A92141:315
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.
7. The affections of desire,1 love, joy, sorrow, fear, faith, hope, anger, which remain in unrenewed men, lustered over with some remainders of the image of God, are wasted profusely in the service of sin; and these affections might serve much in a way of honouring God: And its a pity ⟨p. 84⟩that woulding and wishing is the All of many mens religion; had I more grace, I would more honour God. Which is retorted, 1. Had I more habitual grace, and a richer talent, I would more dishonour God; Some have a great stock, and sin more terribly against the received mercy of habitual grace. 2. Its retorted, Had I more of nature and of natural parts, I should do more for God; but more of nature you have, and what do you? Is it not thus? had I the wings of an Eagle, I would fly. But these wings you have, and you lie, and you creep; you do but slumber and sleep in the ways of God, you fly not. 3. Why is not this said, Had I more corruption (as it is easy to gain here, and do evil, and wax worse and worse) I should run with Devils and Reprobate men, from evil to worse; for this is a truth, had I the acquired blinded mind of Pharaoh, and traitorous heart of Judas, I should be worse then they. If it be said there is not the like reason between nature, and grace; for one habit of saving grace helps to make the will stronger, and more bent to gracious actings, then gifts or common parts or natural parts.
7. The affections of desire,1 love, joy, sorrow, fear, faith, hope, anger, which remain in unrenewed men, lustered over with some remainders of the image of God, are wasted profusely in the service of sin; and these affections might serve much in a way of honouring God: And its a pity ⟨p. 84⟩that woulding and wishing is the All of many mens religion; had I more grace, I would more honour God. Which is retorted, 1. Had I more habitual grace, and a richer talent, I would more dishonour God; Some have a great stock, and sin more terribly against the received mercy of habitual grace. 2. Its retorted, Had I more of nature and of natural parts, I should doe more for God; but more of nature you have, and what doe you? Is it not thus? had I the wings of an Eagle, I would flie. But these wings you have, and you lie, and you creep; you doe but slumber and sleep in the ways of God, you flie not. 3. Why is not this said, Had I more corruption (as it is easie to gain here, and doe evil, and wax worse and worse) I should run with Divels and Reprobate men, from evil to worse; for this is a truth, had I the acquired blinded mind of Pharaoh, and trayterous heart of Judas, I should be worse then they. If it be said there is not the like reason between nature, and grace; for one habit of saving grace helps to make the will stronger, and more bent to gracious actings, then gifts or common parts or natural parts.