A89737:871
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.
Query 1. What are the Inconsequences of the affirmative Tenet?
1.1 It obscures the grace of Christ: For they (saith Dr Twice) hurt the grace of God made known in his Word, whosoever darken it, and enlarge its bounds above what hath seemed good unto God. 2. It denieth the power of the Potter over a non-beleever thus qualified; and so sins against the freedom of the Sovereignty of God and Christ, in making God a Debtor of mercy before his time. 3. It is a nourisher of spiritual pride, teaching the Soul to think far more highly of it self then it ought to do, in thinking it self to be in a safe way when it is in a perishing condition. 4. It hinders the work of kindly humiliation, in exempting the Soul thus qualified from looking at it self (as indeed it ought to be) prostrate at the feet of the good pleasure of God in Christ Jesus under the [Sicredideris] of the Gospel. 5. If the Soul by parting with sin, understandeth a saving parting therewith, it holdeth it under an unwarrantable expectation, ⟨p. 191⟩teaching it to seek power to part from sin in that way (sc. without Christ) wherein Wisdom professeth it is not to be had, which is to seek the living amongst the dead. 6. If by parting with sin the Soul understands a legal parting therewith, it is a dangerous way to presumption: thus it procrastinates the conversion of both, and troubles the kindly conversion of many: Witness their after spiritual sorrows and unsettlings for such former carnal confidences, when they come to be more clearly enlightened. 7. Notwithstanding all scruples are always religiously and tenderly to be removed, in any measure more or less questioning the work of faith, by other gracious Truths dispensed at the same time with this Tenet; yet, since no Error is a medium of faith (the Spirit of Truth refusing to mix with or work by mans untruth) if the Proposition disputed against be found an Ercor, it will also be found so far from being a help to faith, as that the Spirit never did nor ever will work faith thereby.