Gf .FaithQ 203 Next follows what he quarrelswith in Mr. Shepherd's DoFlrine of Humiliation, and what he objets dgaintt it. What Mr. Shepherd's Dottrine is, I have already explained in the 20 Portions laid down ; fee it explained by himfelf in his excellent Treatife, called, The found Believer, Chap. 3. of Humiliation. Mr. Firmin,'' Obje&..(t.) To fay, A Soul ,muff fubmit to the Lord to be difp(fed of him, and that info weighty a Matter w the Sóul's Sal- vation, without, murmuring or quarrelling, is re- al Grace; yea, and a great Degree and high Meafure ofit. Now to fay, That this mull be before Faith, is to fay, A man may be, yea, mug be ai good before he be converted, as after ,Gonver- lion, as holy before he be united to Chrifl as after; But this is abfùrd : Therefore, cc, f anfwer, Tho'tlhis eminent Degree of Hu- before Faith were granted ; yet it will not therefore follow, That a Man may be as good a Chriftian before Converfion, as after, and that upon twoAccounts, (r.) Be- caufe this Humiliation, which is a Difpof tioti to Faith, is but an Al?t of Grace wrought im- mediately by the Spirit on the Soul, from which the Subje& cannot be denominated humble ; that Humiliation and Submißîon,, which is after Faith, proceeds from an Habit of Faith. Now, as an ill Archer, who foie- times may hit the Mark ; yet is he not to be counted fo good an Archer, as he who harm by
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=