A37046:229
The law unsealed
The law unsealed: or, A practical exposition of the Ten Commandments With a resolution of several momentous questions and cases of conscience. By the learned, laborious, faithful servant of Jesus Christ, Mr. James Durham, late minister of the Gospel at Glasgow.
Glasgow: printed by Robert Sanders, 1676
AN EXPOSITION OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, Delivered in several LECTURES. › Commandment 1
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.
Of this sort is all Divining by Lots, Stars, Rods, or any other way, not having a Warrant, to find out some secret, or to know something that is to come; (it being Gods Property and Prerogative to declare what is to come, Isai. 41.) for when there is no Efficacy, no Reason in the mean used, the Effect must be looked for, either from God, or from the Devil: Now when God has neither put it naturally in the mean, nor by his revealed Will any way warranted it, as sometimes he doth, (as when he appointed ⟨p. 27⟩Washing in Jordan for curing Naamans Leprosy, and Anointing in the Primitive times for healing the Sick) it cannot be from him. Hence sometimes one Charm or word to one at one time, will do what it never doth to another: These means have alway some circumstance in word or action immediately and explicitly, or implicitly flowing from the Devil, which may be good in it self, yet has no force for the end, and so draweth men to own the Devils Institution, which is exceeding derogatory to the honour of God.
Of this sort is all Divining by Lots, Stars, Rods, or any other way, not having a Warrant, to find out some secret, or to know something that is to come; (it being Gods Property and Prerogative to declare what is to come, Isai. 41.) for when there is no Efficacy, no Reason in the mean used, the Effect must be looked for, either from God, or from the Devil: Now when God has neither put it naturally in the mean, nor by his revealed Will any way warranted it, as sometimes he doth, (as when he appointed ⟨p. 27⟩Washing in Jordan for curing Naamans Leprosie, and Anointing in the Primitive times for healing the Sick) it cannot be from him. Hence sometimes one Charm or word to one at one time, will do what it never doth to another: These means have alway some circumstance in word or action immediately and explicitly, or implicitly flowing from the Devil, which may be good in it self, yet has no force for the end, and so draweth men to own the Devils Institution, which is exceeding derogatory to the honour of God.