A92141:350
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. Is it not dreadful, that when God refuses to rain down influences on sleepers, and the Spirit breaths not upon dreamers, and men are resolved to do no more, not to add a farthing more▪ for the field and the precious pearl Christ, if they perish, they must submit themselves to the will of God, they cannot force the Lord, nill he, will he, to save them? true, all the Reprobates that cry to hills and mountains to cover them, whether they will or no, they must refer themselves to the will of God; and this is a wicked chiding with God: if God will not save me by such actings, as may stand with mine ease and pleasure, let him destroy me; for Isle do no more then I do.
2. Is it not dreadful, that when God refuses to rain down influences on sleepers, and the Spirit breaths not upon dreamers, and men are resolved to doe no more, not to add a farthing more▪ for the field and the precious pearl Christ, if they perish, they must submit themselves to the will of God, they cannot force the Lord, nill he, will he, to save them? true, all the Reprobates that cry to hills and mountains to cover them, whether they will or no, they must refer themselves to the will of God; and this is a wicked chiding with God: if God will not save me by such actings, as may stand with mine ease and pleasure, let him destroy me; for Ile doe no more then I doe.
3. This is a murmuring, at the very marrow and flower of the Gospel, John 6. 43. Murmur not among your selves. Ver. 44. No man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him. Then are we inclined to make war with God, because he will not give us drawing influences, and bestows them upon some. Hence these Disciples gave over all use of means, ver. 66. Went back and walked no more with Jesus. What then shall they do? they cannot force God to draw them: if the Lord will save us, its good; if not, we cannot mend it; we'll follow Christ and his new-Gospel no more.
3. This is a murmuring, at the very marrow and flower of the Gospel,