A92141:347
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. A spirit that suggests neglect of ordinances and means of salvation is not the Spirit of God. Would God put forth more power, and stronger influences, I should be holy indeed; in the mean time the man sleeps. So would the Lord put forth stronger influences, corn, and wheat, and vine-trees should grow without husbandry, and sowing; shall the husbandman plough not, and pray for such an harvest? so may the man say, Isle eat not, God can nourish me without bread. Influences in the fixed and ordinary providence of God, are neither promised, nor to be expected, but in God's way of using means; the hand of the diligent makes rich. Should one step out of the Ship and attempt to walk on the Sea, having no warrant, but a spirit divided from the use of means, and from hearing, reading, meditating, praying? were not this a proud tempting of God?
2. A spirit that suggests neglect of ordinances and means of salvation is not the Spirit of God. Would God put forth more power, and stronger influences, I should be holy indeed; in the mean time the man sleeps. So would the Lord put forth stronger influences, corn, and wheat, and vine-trees should grow without husbandry, and sowing; shall the husbandman plow not, and pray for such an harvest? so may the man say, Ile eat not, God can nourish me without bread. Influences in the fixed and ordinary providence of God, are neither promised, nor to be expected, but in God's way of using means; the hand of the diligent makes rich. Should one step out of the Ship and attempt to walk on the Sea, having no warrant, but a spirit divided from the use of means, and from hearing, reading, meditating, praying? were not this a proud tempting of God?
3. Do not all the wretched and profane, practically contradict God? the drunkard will draw, and pull by head and hair, influences to his drunken prayers; the swearer, the oppressor, and the loose-liver will force influences to his empty faith, I believe and am saved; and there must be influences at these golden words, Jam. 2. 16. spoken to the naked and hungry, Depart in peace, be thou warmed and filled. There is some carnal fire and heat in their formalities, and they look upon these influences of God and thank God for them,