A89737:1272
The orthodox evangelist. Or A treatise wherein many great evangelical truths (not a few…
The orthodox evangelist. Or A treatise wherein many great evangelical truths (not a few whereof are much opposed and eclipsed in this perilous hour of the passion of the Gospel) are briefly discussed, cleared, and confirmed: as a further help, for the begetting, and establishing of the faith which is in Jesus. As also the state of the blessed, where; of the condition of their souls from the instant of their dissolution: and of their persons after their resurrection. By John Norton, teacher of the church at Ipswich in New England.The orthodox evangelist. Or A treatise wherein many great evangelical truths (not a few whereof are much opposed and eclipsed in this perillous hour of the passion of the Gospel) are briefly discussed, cleared, and confirmed: as a further help, for the begeting, and establishing of the faith which is in Jesus. As also the state of the blessed, where; of the condition of their souls from the instant of their dissolution: and of their persons after their resurrection. By John Norton, teacher of the church at Ipswich in New England.
London: printed by John Macock for Henry Cripps, 1654
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.
The degree of it is perfecting; Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Eph. 4.13. The mystical body of Christ in the state of glory is here (as we saw before) compared to a perfect man. The mystical body groweth up to be a perfect man, but never to be an old man. It hath its age of consistence, but not of decrescence. Christ causeth his body to increase with the increase of God, exactly answering the measure of its stature, appointed by God; as Davids natural body answered what was written in Gods book concerning it, Psal. 139.16. Christ so perfecteth his body, as that it shall, want nothing it ought to have, nor shall there be found in it any thing that it ought not to have. He perfecteth it in regard of the number of members, all the members belonging thereunto, shall infallibly be added to it, until we all come, Eph. 4. &c. He perfecteth all that number of members, in regard of the kinds of grace; And of his fullness we have all received, and grace for grace, Joh. 1.16. He perfecteth all the kinds of grace, in regard of the degrees thereof; The fullness of him that filleth all in all, Eph. 1.23. He perfecteth all, in regard of the proportion of the parts mutually suitable unto the whole; The whole, and therefore every part shall attain the measure of its stature. Lastly, He perfects his body as in regard of their communion with their Head, so also in respect of their communion one with another.
The degree of it is perfecting; Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ. Eph. 4.13. The mystical body of Christ in the state of glory is here (as we saw before) compared to a perfect man. The mystical body groweth up to be a perfect man, but never to be an old man. It hath its age of consistence, but not of decrescence. Christ causeth his body to increase with the increase of God, exactly answering the measure of its stature, appointed by God; as Davids natural body answered what was written in Gods book concerning it,