A41355:483
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.
And are there not a third sort much like to these men that are excessive and mutable in the performance of Religious Exercises. Surely Saint PAUL did perceive that this was the very GOD of some men in his time, and therefore he willeth TIMOTHY to instruct others, that bodily exercise profiteth little, 1or as some read it, nothing at all, and doth oppose thereunto godliness as being another ⟨p. 230⟩thing, then bodily exercise, and saith, that it is profitable, &c. And do not you think there are some men at this day that know none other good then bodily exercise, and can hardly distinguish betwixt it and godliness. Now these bodily exercises are mutable and variable, according to their conceits and opinions, for all Sects have their several services (as they call them) yet all bodily▪ and for the most part only bodily, the which they perform to establish a rest to their souls, because they want rest in God, and hence it is that their peace and rest is up and down according to their working better or worse, so many Chapters must be read, and so many Sermons must be heard, and so many times must pray in one day, and so many days in the week, or in the year, they must fast, &c. or else their souls can have no rest, but mistake me not I pray, in imagining that I speak against the doing of these things, for I do them all my self, but against resting in the doing of them, the which I desire not to do. And thus you see that mans blind understanding doth not only present unto the sensual appetite, sensual objects, but also to the rational appetites, rational objects, so ⟨p. 231⟩that mans poor soul is not only kept from rest in God by means of sensuality, but also by means of formality: if Satan cannot keep us from seeking rest in God, by feeding our senses with our mother Evahs apple, then he sets us to seek him in away where we shall never find him, if he cannot do it more grossly, then he attempts to do it more closely.
And are there not a third sort much like to these men that are excessive and mutable in the performance of Religious Exercises. Surely Saint PAUL did perceive that this was the very GOD of some men in his time, and therefore hee willeth TIMOTHY to instruct others, that bodily exercise profiteth little,