A41355:17
The Marrow of Modern Divinity
The marrow of modern divinity touching both the covenant of works, and the covenant of grace, with their use and end, both in the time of the Old Testament, and in the time of the New : wherein every one may clearly see how far forth he bringeth the law into the case of justification, and so deserveth the name of legalist : and how far forth he rejecteth the law, in the case of sanctification, and so deserveth the name of Antinomist : with the middle path between them both, which by Jesus Christ leadeth to eternal life : in a dialogue, betwixt Evangelista, a minister of the Gospel, Nomista, a legalist, Antinomista, an Antinomian, and Neophytus, a young Christian / by the author, E.F. ; before the which there is prefixed the commendatory epistles of divers divines of great esteem in the city of London ; whereunto is also added, the substance of aThe marrow of modern divinity touching both the covenant of works, and the covenant of grace, with their use and end, both in the time of the Old Testament, and in the time of the New : wherein every one may cleerly see how far forth he bringeth the law into the case of justification, and so deserverh the name of legalist : and how far forth he rejecteth the law, in the case of sanctification, and so deserveth the name of Antinomist : with the middle path between them both, which by Iesus Christ leadeth to eternall life : in a dialogue, betwixt Evangelista, a minister of the Gospel, Nomista, a legalist, Antinomista, an Antinomian, and Neophytus, a young Christian / by the author, E.F. ; before the which there is prefixed the commendatory epistles of divers divines of great esteem in the citie of London ; whereunto is also added, the substance of a
London: printed by R. Leybourn for Giles Calvert, 1646
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.
I have not forgotten what desires you have expressed to know the true difference betwixt the Covenant of Works, and the Covenant of Grace, and experimentally to be acquainted with the Doctrine of free grace, the mysteries of Christ, and the life of faith. Witness not only your highly approving of some heads of a Sermon which I once heard a godly Minister preach, and repeated in your hearing, of the life of Faith, but also your earnest request to me to write them out fair, and send them to you into the Country: Yea, witness, your highly approving of this Dialogue, when I first acquainted you with the Contents thereof, encouraging me to expedite it to the Press, and you• kind acceptance, together with your cordial thanks for my love manifested in dedicating it to your honoured name.
I have not forgotten what desires you have expressed to know the true difference betwixt the Covenant of Works, and the Covenant of Grace, and experimentally to be acquainted with the Doctrine of free grace, the mysteries of Christ, and the life of faith. Witnesse not onely your highly approving of some heads of a Sermon which I once heard a godly Minister preach, and repeated in your hearing, of the life of Faith, but also your earnest request to me to write them out faire, and send them to you into the Countrey: Yea, witnesse, your highly approving of this Dialogue, when I first acquainted you with the Contents thereof, incouraging me to expedite it to the Presse, and you• kinde acceptance, together with your cordiall thanks for my love manifested in dedicating it to your honoured name.
Sith then, worthy Sir, it hath pleased the Lord to enable me, both to amend it, ⟨image 4⟩and to enlarge it, I hope your affections will also be enlarged towards the matter therein contained, considering that it tends to the clearing of those forenamed truths, and through the blessing of God may be a means to root them more deeply in your heart. And truly, Sir, I am confident, the more they grow & flourish in any mans heart, the more will all heart corruptions wither and decay. Oh! Sir, If the truth contained in this Dialogue, were but as much in my heart, as they are in my head; I were a happy man, for then should I be more free from pride, vain glory, wrath, anger, self-love, and love of the world then I am, and then should I have more humility, meekness, and love both to God and man then I have, oh! then should I be content with Christ alone, and live above all the things in the world, then should I experimentally know, both how to abound and how to want, and then shall I be fit for any condition, nothing could come amiss unto me, oh! that the Lord would be pleased to write it in our hearts by his blessed Spirit.