A39675:1647
Pneumatologia, a treatise of the soul of man
Pneumatologia, a treatise of the soul of man wherein the divine original, excellent and immortal nature of the soul are opened, its love and inclination to the body, with the necessity of its separation from it, considered and improved, the existence, operations, and states of separated souls, both in Heaven and Hell, immediately after death, asserted, discussed, and variously applied, divers knotty and difficult questions about departed souls, both philosophical, and theological, stated and determined, the invaluable preciousness of humane souls, and the various artifices of Satan (their professed enemy) to destroy them, discovered, and the great duty and interest of all men, seasonable and heartily to comply with the most great and gracious design of the Father, Son, and Spirit, for the salvation of their souls, argued and pressed / by John Flavel ...Pneumatologia, a treatise of the soul of man wherein the divine original, excellent and immortal nature of the soul are opened, its love and inclination to the body, with the necessity of its separation from it, considered and improved, the existence, operations, and states of separated souls, both in Heaven and Hell, immediately after death, asserted, discussed, and variously applyed, divers knotty and difficult questions about departed souls, both philosophical, and theological, stated and determined, the invaluable preciousness of humane souls, and the various artifices of Satan (their professed enemy) to destroy them, discovered, and the great duty and interest of all men, seasonable and heartily to comply with the most great and gracious design of the Father, Son, and Spirit, for the salvation of their souls, argued and pressed / by John Flavel ...
London: printed for Francis Tyton, 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.
The twelfth way to Damnation barred by three Considerations.
1. Blind not your selves with the lustre of your own moral Virtues, a life smoothly drawn with Civility through the World; for though it must be acknowledged there is a loveliness and attracting sweetness in Morality and Civility, yet these things rather respect Earth than Heaven, and are designed for the conservation of the order and peace of this World, not for your Salvation and Title to the World to come. Without Justice and Truth, Kingdoms and Common-wealths would become Mountains of prey, and Dens of robbery. Where there is no trust, there can be no traffic; and where there is no truth, there can be no trust. Civility is the very Basis of humane Society, a world of good accrues to men by it, and abundance of mischief is prevented by it; but it never gave any man an interest in Christ, or a title to Salvation. The Romans and Lacedaemonians, who perished in the darkness of Heathenism, excelled in Morality: there is nothing of Christ or Regeneration in these things, how much of excellency soever be ascribed to them. Paul the Pharisee was a blameless person touching the Law, and yet at the same time, not only utterly ignorant of Christ, but a bitter Enemy to him, and all that were his. Till you can find another way to Heaven, than by Regeneration, Repentance, and Faith, never lean upon such a deceitful and rotten prop as mere Civility is.
1. Blind not your selves with the lustre of your own moral Vertues, a life smoothly drawn with Civility through the World; for though it must be acknowledged there is a loveliness and attracting sweetness in Morality and Civility, yet these things rather respect Earth than Heaven, and are designed for the conservation of the order and peace of this World, not for your Salvation and Title to the World to come. Without Justice and Truth, Kingdoms and Common-wealths would become Mountains of prey, and Dens of robbery. Where there is no trust, there can be no traffick; and where there is no truth, there can be no trust. Civility is the very Basis of humane Society, a world of good accrues to men by it, and abundance of mischief is prevented by it; but it never gave any man an interest in Christ, or a title to Salvation. The Romans and Lacedemonians, who perished in the darkness of Heathenism, excelled in Morality: there is nothing of Christ or Regeneration in these things, how much of excellency soever be ascribed to them. Paul the Pharisee was a blameless person touching the Law, and yet at the same time, not only utterly ignorant of Christ, but a bitter Enemy to him, and all that were his. Till you can find another way to Heaven, than by Regeneration, Repentance, and Faith, never lean upon such a deceitful and rotten prop as meer Civility is.