A92141:680
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.
Assert. 4. Hardly can the use of a gift ascend above it self to intend God and his glory; for the glory of God is graces end, not gifts end. Zech. 7. 5. When ye fasted, did ye at all fast unto me? 6. And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did ye not eat for your selves? and did not ye drink for your selves? Heb. did not ye your selves eat as carnal men? did ye not eat, and drink, and feast, and fast? He means the spirit of grace in them did not keep these religious fasts and feasts, but their own spirit, and custom, and self; and did ye fast for me at all? and he doubles the word, that so he may the more convince them, even for me? So the Lord might say to the Pharisees who prayed in the streets, Did ye at all pray to me, even to me? or did the gift and vain-glory in you, or the spirit in you? So he may say to us, Do ye preach, hear, swear a covenant for me at all?1 Saving grace must sanctify the gift in its use and end, that it be for God; but a gift can never sanctify saving grace in its use and end. As grace which is above nature sanctifies nature, and heightens nature in its actings, principles, and end; but nature, that is below grace, can never sanctify and heighten grace in its actings, principles, and ends.
Assert. 4. Hardly can the use of a gift ascend above it self to intend God and his glory; for the glory of God is graces end, not gifts end. Zech. 7. 5. When ye fasted, did ye at all fast unto me? 6. And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did ye not eat for your selves? and did not ye drink for your selves? Heb. did not ye your selves eat as carnal men? did ye not eat, and drink, and feast, and fast? He meanes the spirit of grace in them did not keep these religious fasts and feasts, but their own spirit, and custome, and self; and did ye fast for me at all? and he doubles the word, that so he may the more convince them, even for me? So the Lord might say to the Pharisees who prayed in the streets, Did ye at all pray to me, even to me? or did the gift and vain-glory in you, or the spirit in you? So he may say to us, Doe ye preach, hear, swear a covenant for me at all?1 Saving grace must sanctifie the gift in its use and end, that it be for God; but a gift can never sanctifie saving grace in its use and end. As grace which is above nature sanctifies nature, and heightens nature in its actings, principles, and end; but nature, that is below grace, can never sanctisie and heighten grace in its actings, principles, and ends.