A41355:431
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.
But rather be persuaded, as the truth is, that they proceed from Gods fatherly love, and so as medicinal to heal and cure you of your sins,1 and so to make you more obedient and subject to the Law of Christ under which you now are, for afflictions through Gods blessing, are made special means to purge out that sinful corruption which is still in the nature of believers,2 and therefore are they in Scripture most aptly compared to medicines, for so they are indeed to all Gods children, most sovereign medicines to cure all their spiritual diseases, and indeed we have all of us great ⟨p. 204⟩need hereof, for saith Luther, we are not yet perfectly righteous,3 for whilst we remain in this life, sin dwelleth still in the flesh, and this remnant of sin God purgeth, wherefore, when GOD hath remitted sins, and received a man into the bosom of grace,4 then doth he lay on him all kind of afflictions, and doth scour and renew him from day to day, and to this purpose Tyndale truly saith, If we look on the flesh,5 and into the law, there is no man so perfect, that is not found a sinner, nor no man so pure, that hath not need to be purged. Now if you thus conceive of your afflictions, you will accept of them, and you will with Ephraim, say unto the Lord, Thou hast chastised me, 6and I was chastised, as a Bullock unaccustomed to the yoke, turn thou me and I shall be turned, 7thou art the Lord my God: surely after that I was turned I repented, and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh, I was ashamed: yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth: 8