A89737:749
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 Arminians tax the Orthodox,1 for asserting all acts before faith to be sin; and teach that there is in a man not regenerate (that is without faith) a hunger and thirst after righteousness, a hatred of sin, and such other like acts, which ought to be accounted acceptable unto God, unto the communicating of further grace: that to all such God giveth sufficient grace to believe; and leaveth it in the power of such a soul, whether it will believe, or not.
The Arminians taxe the Orthodox,1 for asserting all acts before faith to be sin; and teach that there is in a man not regenerate (that is vvithout faith) a hunger and thirst after righteousness, a hatred of sin, and such other like acts, which ought to be accounted acceptable unto God, unto the communicating of further grace: that to all such God giveth sufficient grace to believe; and leaveth it in the power of such a soul, vvhether it will believe, or not.
- 1Acta & Scripta Synod. ubi supra Pemble. & alii.
Others (with whom the fore-mentioned are not to be named) reverend, learned, judicious, and pious (though they justly abhor the tenets of the fore-mentioned, yet) seem to teach, that there are some qualifications before faith that are saving, whereunto faith and salvation may be ascertained. This tenet (religiously premising all due reverence, and high esteem in the Lord unto the persons,) This discourse, (I hope in the Spirit of Christ) craveth leave to examine, and also to propound the following considerations for the negative; always asserting, That it is our duty to encourage orderly to the uttermost to believe in Christ, and to hold forth the increase of hope, according as the preparatory work doth increase: yet, not so far as certainly to promise faith or salvation, or to deny, yea, or not to teach the soul before faith however qualified, to be the object of, and to lye under the si credideris, that is, the If you believe, of the Gospel. So, as it remains a truth, concerning the Soul, yet without faith (however qualified) that if God showeth it mercy, it is free and mere mercy; if he doth not show it mercy, he doth it no wrong: and that his purpose to show, or not to show mercy thereto, is yet unrevealed.