N01056:97
Free-grace, maintained & improved. Or, The general offer of the Gospel, managed with considerations…
Free-grace, maintained & improved. Or, The general offer of the Gospel, managed with considerations of the great things done by special grace, in the election and redemption and vocation of those who embrace that offer. And the illustrious doctrines of divine predestination and humane impotency, rescued from the abuses, which they too frequently meet withal; and rendered (as they are) highly useful to the designs of practical piety. : In two brief discourses; published at the desire of some, who have been greatly apprehensive of growing occasions for such treatises.
Boston: printed by B. Green, 1706
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.
II. Men do not urge the Decree of God, so Injudiciously, so Impertinently, so Irreverently, in any Inferior Matters, as they often do in the Matters of their Salvation.
II. Men do not urge the Decree of God, so Injudiciously, so Impertinently, so Irreverently, in any Inferiour Matters, as they often do in the Matters of their Salvation.
Ungodly People plead This, for their leaving Undone what every man must Do to be Saved; They don't know what may be the Decree of God about their Salvation. Sinner, The Lord will not hold thee Guiltless, if thou go on thus to Sin against the Third Commandment. Will any man in his Wits proceed after this fashion: I don't know, whether God has Decreed my Life, therefore I will do nothing to preserve my Life. If men see a Rational, and probable way to get Money, they Run into that way, without ever making this Demur; We don't know, whether the Decree of God will allow us to prosper, or no. I have read of an Eminent Physician; That he had heard of a Gentleman who often made this frothy Apology for his notorious carelessness about his Everlasting Interests; If I am Elected, I shall be Saved; If I am not Elected, no care of mine will signify any thing to Save me; why should I employ my care any further about it? The Gentleman at length became his Patient, ⟨p. 37⟩in a Sickness that came upon him; when the Physician saw cause to put him off after this manner: Sir, If it be Decreed, that you shall Recover your Health, you shall do so; but if it be not so Decreed, no Counsels, or Methods of mine will recover you; why should I trouble my self any further about you? This brought the Patient unto a Sense of his former Error; A Double, and therefore, an Happy cure, was wrought upon him!
Ungodly People plead This, for their leaving Undone what every man must Do to be Saved; They don't know what may be the Decree of God about their Salvation. Sinner, The Lord will not hold thee Guiltless, if thou go on thus to Sin against the Third Commandment. Will any man in his Wits proceed after this fashion: I don't know, whether God has Decreed my Life, therefore I will do nothing to preserve my Life. If men see a Rational, and probable way to get Money, they Run into that way, without ever making this Demur; We don't know, whether the Decree of God will allow us to prosper, or no. I have read of an Eminent Physician; That he had heard of a Gentleman who often made this frothy Apology for his notorious carelessness about his Everlasting Interests; If I am Elected, I shall be Saved; If I am not Elected, no care of mine will signify any thing to Save me; why should I imploy my care any further about it? The Gentleman at length became his Patient,