A89737:475
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 God willing the Futurition; i. e. The future being of all things. The external Efficiency of God, is Gods working all that he hath willed, according as he hath willed. In the Decree is Gods great design of future action. The Efficiency is the execution of that design. In the Decree is, as it were, the Counsel of God; the Efficiency is, as ⟨p. 102⟩it were, the Hand of God, working according to the Counsel of his Will. The Efficiency and Decree answer one another, as the Birth doth the Conception, the fruit the seed, as the pattern, and tabernacle, Exod. 25.40. And the Pattern and Temple were to answer one another, 1 Chron. 28.12. As the Idea and [Greek or Hebrew], as the actual fashioning of Davids body agreed with the platform thereof, drawn in Gods Book, Psal. 139.16. As the letters printed upon the paper answer the printing type: Those 700. that could sling stones at an hairs breadth, and not miss, Judg. 20.16. were not so exact in hitting their mark, as God is in answering of his Decree. His Efficiency adequately, and exactly in all respects whatsoever, answering the Decree; and none of them varying from the platform thereof in the least measure: here is no variation of the compass. The Efficiency of God will make good that concerning the Decree, which Christ fore-telleth concerning the Law: One jot, or one tittle shall in no wise pass, till all be fulfilled.
The Decree is God willing the Futurition; i. e. The future being of all things. The external Efficiency of God, is Gods working all that he hath willed, according as he hath willed. In the Decree is Gods great designe of future action. The Efficiency is the execution of that designe. In the Decree is, as it were, the Councel of God; the Efficiency is, as ⟨p. 102⟩it were, the Hand of God, working according to the Counsel of his Will. The Efficiency and Decree answer one another, as the Birth doth the Conception, the fruit the seed, as the pattern, and tabernacle,