ridiculous as the other.