A41355:280
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.
Ant. O, Sir, you do please me wondrous well in thus attributing all to Christ, and surely, Sir, though of late you have not been so evangelical in your teaching as some others in this City (which hath caused me to leave off hearing you to hear them) yet have I formerly perceived, and do now also perceive, that you have more knowledge of the doctrine of free grace then many other Ministers in this City have, and to tell you the truth, Sir, it was by your means that I was first brought to renounce mine own righteousness, and to cleave only to the righteousness of JESUS CHRIST, and thus it was. After that I had been a good. while a legal professor, just like my friend Nomista, and heard none but your legal Preachers, who built me up in works and doings, as they did him, and as their manner is: At last a familiar acquaintance of mine who had some knowledge of the doctrine of free grace, did commend you for an excellent Preacher, & ⟨p. 107⟩at last prevailed with me to go with him to hear you, and your text that day, I well remember was, Tit. 3.5. Not by the works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his own mercy he saved us, whence you observed and plainly proved, that mans own righteousness had no hand in his justification and salvation, whereupon you dehorted us from putting any confidence in our own works and doings, and exhorted us, by faith to lay hold upon the righteousness of Jesus Christ only, at the hearing whereof, it pleased the Lord so to work upon me, that I plainly perceived that there was no need at all of my works and doings, nor nothing else, but only to believe in Jesus Christ, & indeed my heart did assent unto it immediately, so that I went home with abundance of peace and joy in believing, and gave thanks to the Lord, for that he had set my soul at liberty, from such a sore bondage as I had been under, and I told all my acquaintance what a slavish life I had lived in being under the Law, for if I did commit any sin, I was presently troubled & disquieted in my conscience, & could have no peace till I had made humble confession thereof unto God, craved pardon and forgiveness, & promised amendment but now I told them that whatsoever sins I ⟨p. 108⟩did commit, I was no whit troubled at them, nor indeed am not to this day, for I do verily believe, that God for Christs sake hath freely and fully pardoned all my sins, both past,