A57976:680
A peaceable and temperate plea for Pauls presbytery in Scotland, or, A modest and…A peaceable and temperate plea for Pauls presbyterie in Scotland, or, A modest and…
A peaceable and temperate plea for Pauls presbytery in Scotland, or, A modest and brotherly dispute of the government of the Church of Scotland wherein our discipline is demonstrated to be the true apostolic way of divine truth, and the arguments on the contrary are friendly dissolved, the grounds of separation and the independency [sic] of particular congregations, in defence of ecclesiastical presbyteries, synods, and assemblies, are examined and tried / by Samuel Rutherfurd ...A peaceable and temperate plea for Pauls presbyterie in Scotland, or, A modest and brotherly dispute of the government of the Church of Scotland wherein our discipline is demonstrated to be the true apostolick way of divine truth, and the arguments on the contrary are friendly dissolved, the grounds of separation and the indepencie [sic] of particular congregations, in defence of ecclesiasticall presbyteries, synods, and assemblies, are examined and tryed / by Samuell Rutherfurd ...
London: printed for John Bartlet, 1642London: printed for Iohn Bartlet, 1642
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.
When the Seer and Prophet is persuaded that what he seeth is a prophetical vision, and not a delusion of Satan, this is (as saith Pareus) the very light of prophecy,1 or some extraordinary light (as saith Anto, Walleus) There is another light whereby the Seer believeth these things shall come to pass,2 which he seeth, either by a common light of historical faith, as Pharaoh might believe that seven years of plenty should come, and Balaam that Christ the star of Jacob should certainly arise and shine upon the Church, or the Seer seeth and believeth by light of saving faith, as Isaiah and Daniel believed that the Messiah should be slai•e, and this latter light whatever good School-men say on the contrary, is the light of faith; for the three former lights might well be in Balaam. 1. He might see in his fantasy, the species of the star of Jacob. 2. And know that they meant no other thing, then the Messiah. 3. And be certainly persuaded that he saw so, and that he was not deluded, yea and historically believe that that blessed Star should arise, and yet he had no light of saving faith to believe that the Messiah should come. So h••e we cannot but distinguish betwixt a prophetical light, in the second and third sight, which is gratia gratis data, a free gift, and the light of saving faith, which is gratia gratum fa•iens, a saving grace of GOD in the sound believer, only in this last sight.
When the Seer and Prophet is perswaded that what he seeth is a propheticall vision, and not a delusion of Satan, this is (as saith Pareus) the very light of prophecy,1 or some extraordinary light (as saith Anto, Walleus) There is another light whereby the Seer beleeveth these things shall come to passe,2 which he seeth, either by a common light of historicall faith, as Pharoah might beleeve that seven yeares of plenty should come, and Balaam that Christ the starre of Jacob should certainly arise and shine upon the Church, or the Seer seeth and beleeveth by light of saving faith, as Isaiah and Daniel beleeved that the Messiah should be slaie, and this latter light whatever good Schoole-men say on the contrary, is the light of faith; for the three former lights might well be in Balaam. 1. He might see in his fantasie, the species of the starre of Jacob. 2. And know that they meaned no other thing, then the Messiah. 3. And be certainly perswaded that he saw so, and that he was not deluded, yea and historically beleeve that that blessed Starre should arise, and yet he had no light of saving faith to beleeve that the Messiah should come. So he we cannot but distinguish betwixt a propheticall light, in the second and third sight, which is gratia gratis data, a free gift, and the light of saving faith, which is gratia gratum faiens, a saving grace of GOD in the sound beleever, onely in this last sight.