A41331:784
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
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.
Answ. B. Davenant on the Text, Colos. 2.6. thus comments; The Colossians, and so all true Christians have received Christ the Lord, both of their faith, and of their life, neither will they suffer any rules of Faith or Christian life to be imposed upon them by any other. This is a great truth, and spoken like a Christian who owned Christ for his Lord only; but this doth not take in all: whether Christ did make any new Laws, added new Commandments, is a great question between us and the Socinians: I will not at all meddle with it; yet I will venture one Argument against Socinus here.
Answ. B. Davenant on the Text, Colos. 2.6. thus comments; The Colossians, and so all true Christians have received Christ the Lord, both of their faith, and of their life, neither will they suffer any rules of Faith or Christian life to be imposed upon them by any other. This is a great truth, and spoken like a Christian who owned Christ for his Lord only; but this doth not take in all: whether Christ did make any new Laws, added new Commandements, is a great question between us and the Socinians: I will not at all meddle with it; yet I will venture one Argument against Socinus here.
If Christ be a Law-giver, then he is God, Jehovah. But he is a Law-giver; Ergo.
That he is a Law-giver, Socinus yields. The consequence I prove, James 4.12. There is One Law-giver, &c. not two Law-givers: One God, and Man the other, James 2.8. He speaks of the Royal Law; given under the old Testament: Jehovah gave the Law; Christ then as God, Jehovah gives the Law binding the Conscience, able to save and to destroy, as in the Text, and so is the Object of Divine worship. One only Law giver, the Dutch read. This I am certain of, the receiving of Christ, as King, as Lord, is not meant only of receiving him as a Law-giver, as giving Commands to be obeyed: and thus it may be many Christians understand it, when they hear they must receive Christ as Lord and King, that is, I must obey his Commands, be subject to him; which though it be a truth; yet if this be all, we are but in a sad case, we have received Commands enough to sink us: considering the vile enmity of our hearts unto them, how opposite they are to the holy Commandments, we need no more Lawgivers, or Laws to damn us for breach of them. The Question is, How shall my vile heart be brought about to obey these holy Commands? this blessed