A41355:420
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. If you could believe perfectly, then should it be even according to to your desire, according to that of Luther, 1If we can perfectly apprehend Christ, then should we be free from sin: But (alas) whilst we are here, 2we know but in part, and so believe but in part; and so receive Christ but in part: and so consequently are holy but in part, witness James the just, including himself when he saith, In many things we sin all, 3and John the faithful and loving Disciple when he saith, If we say we have no sin, 4we deceive our selves, and the truth is not in us; yea, and witness Luther, when he saith a Christian man hath a body, in whose members, as Paul saith, sin dwelleth and warreth, 5and albeit, he fall not into outward and gross sins, as murder, adultery, theft, and such like, yet is he not free from impatience, and murmuring against God, yea, saith he, I feel in my self, covetousness, lust, anger, pride and arrogance,6 also the fear of death, heaviness, hatred, murmuring, impenitency, so that you must not look to be quite without sin whilst thou remain in this life, yet this I dare promise you, that as you grow from faith to faith,7 so shall you grow from strength to strength in all other graces, wherefore saith godly Hooker, strengthen this grace of ⟨p. 193⟩faith, and strengthen all; nourish this, and nourish all, so that if you can attain to a great measure of faith, you shall be sure to attain to a great measure of holiness, according to the saying of Doctor Preston, he that hath the strongest faith,8 he that believeth in the greatest degree, the promise of pardon and remission of sins; I dare boldly say, he hath the holiest heart, and the holiest life, And therefore I beseech you labour to grow strong in the faith of the Gospel.