A41355:457
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. Indeed, it is possible you may come to such a condition, and therefore you do well to provide aforehand for it. Now then if ever it shall please the Lord to give you over to such a condition, first, let me warn you to take heed of forcing, and constraining your self to yield obedience to Gods Commandments, to the end you may so get an evidence of faith again, or a ground to lay your believing that you have believed upon, and so forcibly to hasten your assurance before the time, for though this be not to turn quite back to the covenant of works (for that you shall never do) yet is it to turn aside towards that covenant, as Abraham did,1 who after that he had long waited for the promised seed, (though he was before justified by believing the free promise) yet for the more speedy satisfying of his faith, he turned aside to go in unto Hagar, who was (as you have heard) a type of the covenant of works, so that you see this is not the right way:2 but the right way for you in this case, to get your assurance again is, when all other ⟨p. 213⟩things fail to look to Christ; That is, go to the word and promise and leave off and cease a while to reason about the truth of your faith,3 and set your heart on work to believe, as if you had never yet done it, saying, in your heart, well Satan, suppose my faith hath not been true hitherto, yet now will I begin to endeavour after true faith: and therefore, ô Lord! here I cast my self upon thy mercy afresh, For in thee the fatherless find mercy, 4thus I say, hold to the word, go not away, but keep you here,5 and you shall bring forth fruit with patience.
Evan. Indeed, it is possible you may come to such a condition, and therefore you doe well to provide aforehand for it. Now then if ever it shall please the Lord to give you over to such a condition, first, let mee warn you to take heed of forcing, and constraining your selfe to yield obedience to Gods Commandements, to the end you may so get an evidence of faith again, or a ground to lay your believing that you have believed upon, and so forcibly to hasten your assurance before the time, for though this be not to turn quite back to the covenant of works (for that you shall never do) yet is it to turn aside towards that covenant, as Abraham did,