A89737:829
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.
Obj. 2. Matth. 13.44. Selling all, is placed before buying: But by selling, we are to understand parting with sin; By buying, believing. Therefore there is a saving Qualification; viz. Selling of all, or parting with sin, before faith.
Ans. In answer to this Objection, it will be convenient, First to distinguish the terms, viz. selling of all, or parting from sin: which may be applicable and useful for the resolving of sundry other occasional objections: and afterwards speak to the Text.
The souls selling of all, or parting from sin, is either before faith, viz. Preparatory, or Legal: so called, not always from the means, (namely, the Law) by which such a parting with sin is wrought, but also from the state of the soul, still continuing under the Law: notwithstanding any Gospel-work. And it is nothing else but such a measurable conviction of the impotency and unprofitableness of all lusts, and carnal confidences, which the soul before counted gain: as that now it letteth them all go as loss; so far, as it ceaseth to live upon them any longer, Rom. 11.24. Philip. 3.8. Matth. 18.25. Luke 15.14, 17. It is the same in effect with a lost estate. This preparatory parting from sin, is either external, consisting in the conforming of the outward man unto the practise of known duties; and the restraint of the outward man from known sin,