A47584:689
The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland
The history of the reformation of the Church of Scotland containing five books : together with some treatises conducing to the history.The historie of the reformation of the Church of Scotland containing five books : together with some treatises conducing to the history.
London: printed by John Raworth for George Thomason and Octavian Pullen, 1644
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.
1SO that the cause of good Works we confess to be, not of free Will, but the Spirit of the Lord Jesus, who dwelling in our hearts by true faith, bringeth forth such good works, as God hath prepared for us to walk in; for this we most boldly affirm that blasphemy, it is to say that Christ Jesus abideth in the heart of such, as in whom there is no spirit of sanctification; and therefore we fear not to affirm, that Murders, Oppressors, cruel Persecutors, Adulterers, Whoremongers, filthy Persons, Idolaters, Drunkards, Thieves, and all workers of iniquity, have neither true faith, neither any portion of the Spirit of Sanctification, which proceedeth from the Lord Jesus, so long as they obstinately continue in their wickedness. For how soon so ever the Spirit of the Lord Jesus (which Gods Elect Children receive by true faith) taketh possession in the heart of any man,2 so soon doth he regenerate and renew the same man, so that he begins to hate that which before he loved, and beginneth to love that which before he hated;3 and from thence cometh to that continual battle, which is betwixt the flesh and the Spirit in Gods Children, while the flesh and natural man (according to their own corruption) lusteth for things pleasing and delectable to it self, grudgeth in adversity, is lifted up in prosperity, and at every moment is prone and ready to offend the Majesty of God;4 but the Spirit of God which giveth witnessing unto our spirit, that we are the sons of God, maketh us to resist the Devil to abhor filthy pleasures, to groan in Gods presence for deliverance from this bondage of corruption, and finally to triumph over sin, that it reign not in our mortal bodies. This battle have not the carnal men,5 being destitute of Gods Spirit, but do follow and obey sin with greediness, and without repentance, even as the Devil and their corrupt lusts do prick them. But the Sons of God (as afore is said) do fight against sin, do sob and mourn when they perceive themselves tempted to iniquity, and if they fall, they rise again with earnest and unfeigned repentance: ⟨p. 263⟩