A41331:218
The real Christian, or, A treatise of effectual calling wherein the work of God…
The real Christian, or, A treatise of effectual calling wherein the work of God is drawing the soul to Christ ... : to which is added, in the epistle to the reader, a few words concerning Socinianism ... / by Giles Firmin ...The real Christian, or, A treatise of effectual calling wherein the work of God is drawing the soul to Christ ... : to which is added, in the epistle to the reader, a few words concerning Socinianisme ... / by Giles Firmin ...
London: printed for Dorman Newman, 1670
THE Real Christian, OR, A Treatise of Effectual Calling. › Chapter 3: Of Conviction.
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.
Paul tells us, he had not known sin but by the Law, Rom. 7.7. By the Law comes the knowledge of sin, Rom. 3.20. For sin is the transgression of the Law, 1 John 3.4. ⟨p. 53⟩The Law then must be preached, or Sin cannot be known. Paul doth not say he knew Sin by the Gospel, but there he found the remedy against Sin; as in many of his Epistles we observe. Gospel, bringeth glad tidings.
Secondly, The Gospel convinceth men of sin by consequence, but the Law directly.
As if I see an Apothecaries Shop full of Physic, and a Physician there, I can gather by consequence then there is sickness; else why is all this Physic prepared? why Physician? though I see no diseased person, nor feel any disease my self. Thus when I read of glorious Promises in the Gospel, and find Christ the Physician there, I may well conclude, then there is Sin, and condemnation for Sin, else what need of Christ, and these promises of pardon, and justification through his righteousness. Yea, I grant also, by the Gospel, we may argue, how great an evil Sin is, that must have such a Medicine as the blood of Christ to heal it; but still this is by consequence. The Law tells you directly, what that Sin is, and that condemnation for Sin.
As if I see an Apothecaries Shop full of Physick, and a Physitian there, I can gather by consequence then there is sickness; else why is all this Physick prepared? why Physitian? though I see no diseased person, nor feel any disease my self. Thus when I read of glorious Promises in the Gospel, and find Christ the Physitian there, I may well conclude, then there is Sin, and condemnation for Sin, else what need of Christ, and these promises of pardon, and justification through his righteousness. Yea, I grant also, by the Gospel, we may argue, how great an evil Sin is, that must have such a Medicine as the blood of Christ to heal it; but still this is by consequence. The Law tells you directly, what that Sin is, and that condemnation for Sin.