A92141:1293
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.
The Lord's ordinary way of working is here to be observing; the spirit confers not upon Peter's hearers, Acts 2. influences of faith, and of gladly receiving of the word, v. 41. at the first, before he bestow influences to the pricking of the heart for sin, v. 37. nor does the spirit act upon Saul, Acts, 9. and the Jailer, Acts 16. for their rejoicing ⟨p. 372⟩in the Holy Ghost and believing, and applying Christ and the promises at the first,1 until first a law-spirit humble and make the proud to tremble. Then the spirit must use divers instruments, and shoot arrows and influences of law and wrath, and wound the heart with arrows of love: as the Artist, the Carpenter useth sundry tools according to the diversity of timber that he works on, and the Lord here accommodates his influences according to the nature of the soil. It's like Christs spirit made shorter and more expedite work on the hearts of James & John; for when Christ said unto them, Follow me, Matth. 4. 19, 22. they [Greek or Hebrew] straightway or immediately leave their nets and their father, and follow him. It's as little time betwixt Christs word to the man sick of the palsy, Arise, take up thy bed and walk, and his walking Mark 2. 12. for immediately [Greek or Hebrew] he took up his bed, and went forth before them all: It's like Matthew's conversion is of the same nature, Matth. 9. 9. Luke 5. 27, 28. in which the Lord gives proof, that as some Castles fall at the first shooting of the Canon, so there is no standing out, nor resisting of Christ; for when he adds strength of omnipotency, the work of humiliation, of conviction, of saving faith, or repenting, are all quickly done: as if tilling, sowing, and harvest were all in one day, or one hour.