A77854:237
Vindiciæ legis
Vindiciæ legis: or, A vindication of the moral law and the covenants, from the errors of papists, Arminians, Socinians, and more especially, Antinomians. In XXIX. lectures, preached at Laurence-Jury, London. / By Anthony Burgess, preacher of Gods Word.Vindiciæ legis: or, A vindication of the morall law and the covenants, from the errours of papists, Arminians, Socinians, and more especially, Antinomians. In XXIX. lectures, preached at Laurence-Jury, London. / By Anthony Burgess, preacher of Gods Word.
London: printed by James Young for Thomas Underhill, 1646
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.
3. If we could prepare, or dispose ourselves to grace, then the greatest cause of glory would still be in a mans own self: For, Why doth Peter repent, and not Judas? Because, may some say, he disposed and set himself to repent, and not Judas. But still here is the Question, Why did Peter set himself to repent, and not Judas? Here it must be ultimately resolved either into the grace of God, or the will of man.
3. If wee could prepare, or dispose ourselves to grace, then the greatest cause of glory would still be in a mans owne selfe: For, Why doth Peter repent, and not Judas? Because, may some say, he disposed and set himselfe to repent, and not Judas. But still here is the Question, Why did Peter set himselfe to repent, and not Judas? Here it must be ultimately resolved either into the grace of God, or the will of man.
4. All those similitudes that the Scripture useth, do illustrate this thing. We are not said to be blind, or lame, but dead in sin: now did Lazarus prepare himself to rise? So its called Regeneration. Can a man dispose himself to have life? I know these comparisons ⟨p. 86⟩must not be extended too far; yet, the Scripture using such expressions to declare our utter inability, we may well press those breasts of the Scripture so far, and bring out no blood. The parched earth doth not dispose it self for the rain, nor doth the cold ice of it self thaw, which is the Fathers Simile.
4. All those similitudes that the Scripture useth, do illustrate this thing. We are not said to be blind, or lame, but dead in sin: now did Lazarus prepare himself to rise? So its called Regeneration. Can a man dispose himself to have life? I know these comparisons ⟨p. 86⟩must not be extended too far; yet, the Scripture using such expressions to declare our utter inability, we may well press those breasts of the Scripture so far, and bring out no blood. The parched earth doth not dispose it selfe for the raine, nor doth the cold ice of it selfe thaw, which is the Fathers Similie.