A33361:65
A discourse of the saving grace of God
A discourse of the saving grace of God by ... David Clarkson ...
London: printed by J. Astwood for Tho. Parkhurst, 1688
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.
3. The Enmity of sinners against God, this makes it evident beyond all exception. The Impotency and Deformity of man, in the state of sin, shows there is nothing lovely in him; but if there were not, yet if he had any love for God, this love, without any other consideration, might be some inducement to move the Lord to love him; and so his love might seem less free, as having some motive from without.
3. The Enmity of sinners against God, this makes it evident beyond all exception. The Impotency and Deformity of man, in the state of sin, shews there is nothing lovely in him; but if there were not, yet if he had any love for God, this love, without any other consideration, might be some inducement to move the Lord to love him; and so his love might seem less free, as having some motive from without.
But the case is otherwise. As there is nothing Lovely in him, so neither is there any Love to God; nay there is a high degree of Hatred and Enmity.
The Wisdom of the Flesh, the very best thing in man, is Enmity to God, Rom. 8. 7. And this Enmity is manifested in contradicting the Will of God, and running cross ⟨p. 12⟩to his Commands: for if this be our love to God, as the Apostle says, that we keep his Commands, 1 Joh. 5. 3. then this is Hatred of God, that we will not keep them.