A92141:1064
Influences of the life of grace
Influences of the life of grace. Or, A practical treatise concerning the way, manner, and means of having and improving of spiritual dispositions, and quickening influences from Christ the resurrection and the life. By Samuel Rutherfurd, Professor of Divinity in the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.Influences of the life of grace. Or, A practical treatise concerning the way, manner, and means of having and improving of spiritual dispositions, and quickning influences from Christ the resurrection and the life. By Samuel Rutherfurd, Professor of Divinity in the Vniversity of St. Andrews in Scotland.
London: printed by T.C. for Andrew Crook, 1659
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.
2.1 Be submissive when influences are withdrawn; examine whether they have been abused, and if you might not have made five ten, and had a richer stock if you had been spiritually diligent; and if so, mourn for the abuse of these showers; for Paul tells that the Lords working in us to will and to do, which is showering of influences of grace, is the great teaching argument that lays bands on us to will and to do: and the Lords teaching David wisdom in the hidden part, Psal. 51. 6. which was holy breathings and inspirations of the spirit, to make the letter of the word effectual, is an argument of heightening his sin of adultery and murder; and he lays bonds on his own heart to improve influences, Psal. 119. 33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes, and I shall keep it to the end. Certainly the Lords sending the first and latter rain on his garden of red wine, and watering it every moment, must lay bands on his people to be plants of righteousness; and his blowing with the North and South wind of his spirit upon his garden requires the duty of the flowing of the spices and their thriving; and the spirit of the Fathers purging calls for bringing forth of more fruit; and the spirits leading requires that we should willingly follow such a guide; and the Spirits teaching requires that we be docile and spiritual; and the Spirits convincing, that we bow and yield to his conviction. The Spouse then under the withdrawing of Christ, v. 6. is here put to see her poverty, and speak by others her case to Christ, when she neglected ⟨p. 311⟩to speak to Christ when he was nearer to her then now.
2.1 Be submissive when influences are withdrawn; examine whether they have been abused, and if you might not have made five ten, and had a richer stock if you had been spiritually diligent; and if so, mourn for the abuse of these showres; for Paul tells that the Lords working in us to will and to doe, which is showring of influences of grace, is the great teaching argument that lays bands on us to will and to doe: and the Lords teaching David wisdome in the hidden part,