A64642:216
Eighteen sermons preached in Oxford 1640 of conversion, unto God. Of redemption, & justification,…
Eighteen sermons preached in Oxford 1640 of conversion, unto God. Of redemption, & justification, by Christ. By the Right Reverend James Usher, late Arch-bishop of Armagh in Ireland. Published by Jos: Crab. Will: Ball. Tho: Lye. ministers of the Gospel, who writ them from his mouth, and compared their copies together. With a preface concerning the life of the pious author, by the Reverend Stanley Gower, sometime chaplain to the said bishop.Eighteen sermons preached in Oxford 1640 of conversion, unto God. Of redemption, & justification, by Christ. By the Right Reverend James Usher, late Arch-bishop of Armagh in Ireland. Published by Jos: Crabb. Will: Ball. Tho: Lye. ministers of the Gospel, who writ them from his mouth, and compared their copies together. With a preface concerning the life of the pious author, by the Reverend Stanly Gower, sometime chaplain to the said bishop.
London: printed by S. Griffin for Will, 1660
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.
1. The law rejects any kind of obedience besides that which is thorough, sound, full, and perfect, without any touch of the flesh. It rejects all cracked payment: it will take no clipped coin. That obedience which hath any imperfection joined with it, will not be accepted: But here I must not speak without book. See Rom. 7.14. We know that the Law is spiritual, but I am carnal. And then concludes, O wretched man, &c. The Law is spiritual. What's that? We may know the meaning of it by the particle (but) but I am carnal. ⟨p. 87⟩The Law is spiritual. That is, it requires that all our works be spiritual, without any carnality, or touch of the fl•sh. If in any point of our obedience there be a smell of the cask, it is rejected. If the beer be never so good, yet if it have an evil smatch, it will not relish. Let our services have this savour of the flesh, and they will not relish in Gods nostrils. And thus the law is spiritual, but we are carnal. Now it is otherwise here in the state of the Gospel: Alas! we are carnal, it's true. The Apostle himself complains, That there is a law in his members rebelling against the law of his mind, and leading him captive, &c. Yet notwithstanding the Gospel accepts our obedience, though the Law will not. What's the reason of this? why, it's plain. When the Law comes, it looks for justice, it puts a strict rule to us; it requires we should be complete: But now the Gospel doth not so; it requires not justification of our own, but looks that being justified by Gods free grace, we should show forth our thankfulness, and express that we are so in heart, by our obedience to our utmost power. Here's all the strictness of the Gospel. If there be a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to what a man hath not, 2 Cor. 8.12. God takes well the desires of our mind. This is then our blessed condition under the Gospel: it requires not perfect obedience, but thankfulness for mercies received, and a willing mind. Suppose we cannot do what we would, that's no matter. God looks to our affections, and the willingness of our minds; if it be according to the ⟨p. 88⟩strength that thou hast, it is received with acceptance. Here then arises the second point of difference, and that is,