A39695:528
The touchstone of sincerity, or, The signs of grace and symptoms of hypocrisy opened…The touchstone of sincerity, or, The signs of grace and symptomes of hypocrisie opened…
The touchstone of sincerity, or, The signs of grace and symptoms of hypocrisy opened in a practical treatise upon Revelations III 17, 18 being the second part of the Saint indeed / by John Flavell ...The touchstone of sincerity, or, The signs of grace and symptomes of hypocrisie opened in a practical treatise upon Revelations III 17, 18 being the second part of the Saint indeed / by John Flavell ...
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1698
Title page typeset from the transcription.
THE Touchstone of Sincerity: OR, THE SIGNS Of GRACE, AND Symptoms o… › Chapter 10 › Section 2
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.
SECT. II.
Caution 2. Nor do we here suppose in this assertion, that inherent grace •n the saints hath a sufficiency of ability in •t self to endure the greatest and severest trials that can befall it in this world. It is certain that it shall be carried safely through all, but not in its own strength and ability.
Caution 2. NOr do we here suppose in this assertion, that inherent grace •n the saints hath a sufficiency of ability in •t self to endure the greatest and severest tryals that can befal it in this world. It is cer•ain that it shall be carryed safely through all, but not in its own strength and ability.
That is a true observation of the learned Gerson: perfectiones sibi relictae, sunt pondera ad •uinam: the most perfect creature left to it •elf will fall into ruin. This was exemplified ⟨p. 158⟩in the Angels that fell, & in Adam, though in a perfect state-: divine preservation is th prop which supports the best creatures from ruin. Grace it self is but a creature, an therefore a dependent being: it is but […] stream depends upon the supply of the fountain; if the fountain let not forth it self, wha becomes of the stream? That's a true an judicious observation of the learned Dr. Ames; Perseverantia fidelium, vel immutabilis eorum conditio secundum integram ejus rationem non provenit à principio intrinseco solo, nec à sol extrinseco; sed patrim ab intrinseco, ex natur vitae spiritualis à Christo fluentis: & patrim […] extrinseco, ex custodi, protectione, & direction Dei: Amesii Coronis Art. 5. The perseverance of believers, or the immutability […] their condition, if we view the whole ground and reason of it, is not wholly from within nor wholly from without it self: but partly from the nature of the spiritual life which flows from Christ into them; and partly from the keeping, protection and direction of God. That protection is always afforde to this life of grace, and this life of grace aways needs that protection. The best of me are but men at best, as one speaks: it wa not Peters grace and resolution that kep him, but Christs care of him and intercession for him,