A92141:327
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.
6. In reason we can no more time, and dispose of the measure, manner and kind, of our own comforts, and of the kind and measure of the Lord's influences, then the Earth can dispose of the quantity of rain, and dew; and herbs, corn, or growing trees, can determine of the influences of the Sun, Moon, and Heavens.
The third Class of Answers to the Lord's restrained way of giving of grace, and to him who says, (Had I more grace, I should be more holy) must be taken from the holy attributes of God; for this quarrel, why would not the Lord make me holier and let out richer influences of grace? is a reproaching of his Sovereignty. He makes not all the lumps of the great mass of clay, vessels of honour; that is true:1 Nor have they all alike nearness to the Throne of glory or the like measure of glory that are in Heaven; nor alike measure of gifts, all are not Apostles; nor alike measure of grace and holiness; nor are they all equally poor or equally rich, or equally wise and learned, or equally believing in the same measure of assurance, the same measure of joy; For when Paul disputes thus, he hath mercy on whom he will, and hardens whom he will, it comes to this; Why doth he then find fault? it is not in him that runs and wills; if the Lord would effectually call us Jews, we should run and will, and obey as vigorously as the Gentiles do. But the Lord doth not so call us; therefore he cannot rebuke us, or find fault with us, that we believe not, and receive not the Messiah, and the righteousness of God through faith, which is the very Objection in hand.
The third Classe of Answers to the Lord's restrained way of giving of grace, and to him who says, (Had I more grace, I should be more holy) must be taken from the holy attributes of God; for this quarrel, why would not the Lord make me holier and let out richer influences of grace? is a reproaching of his Soveraignty. He makes not all the lumps of the great masse of clay, vessels of honour; that is true:1 Nor have they all alike nearness to the Throne of glory or the like measure of glory that are in Heaven; nor alike measure of gifts, all are not Apostles; nor alike measure of grace and holiness; nor are they all equally poor or equally rich, or equally wise and learned, or equally believing in the same measure of assurance, the same measure of joy; For when Paul disputes thus, he hath mercy on whom he will, and hardens whom he will, it comes to this; Why doth he then find fault? it is not in him that runs and wills; if the Lord would effectually call us Jews, we should run and will, and obey as vigorously as the Gentiles doe. But the Lord doth not so call us; therefore he cannot rebuke us, or find fault with us, that we believe not, and receive not the Messiah, and the righteousnesse of God through faith, which is the very Objection in hand.