A92141:1092
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. There is here suspending and the want of the consolations of the Spirit the comforter, which is the other want. Now the Lord hath holy and necessary reasons why he suspends influences to the feeling and knowledge of these rich comforts.
1. His holy Sovereignty. Now sovereignty never acts separated from infinite wisdom, when it's most abstract from the object; as in making a world, or not creating any ⟨p. 315⟩thing; in ordaining of the same lump, some to be vessels of honour, and some of dishonour. There is a reason of the object, but never a reason concludent, or so objectively binding and limiting the Lord; but the contradicent, to wit, no created world, no ordaining of some to honour and some to dishonour, should be as good. As we see in thousands and millions of possible worlds of other men, other Angels, and other creatures which he can create.
1. His holy Soveraignty. Now soveraignty never acts separated from infinite wisedome, when it's most abstract from the object; as in making a world, or not creating any ⟨p. 315⟩thing; in ordaining of the same lump, some to be vessels of honour, and some of dishonour. There is a reason of the object, but never a reason concludent, or so objectively binding and limiting the Lord; but the contradicent, to wit, no created world, no ordaining of some to honour and some to dishonour, should be as good. As we see in thousands and millions of possible worlds of other men, other Angels, and other creatures which he can create.
2. Infinite wisdom judges it fitter that old Jacob weep and be not comforted that Joseph be sold into Egypt, then be a rejoicing free Patriarch at home; that the man Christ lie before him with tears and strong cries, then that it be otherwise.