A76991:587
The True Bounds of Christian Freedom
The true bounds of Christian freedom or a treatise wherein the rights of the law are vindicated, the liberties of grace maintained, and the several late opinions against the law are examined and confuted. Whereunto is annexed a discourse of the learned John Cameron's, touching the threefold covenant of God with man, / faithfully translated, by Samuel Bolton minister of the word of God at Saviours-Southwark.The true bounds of Christian freedome or a treatise wherein the rights of the law are vindicated, the liberties of grace maintained, and the severall late opinions against the law are examined and confuted. Whereunto is annexed a discourse of the learned Iohn Camerons, touching the threefold covenant of God with man, / faithfully translated, by Samuel Bolton minister of the word of God at Saviours-Southwark.
London: printed by J.L. for Philemon Stephens, 1645
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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. Either their hearts may be damped with carnal affections, 2. or they may be pulled back with the prevails of corruptions, 3. or they may drive heavily under some vexing, and long temptation, 4. or in case of the spirits withdrawment either in Penal, or Probational trials, 5. or in case of Relapsing into sin. Yet in the greatest unwillingness, take a Saint at the worst, he hath a stronger Bias to God, then any others have, when they are at best, because in the one there is some will renewed, though a will now obscured, or in conflict, in the other there may be some passion, some mood to service, but no will.
1. Either their hearts may be damped with carnall affections, 2. or they may be pulled back with the prevailes of corruptions, 3. or they may drive heavily under some vexing, and long temptation, 4. or in case of the spirits withdrawment either in Poenall, or Probationall trials, 5. or in case of Relapsing into sinne. Yet in the greatest unwillingnesse, take a Saint at the worst, hee hath a stronger Byas to God, then any others have, when they are at best, because in the one there is some will renewed, though a will now obscured, or in conflict, in the other there may be some passion, some mood to service, but no will.
And thus much shall now serve for the answer of this third Query. Wherein I have plainly showed you, that it is no infringement to our Christian liberty to be tied to the performance of duties, nor yet to obey and do duties, because God hath commanded them; only this is the freeness of a Christian spirit, though he do the duties which are commanded, and do them because God hath commanded them, yet not merely because they are commanded, but out of principles of love, delight, and agreeableness to the things that are commanded: he prays because God hath commanded him, but not merely because of the command, but because there is a suitableness between his heart and the work, his soul and the duty, and as he desires after, so his soul delights in his approaches and converses with God. I have spoken to it at large: We come now to the fourth Query.