A41355:486
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.
Neo. Then, Sir, it seemeth to me, that God in Christ apprehended by faith, is the ⟨p. 233⟩only true rest for mans soul.
Neo. Then, Sir, it seemeth to me, that God in Christ apprehended by faith, is the ⟨p. 233⟩onely true rest for mans soule.
Evan. I, there is the true rest indeed, there is that rest which David invites his soul unto, when he saith,1 Return unto thy rest, ô my soul, for we which have believed have entered into his rest, saith the Author to the Hebrews. And come unto me, 2saith Christ, all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. And truly my neighbours and friends believe it, we shall never find a hearts happiness, and a true souls rest until we find it here, for howsoever a man may think if he had this mans wit, and that mans wealth, this mans honour, and that mans pleasure, this wife, or that husband, such children, and such servants, his heart would be satisfied, and his soul would be contented, yet which of us hath not by our own experience found the contrary? for not long after that we have obtained the thing we did so much desire, and wherein we promised our selves so much happiness, rest and content, we have found nothing but vanity and emptiness in it: Let a man but deal plainly with his own heart and he shall find, that notwithstanding he hath many things, yet there is ever one thing wanting, for indeed, mans soul cannot be satisfied with any creature, no, not with a world of creatures: ⟨p. 234⟩And the reason is because the desires of mans soul are infinite, according to that infinite goodness which it once lost in losing God; yea, and mans soul is a spirit, and therefore cannot communicate with any corporal thing, so that all creatures not being that infinite and spiritual fullness which our hearts have lost, and towards the which they do still re-aspire, they cannot give it full contentment. Nay, let me say more, howsoever a man may in the midst of his sensual fullness be convinced in his conscience, that he is at enmity with God, and therefore in danger of his wrath and eternal damnation, and be thereupon moved to reform his life, and amend his ways, and endeavour to seek peace and rest to his soul, yet this being in the way of works it is impossible that he should find it; for his conscience will ever be accusing him, that this good duty he ought to have done, and hath not done it; and this evil he ought to have forborne; and yet he hath done it: and in the performance of this duty he was remiss, and in that duty very defective, and many such ways will his soul be disquieted.