“They look for righteousness and acceptation more in the precept than in the promise” by Edward Fisher

EVANGELISTA, a Minister of the Gospel.
NOMISTA, a Legalist.

“EVANGELISTA:

Alas! There are a thousand in the world that make a Christ of their works; and here is their undoing.

They look for righteousness and acceptation more in the precept than in the promise, in the law than in the gospel, in working than in believing; and so miscarry.

Many poor ignorant souls amongst us, when we bid them obey and do duties, they can think of nothing but working themselves to life; when they are, troubled, they must lick themselves whole, when wounded, they must run to the salve of duties, and stream of performances, and neglect Christ.

Nay, it is to be feared that there be divers who in words are able to distinguish between the law and gospel, and in their judgments hold and maintain, that man is justified by faith without the works of the law; and yet in effect and practice, that is to say, in heart and conscience, do otherwise.

And there is some touch of this in us all; otherwise we should not be so up and down in our comforts and believing as we are still, and cast down with every weakness, as we are.

But what say you, neighbour Nomista, are you guilty of these things, think you?”

–Edward Fisher, The Marrow of Modern Divinity (Fearn, Scotland, UK: Christian Heritage, 1645/2009), 106.