A55754:453
Sun-beams of gospel-light shining clearly from several texts of Scripture, opened and applied. 1.…Sun-beams of gospel-light shining clearly from severall texts of Scripture, opened and applyed. 1.…
Sun-beams of gospel-light shining clearly from several texts of Scripture, opened and applied. 1. A heavenly [sic] treatise of the divine love of Christ. 2. The Christians freedom. 3. The deformed form of a formal profession. 4. Christs fullness, and mans emptiness. By John Preston, doctor in divinity, chaplain in ordinary to King James, Mr. of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher at Lincolns Inn.Sun-beams of gospel-light shining clearly from severall texts of Scripture, opened and applyed. 1. A heavemly [sic] treatise of the devine love of Christ. 2. The Christians freedome. 3. The deformed forme of a formall profession. 4. Christs fulnesse, and mans emptinesse. By John Preston, doctor in divinity, chaplaine in ordinary to King James, Mr. of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher at Lincolnes Inne.
London: printed for John Stafford, 1644
Christ's Fullness, and Man's Emptiness, &c.Christ's Fulnesse, and Man's Emptinesse, &c.
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.
Because nothing can work beyond the Sphere of us own reach, the effect exceedeth not the Cause, therefore it is impossible for corrupt nature either to beget Supernatural grace, or to do any Action preparing, or bending, or inclining the will to it: For as the water cannot heat (which is an Action above the nature of it) until an higher principle of heat be first infused into it; no more can mere nature do any thing tending to saving grace, having no principle in it self whence it can raise it.1
Because nothing can worke beyond the Spheare of us owne reach, the eff•ct exceedeth not the Cause, therefore it is impossible for corrupt nature either to beget Supernatural grace, or to doe any Action preparing, or bending, or inclining the wil to it: For as the water cannot heate (which is an Action above the nature of it) until an higher principle of heat be first infused into it; no more can meere nature doe any thing tending to saving grace, having no principle in it selfe whence it can raise it.1
- 1Objecti.
And if it be objected (as it is by the Arminians) that though Grace do all, yet to accept or reject it, to will or nil it, is natural to man as a free Agent.
And if it be objected (as it is by the Arminians) that though Grace doe al, yet to accept or reject it, to wil or nil it, is natural to man as a free Agent.
I answer; that to will, is natural, but to will well, is supernatural, and must rise from a higher well-head than nature is. For as an hatchet will cut when handled but with a common hand, but not make a chair, or stool, or any Artificial thing except it have Influentiam Artificis quatenus Artifex, the influence of an Artificer as he is an Artificer; So though to will be natural, yet, to will well, to do a supernatural work in a supernatural and holy manner, it cannot except it have the influence of a supernatural Agent to direct and guide it.