A92141:258
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.
4. This shift cannot stand to suspend praying, until the Spirit breath from on high; for we are to pray for the spirit's breathing, and for teaching, quickening, enlarging of heart that we may pray and praise, Psal. 51. 15. Psal. 119. 36, 37, 40, 48. Wind fetches wind here, and fire begets fire, as cold flint creates hot fire: so the Atheists, let them pray that can pray; I'm no Minister; But it hath this, I am ready to pray, but the blame of my not praying, is to be laid on the Spirit, for the wind blows not; but this is but witty laziness, as when the Sea-man will sleep and attempt no Sea-voyage, and lay the blame, which is his fall, upon the wind which blows not after his mind; it appears he is but a sleeper; not a Husband-man who for bears ploughing and sowing upon the account only that he finds not a season so desirable as he craves, and that he is indisposed to plough spiritually as a Christian; He who observes the wind shall not sow: and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap, Eccl. 11. 4. So are we to refer to his holy Sovereignty the flowings of the Spirit, and to set about holy duties, as if these flowings were in our power;1 We are to know that the command and precept of spiritual duties is laid on us, as we are reasonable creatures as hearers of the Gospel, not under the reduplication as spiritually or not spiritually disposed; as the Creditor and the Law charge men to pay their just debts, not as they are poor, or rich, but as they are debtors: ⟨p. 66⟩yea precepts from the Lord bind the creature as the creature, and moral precepts bind Men and Angels as capable to obey, though not fit and disposed. Therefore must we here distinguish betwixt nature capable or having at any time power to obey; and the real, or (as it were) the physical aptitude and idoneous disposition to obey. The latter takes not away the obligation to pray or believe. David's being overclouded with a temptation is not an excuse of adultery and murder; nor is he thereby freed from praying; Lord, lead me not into temptation.
4. This shift cannot stand to suspend praying, until the Spirit breath from on high; for we are to pray for the spirit's breathing, and for teaching, quickning, enlarging of heart that we may pray and praise,