A89737:1379
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.
A Meritorious work, is such an act, whereunto a reward is due according to order of Justice; hereunto are required those fouring redients mentioned in the answer to the fore-going objection, which cannot be found in Man since the Fall, neither in the state of Sin, Grace, nor Glory; not in the state of Sin,1 Heb. 11.6. nor in the state of Grace, where evil cleaveth to our best actions, Luk. 17.10. nor in the state of Glory, wherein the Elect remain vessels of Mercy, their actions fruits of thanksgiving, having their acceptation from the righteousness of Christ. To say that Christ merited that we might merit, is to say, that Christ who merited that we should be saved by his grace, merited that we should be saved by our own works, a contradiction in Reason, and a notable Master-piece of the mystery of Iniquity, as concerning the doctrine of Religion, it were to merit away the nature of Merit, and to turn the Covenant of Grace into a covenant of Works. In the way of Salvation, Merit and Grace are immediate opposites, Rom. 11.5. Had Adam stood in the first Covenant he had merited; but the Covenant of Grace hath removed Merit for ever, from Man to Christ: under the Gospel Christ is the only Person of Merit. The Angels are confirmed by grace; Man, whether looked at as a vessel of grace, or as a vessel of glory, is a vessel of Mercy; not the very Angels, much less Men (though in glory) have any matter of glorying. The faithful (saith Doctor Ames) in the very state of glory are vessels of Mercy; Neither the Angels,2 nor the blessed in Heaven have matter of glorying. Paraeus.
A Meritorious work, is such an act, whereunto a reward is due according to order of Justice; hereunto are required those fouring redients mentioned in the answer to the fore-going objection, which cannot be found in Man since the Fall, neither in the state of Sin, Grace, nor Glory; not in the state of Sinne,1