A41355:482
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.
Are there not some who give themselves to a more special searching and seeking out for knowledge in Scripture, learnedness, and Clerklike skill, in this Art, and that Language, till they come to be able to repeat all the historical places in the Bible, yea•, and all those texts of Scripture, that they conceive do make for ⟨p. 228⟩some private opinion of theirs concerning Ceremonies, Church-government, or other such circumstantial points of Religion, touching which points they are very able to reason and dispute, and to put forth such curious questions as are not easily answered. Are not some of these men called Sect-makers, and begetters or devisers of new opinions in Religion, especially in the matter of worshipping God, as they use to call it, wherein they find a beginning, but hardly any end, for this religious knowledge is so variable through the multiplicity of curious wits and contentious Spirits, that the life of man way seem too short to take a full view of this variety; for though all Sects say, they will be guided by the word of truth, and all seem to bring Scripture, which indeed is but one as God is but one, yet by reason of their several constructions and interpretations of Scripture, and conceits of their own humane wisdom, they are many. And are there not others of this sort of men, that are ready to embrace any new way of worship, especially if it come under the cloak of Scripture learning, and have a show of truth founded upon the letter of the Bible, and seem to be more zealous ⟨p. 229⟩and devout then their former way, specially if the teacher of that new way can but frame a sad and demure countenance, and with a grace lift up his head and his eyes towards heaven, with some strong groan in declaring of his newly conceived opinion, and that he frequently use this phrase of the glory of GOD! ô then these men are by and by of another opinion, supposing to themselves that God hath made known some farther truth to them, for by reason of the blindness of their understanding, they are not able to reach any supernatural truth, although they do by literal Learning, and Clerklike cunning dive never so deep into the Scriptures, and therefore they are ready to entertain any form of Religious Exercise, as shall be suggested unto them.
Are there not some who give themselves to a more speciall searching and seeking out for knowledge in Scripture, learnednesse, and Clerklike skill, in this Art, and that Language, till they come to bee able to repeate all the historicall places in the Bible, yea, and all those texts of Scripture, that they conceive doe make for