A92141:154
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.
Obj. 3. There is no Commandment in the New Testament for the doing of half a Duty, to wit, to pray and not to pray in Faith, and Fervour; therefore we cannot be commanded to pray, when the Spirit withdraws his influence, without which, the Duty, of necessity, must be lame and broken.
Ans. It follows not, for there is less of the Gospel in the command as a command; for, in either Law-command or in ⟨p. 29⟩Gospel-precept,1 the Lord commands whole and unbroken obedience; and in it God seeks somewhat, which he lost in Adam, which we are obliged to do, and he is under no Law to give us grace to obey; And as is said, we are willing to want his help, where the command should put us to a humble missing and mourning for our wants, and a distrusting of our own strength, and a weeping over our broken condition, and a high prizing of our surety and his strength. 2. Its a part of command that we go about the bulk or body of the duty, and gather together the dry bones and wait humbly until he command the Wind and Spirit to blow on them, and we sin in omitting of half a command.
Ans. It follows not, for there is less of the Gospel in the command as a command; for, in either Law-command or in ⟨p. 29⟩Gospel-precept,1 the Lord commands whole and unbroken obedience; and in it God seeks somewhat, which he lost in Adam, which we are obliged to doe, and he is under no Law to give us grace to obey; And as is said, we are willing to want his help, where the command should put us to a humble missing and mourning for our wants, and a distrusting of our own strength, and a weeping over our broken condition, and a high prizing of our surety and his strength. 2. Its a part of command that we go about the bulk or body of the duty, and gather together the dry bones and wait humbly until he command the Wind and Spirit to blow on them, and we sin in omitting of half a command.