A92141:368
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.
8. The Sovereignty of God's dealing with consciences in the Old and in the New Testament is to be observed. It is not,1 1. To be denied, but the desertions under the Law in some respect, were more fiery and legal; the typical dimness and darkness made them to see less love, and more Law, and less of Christ the seat of mercy, and more of the curse and of wrath, as the night darkness renders spirits and dreadful things more terrible. 2. It was the purpose of God to awe generally that people more with Law-fear, and bondage, then his people under the New Testament. But it is a wicked doctrine of some Anabaptists, and others, that all desertions are, under the N. Testament cried down and gone; and it is our legal mistake, say they, that works trouble of conscience, under the N. Testament, and an exercise of such as are under the Covenant of works; though it may be said law-sorrow pursued these of the Old Testament; but the Saints now are less passive and more active, in pursuing sorrow according to God, yet in another respect, because of greatness of light, and Gospel experiences, and a higher measure of illuminations, and spiritual presence in more abundance is promised and prophesied; As, that all shall be taught of God; the Earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord; the light of the Moon, shall be as the light of the Sun, and the light of the Sun as the light of seven days, Jer. 31. 31, 32, 33. Isa. 54. 11, 12, 13. Isa. 11. 6, 9. Ezec. 36. 26, 27. Isa. 44. 1, 2, 3, 4. Joel. 2. 28. ⟨p. 105⟩Zech. 12. 10. under the New Testament; therefore the desertion is the sadder. Thirst near to the fountain is more intolerable; so we read not in the N. Testament of one like unto