A41355:44
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
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.
This book at first well accommodated with so valuable a testimony as M. Caryls, besides its better-approving it self to the choicer spirits every where, to the speedy distribution of the whole impression, it might seem a needless or superfluous thing to add any more to the praise thereof, yet meeting with detracting language, from some few (by reason of some phrases by them either not duly pondered, or not rightly understood) it is thought meet this second impression, to relieve that worthy testimony which still stands to it, with fresh supplies, not for any need, the truth therein contained hath thereof, but because either the prejudice or darkness of some mens judgements doth require it: I therefore having throughly perused it, cannot but testify, that if I have any the least judgment or relish of truth, he that finds this book, finds a good thing, and not unworthy of its title, and may account the Saints to have obtained favour with the Lord, in the ministration of it, as that which with great plainness and evidence of truth ⟨image 14⟩comprises the chief (if not all) the differences that have been lately engendered about the Law, it hath, I must confess, not only fortified my judgement, but also warmed my heart in the reading of it, as indeed inculcating throughout the whole Dialogue, the clear and familiar notion of those things by which we live (as Hezekias speaks in another case) and it appeareth to me to be written from much experimental knowledge of Christ, and teaching of the Spirit. Let all men that taste the fruit of it, confess to the glory of God, he is no respectre of persons, and endeavour to know no man henceforth after the flesh, nor envy the compiler thereof, the honour to be accounted as God hath made him in this point, a healer of breaches, and a restorer of the over-grown paths of the Gospel: as for mine own part, I am so satisfied in this testimony I lend, that I reckon, what ever credit is thus pawned, will be a glory to the name that stands by and avows this truth, so long as the book shall endure to record it.
THis book at first well accommodated with so valuable a testimony as M. Caryls, besides its better-approving it self to the choicer spirits every where, to the speedy distribution of the whole impression, it might seeme a needlesse or superfluous thing to adde any more to the praise thereof, yet meeting with detracting language, from some few (by reason of some phrases by them either not duly pondered, or not rightly understood) it is thought meete this second impression, to relieve that worthy testimony which still stands to it, with fresh supplies, not for any need, the truth therein contained hath thereof, but because either the prejudice or darknesse of some mens judgements doth require it: I therefore having throughly perused it, cannot but testifie, that if I have any the least judgment or rellish of truth, hee that findes this book, findes a good thing, and not unworthy of its title, and may account the Saints to have obtained favour with the Lord, in the ministration of it, as that which with great plainenesse and evidence of truth