A92141:172
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 What is Sovereignty? its his superexcellent Highness by which his holy Will essentially wise and just, is a Law and Rule to himself to do what he pleaseth, holily, wisely, ⟨p. 35⟩most freely. But why doth the Lord drive Cart-wheels over the bones of his people? let alone: he will not do it always, and say it were so, This cometh forth from the Lord of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working, Isa. 28. 29. a godly heart is smitten with the wisdom and authority of holy sovereignty; why is Jerusalem spoiled? and why are the Nations at ease? holy Sovereignty should meeken and silence all men, Zech. 2. 13. Be silent, O all flesh before the Lord: supreme Sovereignty cannot err; and the faith of this quiets the heart under all sufferings; Hezekiah, Isa. 38. 15. What shall I say? he hath spoken to me, and himself hath done it. Devils and Men are to be looked on as passive rods (there is no principle of life in the Rod, in the Sword to lift up themselves against us) they are Wheels rolled about by holy Sovereignty. Ah the Physician slew my child, the wicked enemy slew the father and the son, the malicious rail against me; but not any of these dumb Rods did move themselves: the Lord bids Shimei curse David; the Lord sends the Assyrians against the Nation of his fury. Consider the Copy, holy Jesus, Matth. 26. puts three Seals, three Subscriptions to one blank and sad bill of Wrath; Nevertheless not my will, but thy will be done. How was he the foremost in the journey to Jerusalem? to suffer, as willing that his Blood be Ink, and his Soul and Body sheets of Paper; on which might be written (as it were) to be read by Men and Angels, for all Eternity, the Glory and Justice of spotless Sovereignty; and he who said Amen to the Curse, teacheth us, if God should say, I have no delight in thee, to consent, 2 Sam. 15. 26. and say, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good to him. The wishes of Moses and Paul, who desire their parts in the Book of Life, and of Christ to be laid in pawn for the shining of the glory of the Lord in saving of many; and that expression of David saith, that a gracious submission to Sovereignty will bring the man to this, Let him do to me what seems good in his eyes; if he say, he hath no delight in me: