A55752:332
Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…
Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity and duty of Gods children by the late Reverend and Faithful Minister of Jesus Christ, John Preston ...Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity and duty of Gods children by the late Reverend and Faithfull Minister of Jesus Christ, John Preston ...
London: printed by J.T., 1658
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.
First, the Spirit is a free gift, and it must be free, because 1the Spirit is a gift: and what more freer (as we use to say) then a gift is: Now it is a free gift, because it is not merited by us at Gods hands, it is not extorted and drawn from God by force, nor merited by desert, because all the good that is in us, is wrought by God: it is God that puts the very first stamp of holiness upon us.
- 11.
Secondly, The Spirit is a free gift, because the Spirit 1is a free Agent, that is, it works freely of himself: Now reason is the free Agent of the outward man: but it is the Spirit that gives reason. Therefore the Spirit must be most free:
- 12.
Thirdly, The Spirit is a free gift by his carriage towards 1them that he will save, he might have chosen the elder, and not the younger, That is he might have chosen Esau and not Jacob: or if he would have chosen the younger, Then he might have brought him first out of the womb; but he will not, because he is most free in his choice; he will have Jacob, and cast off Esau: and so he might have chosen honourable and Noble men to have both preached the Gospel, and to be saved by the Gospel: he might have chosen them only for salvation, but he will not; The poor, they shall receive the Gospel. That ⟨p. 114⟩