A41355:410
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.
Evan. I remember a man who was much enlightened in the knowledge of the Gospel, saith, there be many that think that as a man chooseth to serve a Prince, so men choose to serve God, so likewise they think, that as those who do best service,1 do obtain most favour of their Lord, and as those that have lost it, the more they humble themselves, the sooner they recover it, even so they think the case stands betwixt God and them, whereas, saith he, it is not so but clean contrary, for he himself saith, Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, 2and not for that we repent and humble our selves, and do good works, he giveth us his grace, therefore we repent, humble our selves, do good works, and become holy: the good thief on rhe cross was not illuminated because▪ he did confess Christ, but he did confess Christ because he was illuminated; for, saith Luther, the tree must first be, and then the fruit, for the apples make not the tree, but the tree maketh the apples, so faith first maketh the person,3 ⟨p. 188⟩which afterwards bringeth forth works, therefore to do the Law without faith is to make the apples of wood, and earth without the tree, which is not to make apples but mere fantasies, wherefore neighbour Nomista, let me entreat you, that whereas before you have reformed your life that you might believe, why now believe that you may reform your life, and do not any longer work to get an interest in Christ, but believe your interest in Christ, that so you may work, and then you will not make the change of your life the ground of your faith, as you have done, and as Master Culverwell saith, many do,4 who being asked what caused them to believe, they answer, because they have truly repented, and changed their course of life.
Evan. I remember a man who was much enlightened in the knowledge of the Gospell, sayth, there be many that thinke that as a man chooseth to serve a Prince, so men choose to serve God, so likewise they think, that as those who doe best service,