A92141:1294
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. We see also that gracious influences are threaded (as it were) upon gracious influences;1 every beating of the smiths hammer brings forth at once many sparkles of fire, and a shower of rain is the falling of millions and hosts of drops of rain at once. So in fervent prayer, there must be a cluster of gracious influences; in every sigh and groan there is an acting of the spirit, Rom. 8. 26. The work of the spirit must be maimed, imperfect: if godly watching, 2. Prayer, 3 Fervent desire, 4. Humble sense of unworthiness, 5. Faith on the promise, 6. Love to our Father, have not every one their several influences of grace. When the seven stars arise above the Horizon, if six ascend, the seventh must also ascend; in all which, the poor sinner is far below the influences of grace, they are sent out as sovereignty thinks fit; and here the Lord rains down showers ⟨p. 373⟩of grace, and a shower is made up of a multitude of drops: yet in the general may sinners counter-work and restrain as it were the influences of grace; they may resist the word, Zech. 7. 12. They made their hearts like an Adamant stone, lest they should hear the Law. Now the Lord cannot give influences out with the preached word where men turn away their ears from the Law,2 Prov. 28. 9. and Act. 7. 57. they stop their ears. Wicked men cannot be avenged on the Spirit in his person, or in his several operations of saving grace; yet they avenge themselves on the message, and break in pieces the chariot that carries the Spirits operations, and trample upon his word; be in love with the word to count it your heritage, Sweeter then the honey and the honey-comb; and you as David upon suit, shall have influences to be kept from presumptuous sins. Psal. 19. 7, 8, 9. compared with v. 13. and