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A81577
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A short essay of modern divinity, by Robert Dixon. D.D.
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Dixon, Robert, d. 1688.
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1681
(1681)
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Wing D1748A; ESTC R231408
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33,711
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62
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that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all men Teaching us to deny ungodliness â—it 2.11 c. All Flesh shall see the Salvation of God â—oh 3.6 The same came for a Witness to bear witness of the Light â—oh 1.7 〈◊〉 .8.16 that all men through him might believe SECT XVI 3. A visible Judge pretended â—â—sible Judge the Judge is within us the Spirit its self beareth witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God Let every man prove his own Work â—l 6.45 then shall he have rejoycing in himself alone and not in another 1 Joh. 3.21 If our heart condemn us not then have we confidence towards God Luke made Theophilus his own Judge of his Writings to him as the Apostle did them at Rome Corinth c. And the People made the Church Infallibility takes away the use of every man's Reason The Pope should conclude us by Conviction and not by Authority to make us to believe a Lie Ro. 1.19 That which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them 2 Cor. 4.1 2 c. As we have received Mercy we faint not but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully but by manifestation of the Truth commending our selves to every man's Conscience in the sight of God for if our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost in whom the God of this World hath blinded the Minds of them which believe not lest the Light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ who as the Image of God should shine unto them c. The Church is not visible nor Worldly as other Societies World and Church like Sosia and Mercury resemble at a vast difference SECT XVII 4. Liberty The Jews after hard service under the Law during their Minority when the Gospel came Liberty were Adult and Free The Gentiles knew no Minority but under Natures Law and upon the preaching of the Gospel were immediately Adult and Free The Jews lost their Carnal Priviledges which did them no Good for they were still Debtors responsible to the Law which could never be satisfied But when they and the Gentiles embraced the Gospel they were by the goodness of God immediately set at Liberty and invested with Spiritual Priviledges which did them good and set them everlastingly free from the Curse of all Law So the fulness of Time of the Gentiles came in suddenly all at once upon them for Adoption and Sonship without the Law And for their Faith they were made elder Brethren by Grace to the Jews which were the Elder Brethren by Nature As Jacob was the Younger to Esau the first Born The Jews had the first offer to keep their Birthright but they profanely rejected it so the offer was made to the Jews they refused So we turn to the Gentiles and they wisely accepted it The Sons of the Free-Woman were disinherited and the Sons of the Bond-Woman legitimated Great Grace by the Gospel greater than by the Law The Jews stood upon their Carnal Birth and Carnal Ordinances they were Abraham's Children and Mose's Disciples But the Gentiles by Faith were the true Children of Faithful Abraham and the true Disciples of Christ the Lord of Moses But between the Believing Jew and the Believing Gentile there is no difference at all We perceive by this that God is no respecter of Persons but in every Nation they that fear him and work Righteousness are accepted of him Those that honour God he will honour but those that despise him shall be lightly esteemed The Allegories of Sarah and Agar Esau and Jacob Jshmael and Isaac Mount Sinai and Mount Sion Jerusalem above and Jerusalem below are changed in their Natures and all are free in Christ Jesus who is all in all Ob. We are no Jews no fear of that Sol. We are a little Jewish some fear of that Ob. We are not Heathens for Idolatry Sol. We are something Heathenish for Superstition Therefore in Modern Divinity we distinguish carefully between Judaism and Paganism Conclusion Carnal and Spiritual Priesthood Law Altar Temple Sacrifice between Works Faith Liberty Bondage Flesh and Spirit rightly dividing the Word of Truth like Workmen that need not to be ashamed These are short Hints of the matter largely displaied in the Difference between the two Covenants in the Two Testaments of the Law and the Gospel FINIS
