Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	call_v	law_n	moses_n	3,350	5	7.7142	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A51252	A treatise shewing the liberty and bondage of the will of man, or, A treatise shewing the bondage of the will of man by nature, and the liberty thereof by grace	Moore, Thomas, Senior.	1652 (1652)	Wing M2594A; ESTC R41715	32,714	48

stand or be in that first estate he was in these being no part nor priviledge of the first creation that is now old but a new creation of things belonging to the second and spiritual man 1. Cor. 15.45 So that of these heavenly supernatural and spiritual good things as they were not known so there could be in man no will much less free will to them and so Adam not having it could not loose it nor could we loose such free will in his fall as we never had in him in his standing so that thus far I hope none will say we magnifie the nature of man For that freedom he had in his will to natural moral and spiritual good was not deserved nor acquired by him but freely given and wrought in him by God whose the praise is But that which is indeed freedom of will to that which is supernatural and spiritual good he had not and the knowledge of this will help to understand that which follows 2. In the second consideration as man by his abuse of free will did in his transgression make himself he not abiding a night in honour became like the beast that perisheth Psal 49.12 20. His soul was not annihilated no more than his body but his understanding will and affections he had still but the Image of God therein the uprightness and holiness thereof was lost and many evil inventions found by him and us all in him Eccles 7.29 Yea he and we as far as could be in a publick one did in him become sinfull and guilty of death and by virtue of Gods sentence condemned and in that respect dead Rom. 5.12 18. And by nature and according to this consideration such we come forth from him Rom. 5.19 So that all men by nature and as considered in Adam and as come forth from him in respect of all we receive from him and so are and have by nature are all ungodly sinners enemies to God void of judgement in that which was truly good and therefore destitute of will much more of freedom of will to it yea dead in treaspasses and sins Rom. 3.9 19 and 5.6 and 6. Eph. 2.1 2. And they that rightly believe Jesus Christ to have dyed for all do therein and therewith believe all to have been thus dead 2 Cor. 5.14 And therefore in respect of any thing by nature or from Adam wholly destitute of any freedom of will to that which is truly good much more destitute of any free will to that which is supernatural and spiritual good which nature never had in the first Adam nor can have but by some higher and more glorious grace than was conferred on him in his first estate So that sure in affirming this is no exaltation of nature and such as talk of free will to that is truly and spiritually good in men by nature must have it in man thus considered or not at all Object But here I fear some that with many words cry down free will in man to good by nature will yet be offended at me as abasing nature too much and object against me that in Rom 2.14 15. That the Gentiles do by nature the things contained in the law c. And shew the work or effect of the Law written in their heart where if by nature they mean the nature of man as from Adam and by the work of the Law written they mean the Law it self as some do and the bringing it in for such an end would argue such a sense to be meantt hen and so to this Objection I answer Answ Though I reverence their learning and godliness yet I receive not their sense of this place because I finde the word nature otherwise used sometime than for the nature of man and the nature of man in another consideration also than hitherto set forth And I finde a great difference between the law and the work or effect of the law in the heart and the taking the words here in such a sense would contradict many plain sayings of Scripture For those that understand not Do no good are ungodly and enemies to God and by nature dead in trespasses and sins have not the holy and righteous law written in their hearts nor do freely by their own nature the things contained in the law which if they had and did then had they free will indeed by nature yea and which is more freedom and power of doing also and this is strange that such as cry down free will in words and accuse others to hold it should by their own interpretations in doctrine so highly avouch and teach it But it is clear enough if the Apostles business and scope from chap. 1.16 to this chap. 2.16 be well viewed and understood which was to set forth the goodness of God according to Gospel testimonie and the means he used for men to to know it that believing they might be justified and sanctified by his grace and the equity of his proceedings against those that willingly disobey against goodness so made known about making forth his knowledge he tels us of two mediums or books the book of creatures God in and by natural things created and ordered by him manifesting his power goodness c. and giving them in some measure to know and calling and moving to repentance Rom. 1.19 20 21. and 2.1 2 3 4. and God teaching by these mediums it is in respect of the instruments used called the teaching of nature or natures teaching and the other is the book of Scriptures which was not by nature or natural mediums but by a spiritual revelation from God so the law to and by Moses and the Prophesies and the Gospel as now come forth Rom 1.16 17. which to whomsoever it comes it brings more clear revelation of the minde of God than can be seen in nature or those visible works of God in creation and providence and it is not the enjoyment of greater or lesser means but the yeilding up thereto according to the light therein vouchsafed be it more or less in which goodness is received again if we minde the Scripture and man in the first consideration we shall finde that man in his innocency had the Law that is the knowledge and love of God and man writ in his heart but sinning he lost this and became as the beasts in that respect Yet though man lost his uprightness God and his Law lost not his authority man by the Law was as much obliged still to know and love God and his neighbour for the grace he had conferred on him by creation c. And such the force power and authority of God in this Law that it entered into the heart of man convincing him as bound to it and that it was his duty to adore God and love man though he had neither light nor strength nor will to either yet according to what he conceived himself to do right or wrong his conscience or thoughts within would excuse or accuse and