A41355:268
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
THE MARROW OF Modern Divinity.THE MARROVV OF Modern Divinity.
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 served God with all my heart, and therefore I see I must either go farther, or else I shall never be happy, whereupon I set about the keeping of the Law in good earnest, and laboured to perform duties, not only outwardly, but also inwardly from my heart, I heard, and read, and prayed, and laboured to bring my heart, and force my soul to every duty, I called upon the Lord in good earnest, and told him that whatsoever he would have me to do, I would do it with all my heart, if he would but save my soul, and then I also took notice of the inward corruptions of my heart, the which I had not formerly done, and was careful to govern my ⟨p. 97⟩thoughts, to moderate my passions, and to suppress the motions and risings of lusts, to banish privy pride and speculative, wantonness, and all vain and sinful desires of my heart, and then I thought my self not only an out-side Christian, but also an in-side Christian, and therefore a true Christian indeed, and so I went on comfortably a good while, till I considered that the Law of God requires passive obedience as well as active, and therefore I must be a sufferer as well as a doer, or else I could not be a Christian indeed, whereupon I began to be troubled at my impatience under Gods correcting hand, and at those inward murmurings and discontents which I found in my spirit in time of any outward calamity that befell me, and then I laboured to bridle my passions and to submit my self quietly to the will of God in every condition, and then did I also, as it were, begin to take penance upon my self, by abstinence, fasting, and afflicting my soul, and made pitiful lamentations in my prayers, which were sometimes also accompanied with tears, the which I was persuaded the Lord did take notice of and would reward me for it, and then I was ⟨p. 98⟩persuaded that I did keep the Law in yielding obedience both actively and passively, and then was I confident I was a true Christian, until I considered tha• those Jews of whom the LORD complains, Isaiah 58. did as much as I, and that caused me to fear that all was not right with me as yet: whereupon I went to another Minister, and told him, that though I had done thus and thus, and suffered thus and thus; yet I was persuaded that I was in no better a condition then those Jews: ô yes, said he!
I have not served God with all my heart, and therefore I see I must either goe farther, or else I shall never be happie, whereupon I set about the keeping of the Law in good earnest, and laboured to performe duties, not onely outwardly, but also inwardly from my heart, I heard, and read, and praid, and laboured to bring my heart, and force my soule to every duty, I called upon the Lord in good earnest, and told him that whatsoever hee would have mee to doe, I would doe it with all my heart, if hee would but save my soule, and then I also tooke notice of the inward corruptions of my heart, the which I had not formerly done, and was carefull to govern my