not beloved by the most dishonest And they that do live dishonestly are disapproved and hated sufficiently by them that are most Honest But what care they that are Atheists But they that believe a God will care But wise men do take care of all vitious Actions of Hatred and Disgrace by men but not of God and blame Fools that are so careless even of men because the poor that are oppressed by them raise them to their sames and God much more Indeed and in truth they are the shame as well as grief of Mankind whether they came for it or no. They may depart the world when they will no Body will stop'um they have their pass they shall never be mist I 'le warrant'um As they regard nothing but Eating and Drinking and Lusting and Oppressing c. so who regards them though their looks be never so high and scornful But to leave these Miscreants and this Diversion I am extreemly troubled at the Church of Rome that calls Divine Revelation into Question and when they have done charge us for so doing as if the truths that be so revealed might not have been or might have been otherwise What odd expressions are these to come from wise men of both sides I wish they would better think of it The Papists glory Infallibility of the Infallibility of their Church and therefore they are Cock-sure But 't is we poor wretches that want this Infallibility and consequently this Assurance What a case are we in and what shall become of us I wish some of ours had better considered than to affirm that the Grounds of our Faith are only probable and might have been otherwise so to give the Adversary occasion to insult over us for having no Church nor no foundation for our Faith at all so to overthrow our Religion so to overthrow all Religion if it were so that that which is true may be false then all may be false and at last all is false and where are we then As for Infallibility the business so much boasted of it is none but God not the Church nor all Mankind put all together that have been or are or ever shall be They may set their hearts at rest for they shall never find it nor shew it us while this World stands But yet Christian Religion is certain for all that Certainty And the grounds of Faith are such as they have ever been are and ever shall be and could never be otherwise though there be no Infallibility in men at all The Foundation of God standeth sure be men never so changeable and fallible And God's word is more dureable than the Frame of the Universe For though there be no Infallibility in men yet there is Infallibility in God and that 's enough for us to believe and the wisest men trust to it and cannot fail of their hopes thereby For we believe in God and not in the Church nor in Mankind And this is our Foundation here we fix and resolve our Faith into God Whether hath Pride and Malice driven us Such is the Papists hatred against the Protestants to make them odious to all the World for having no Faith nor no Church Though we hold the same Christ as they do and acknowledge that other Foundation can no man lay than what is already laid Jesus Christ and him Crucified and no other name given under Heaven whereby we can be saved but only by the Name of Jesus Christ And no Mediator between God and Man but the Man Christ Jesus They make the Infallibility of the Pope or a Counsel or the Church to be the Ground of Faith We say God is the only Ground of Faith he cannot deny himself He will never leave nor forsake his Church nor shall the Gates of Hell be ever able to prevail against her They therefore believe because the Church is Infallible But we believe because God is Infallible And what God hath revealed he hath revealed to those that are fallible but the things revealed are the Infallible Truths of God and were never otherwise nor never shall be otherwise whether our Fathers have or we do or our Posterity shall believe them or no. 'T is no absurdity to believe God and his Word to be Infallible though we be fallible and to stand the everlasting Objects of our Faith though we be not the Subjects that embrace them I hope God is no less true though man be a Lyar. And I hope the Gospel is no less true and the same for being believed or disbelieved God's word being Eternal and unchangeable as himself Well but all this while we are beating our Brains about finding out the truth 1. The Athiest he believes nothing but laughs at all He goes on and lives and dies in Wickedness Atheists like a Beast hoping for no Salvation 2. The Papist he is the bravest fellow Papists and in the safest Condition of any man in the World for let him sin his heart out he hath all his Pardon 's ready if he should live a Thousand Years 'T is but whispring a word in his Confessors Ear and listning to a word of Absolution from him again and he is purer than the Chystal Streams and as clear as the Light it self He takes no care for himself for the Church takes all the Care and provides what he should believe and what he should do he need not trouble himself at all unless it be to go barefoot a little or fast or whip a stroke or two which he may buy off when he pleases according as his Purse is Nay to make all sure if he want Merits those Saints that have had more than they knew what to do with have laid them up in store to help their idle Brethren at a dead lift and the Pope delivers them out at such a Price as the Market goes for them they are to be purchased every day In a word he is sure be he what he will because his Church is sure Sin and Confess Confess and sin and so continue till you dy and be reconciled to the Romish Church and so at last you go to Heaven to rights 3. The Fatalist Fatalists Be he Jew or Turk takes as little care as the rest for there is a Lottery thinks he or a Dooms-day Book If he be in for a Prize or a Blanck he knows not therefore Have at all hit or miss If it be to come it will come once If it never come there is no remedy He is lost God would have it so and it must be so no help for it So all alike aim to sin as much as they can and as long as they can Thus men are willing to befool themselves and to charge God foolishly But they that walk Righteously walk safely 1. Because they are sure of a good Report among the Saints here 2. Because they are sure of a good Reward with God hereafter Knowing therefore the Terrors of God I wonder any should