by Samuel Rutherford
in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats
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.
This text has been initially updated from EEBO-TCP by Project Puritas (Logan West, David Jonescue, Alex Sarrouf) www.puritansearch.org.Further revision and editing done by Monergism. Copyright Monergism via universal text usage permission from the above.
"The Subject of Divine Influences" by Samuel Rutherford is a profound exploration of the interplay between divine will and human agency in Christian theology. Rutherford considers the concept of God's sovereignty, particularly in how it relates to the human will and God's role in conversion and salvation. He discusses the balance between divine grace and human responsibility, emphasizing the necessity of God's intervention in the process of salvation. The book also examines the theological implications of free agency, predestination, and the irresistible nature of God's grace, arguing for a harmony between God's sovereign will and man's choice. Rutherford's work is a significant contribution to the understanding of these complex theological concepts, offering deep insights for both theologians and lay readers interested in Christian doctrine.
The book is divided into four parts, each addressing different aspects of this theme.
Part I, titled "Of Influences of Divine Grace," discusses the precarious nature of humanity under the first Adam compared to the safer estate under the second Adam, Jesus Christ. Rutherford explores the idea of God's active influence in the world and the necessity of divine grace, debating issues such as the sovereignty of God in dispensing grace and the role of human free will. This section also addresses questions like whether humans are only to engage in religious activities like prayer or praise when moved by the Spirit, and the idea of striving against God's sovereignty.
Part II explores the interaction between divine action and human agency. It starts with the premise that God acts upon the creature first. This section covers the capabilities of natural man in attracting divine influence, the role of supernatural actings through the word and spirit, and the idea that influences of grace are promised to the saints. It also examines the different spirits of the world and God, along with characteristics of a spiritual disposition.
Part III, "Influences of Grace," discusses various types of divine influences, the nature of the habit of grace, and the connection between habits of grace and actual spiritual experiences. This part addresses how spiritual dispositions can help in attracting divine grace and explores specific biblical passages related to this theme, like Luke 24:32 and Psalm 119:32. It also discusses the concept of 'enlargedness of heart' and its implications for spiritual life.
Finally, Part IV focuses on the impediments to divine influences and their remedies. It examines the order God maintains in sending influences, the paradox of having plenty of means and dispositions but a scarcity of influences, and specific impediments coming from the mind, will, and other affections, along with their cures. The final chapter outlines some properties of the influences of grace.
This comprehensive work provides deep theological insights and is a significant contribution to understanding the complex dynamics between divine grace and human response
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Table of Contents
TO THE GODLY READER
PART I. OF INFLUENCES OF DIVINE GRACE
CHAPTER I. Mans dubious and tottering estate under the first, his safer estate under the second Adam.
CHAPTER II. God's acting influences.
CHAPTER III. Hence to descend more particularly to inquire
CHAPTER IV. The necessity of influences of Grace. Of the Sovereignty of God in dispensing influences.
CHAPTER V. Whether or not the Lord's withdrawing of his influences and impressions of grace doth acquit and free us of guiltiness? objections removed.
CHAPTER VI. Q. Whether or no are we to believe, pray, praise, read, confer only then when the Spirit actually moves us to believe, pray, praise, &c. and not otherwise?
CHAPTER VII. Of the Sovereignty of God in his actings, and especially in influences.
CHAPTER VIII. Divers Particulars in which Sovereignty appears.
CHAPTER IX. Of the Sovereignty of God in the works of Creation and Providence, in other considerations.
CHAPTER X. Sovereignty in actings of grace
CHAPTER XI. Our impotency to duties being reproved, cannot excuse us in the omitting of them.
CHAPTER XII. The Sovereignty of God is wonderful in the various tempers of renewed ones.
CHAPTER XIII. Of striving against Sovereignty.
PART. II
CHAPTER I. God acts upon the creature first, and not the creature first upon God.
CHAPTER II. What the natural man can do to get influences; the natural man can do more then he does, and can exercise the natural powers to come within the bosom of the net, though he cannot hale himself to land.
CHAPTER III. The second particular of fetching influences is by supernatural actings by the word and spirit.
CHAPTER IV. It's required of the dead that they live, and that we must not cease from running when the Lord ceases from drawing.
CHAPTER V. Influences of grace are due to the Saints by promise.
CHAPTER VI. The two spirits of the world and of God
CHAPTER VII. Characters of a spiritual disposition are these.
PART III. Influences of Grace.
CHAPTER I. Of divers sorts of Influences.
CHAPTER II. The nature of the habit of grace
CHAPTER III. A supernatural habit is a seed of influences.
CHAPTER IV. Now the third particular we proposed to speak to, was the connection between the habits of grace, and actual breathings; and how we may by using habits fetch home the breathings of the Spirit.
CHAPTER V. The fourth particular by which we fetch influences of grace is by heavenly and spiritual dispositions: hence in this we speak
CHAPTER VI. The place Luke 24:32.
CHAPTER VII. Of enlargedness of heart, Psal. 119:32. I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.
CHAPTER VIII. Q. 4. Is there no running except God enlarge the heart?
CHAPTER IX. The fifth Question is what is the enlarging of heart.
CHAPTER X. Of fixedness of heart.
CHAPTER XI. Of the fourth disposition, which is Love-sickness.
CHAPTER XII. What may be done in the using of means, hearing the word by us, to fetch influences, if there be any truth in that, Deus facienti quod in se est non negat gratiam.
CHAPTER XIII. Q. 13. What the unrenewed and the renewed can do in the respective dead condition at the use of means?
CHAPTER XIV. The Law discovereth the disease, but heals it not.
PART IV
CHAPTER I. Of the impediments of heavenly influences upon the soul in general, and of their cure.
CHAPTER II. The Lord keeps an order in sending influences.
CHAPTER III. How the soul is under plenty of means and dispositions heavenly, and yet under scarcity of influences.
CHAPTER IV. Of other impediments of influences in particular coming from the mind, will, and some other considerable affections, and their cures.
CHAPTER V. Some properties of Influences of grace.