A89737:397
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 Decree is to be propounded in the same order in which God hath revealed it in his Word. God knoweth best how to reveal his own mind: And we speak well when we speak after him. In particular these Rules are to be observed.
Rule 1.1 Not Gods Decree, but the Command is the Rule of Faith and Obedience.
- 1What order is to be observed in propounding the Doctrine of the Decree.
Rule 2. Consider of the Decree as proceeding according to the order of the End, and the means conducing to that End; hereby finding the End of God in them that perish, not to be the death of a sinner, but the manifestation of the glory of his Justice in punishing man for sin, and the blameable cause of death to be sin; appears, the unwarrantableness, as well as the offensiveness of such expressions, as God made man to damn him, &c. together with the groundlessness and sinfulness, of blasphemous charging God with cruelty in his Decree of Reprobation. O Israel, thou hast destroyed thy self, but in me is thy help found, Hosea 13.9. Here God removeth from himself the being the cause of the destruction of Israel. He also denieth solemnly, Ezek. 18.23, 32. yea with an Oath, Ezek. 33.11. That he taketh any pleasure in the death of a sinner. Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways, why will ye dye, O house of Israel?