A89737:827
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.
This Text then rightly understood, affirmeth that which none denieth; namely, that a Believer is dead to sin, before Marriage-union between Christ and the Soul; that is, before the act of faith: for Marriage-union is not without the act of faith on our part; which also is acknowledged by them with whom this discourse argueth: But it doth in no case affirm (which must be carefully attended to) that we are dead to sin before the grace of faith. The death of sin is in order after the grace of faith in Vocation. The infusion of faith and grace ⟨p. 182⟩infers the death of sin, the immediate effect thereof: as the income of life, expelled death in the Shunamites child, 2 King. 4.
This Text then rightly understood, affirmeth that which none denyeth; namely, that a Beleever is dead to sin, before Marriage-union between Christ and the Soul; that is, before the act of faith: for Marriage-union is not without the act of faith on our part; which also is acknowledged by them with whō this discours argueth: But it doth in no case affirm (which must be carefully attended to) that we are dead to sin before the grace of faith. The death of sin is in order after the grace of faith in Vocation. The infusion of faith and grace ⟨p. 182⟩infers the death of sin, the immediate effect thereof: as the income of life, expelled death in the Shunamites child, 2 King. 4.
The Sum is, That before our Marriage union with Christ, (I mean before in order of nature, not in time) there is, first, The grace of faith. 1. The death of sin. 3. The act of faith, and this last according to your own grant; before the act of faith, is both the grace of faith, and the death of sin: Before the death of sin, is the grace of faith: Before the grace of faith, nothing that is saving.