A03604:82
The souls exaltation A treatiseThe soules exaltation A treatise
The souls exaltation A treatise containing the souls union with Christ, on I Cor. 6. 17. The souls benefit from union with Christ, on I Cor. 1. 30. The souls justification, on 2 Cor. 5. 21. By T.H.The soules exaltation A treatise containing the soules union with Christ, on I Cor. 6. 17. The soules benefit from vnion with Christ, on I Cor. 1. 30. The soules justification, on 2 Cor. 5. 21. By T.H.
London: printed by John Haviland for Andrew Crooke, 1638London: printed by Iohn Haviland for Andrew Crooke, 1638
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
therefore the text saith, ye stiff necked and hard hearted, ye have resisted the Spirit of the Lord: they would have plucked Christ out of Heaven, and the Spirit and all. Now that this is a case undeniable, I prove it thus: that word which is able to discover the thoughts of the heart, and to raise the dead to life, and can comfort a distressed soul, and persuade the soul of Gods everlasting favour, that word must needs have a supernatural power go with it, for no created power can do the former things: the Word tells the deep things of God, the Word saith, I am sanctified, therefore I am justified, therefore called, therefore elected: the Word reveals these deep things of God, therefore the spirit must needs go inseparably with it: this is an undoubted conclusion.
therefore the text saith, ye stiffe necked and hard hearted, ye have resisted the Spirit of the Lord: they would have pluckt Christ out of Heaven, and the Spirit and all. Now that this is a case undeniable, I prove it thus: that word which is able to discover the thoughts of the heart, and to raise the dead to life, and can comfort a distressed soule, and perswade the soule of Gods everlasting favour, that word must needs have a supernaturall power goe with it, for no created power can doe the former things: the Word tels the deepe things of God, the Word saith, I am sanctified, therefore I am justified, therefore called, therefore elected: the Word reveals these deepe things of God, therefore the spirit must needs goe inseparably with it: this is an undoubted conclusion.
Conclus. 2 The second is this, and I take it to be somewhat difficult; the Spirit of grace, the holy Ghost, the third Person in Trinity, working ⟨p. 29⟩with and accompanying of the promise of grace and salvation; it doth therein and thereby leave a supernatural dint and power, and a spiritual and overpowering virtue upon the soul, and thereby carries it, and brings it unto Christ, and there lieth a great weight, and observe it: The principal and efficient cause in the work of the soul, to bring it to believing, it is not so much any thing in the soul, as a spiritual assisting, and moving, and working upon the soul; by virtue of which working and motion it is moved and carried to the Lord Jesus Christ, as thus: the spirit let in a power to stir hope, and it is stirred and moved; it lets in a power to quicken desire, and it goes; it lets in a power to kindle love, and it flames; it lets in a power to persuade the will, and it takes and chooses: the Spirit moves upon these faculties, and by virtue thereof they are moved, and carried to the Lord: therefore I conceive the main principal cause of faith is rather an assisting power working upon, than any inward principal put into the soul to work of it self, but the work is upon the soul: the soul by that power and assistance is conveyed and carried home to Christ: observe it, I will express it in several passages, because here lies the difficulty of the point.