A05817:317
The practise of piety directing a Christian how to walk that he may please God.The practise of pietie directing a Christian how to walke that he may please God.
London: printed for John Hodgets, 1613London: printed for Iohn Hodgets, 1613
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.
Thou seest therefore O man, how wretched and cursed thy state is, by corruption ⟨p. 219⟩of nature, without Christ: insomuch that whereas the Scriptures do liken wicked men, unto Lyons, Bears, Bulls, Horses, Dogs, and such like savage Creatures in their lives: it is certain, that the condition of an unregenerated man, is in his death more vile then a Dog, or the filthiest Creature in the world: for the Beast (being made but for mans use) when he dyeth endeth all his miseries with his death. But man endued with a reasonable and an immortal Soul, made after Gods Image, to serve God, when he ends the miseries of this life, must account for all his misdeeds, and begin to endure those miseries that never shall know end. No ⟨p. 220⟩creature but man is liable to yield at his death an account for his life. The brute Creatures, not having reason, shall not be required to make any account for their deeds: and good Angels, though they have reason, yet shall they yield no account, because they have no sin. And as for evil Angels, they are, without all hope, already condemned; so that they need not make any further accounts. Man only in his death, must be Gods accountant for his life.
THou seest therefore O man, how wretched and cursed thy state is, by corruption ⟨p. 219⟩of nature, without Christ: insomuch that whereas the Scriptures doe liken wicked men, vnto Lyons, Beares, Buls, Horses, Dogges, and such like sauage Creatures in their liues: it is certaine, that the condition of an vnregenerated man, is in his death more vile then a Dogge, or the filthiest Creature in the world: for the Beast (being made but for mans vse) when hee dyeth endeth all his miseries with his death. But man endued with a reasonable and an immortall Soule, made after Gods Image, to serue God, when hee ends the miseries of this life, must account for all his misdeedes, and begin to endure those miseries that neuer shall know end. No ⟨p. 220⟩creature but man is liable to yeeld at his death an account for his life. The bruite Creatures, not hauing reason, shall not be required to make any account for their deedes: and good Angels, though they haue reason, yet shall they yeeld no account, because they haue no sinne. And as for euill Angels, they are, without all hope, already condemned; so that they neede not make any further accounts. Man onely in his death, must be Gods accountant for his life.
On the other side, thou seest (O Man) how happy and blessed thy estate is, being truly reconciled unto GOD in Christ, in that through the restoration of ⟨p. 221⟩Gods Image, and thy restitution into thy sovereignty over other Creatures, thou art in this life little inferior to the Angels, and shalt be in the life to come equal to the Angels; yea, in respect of thy Nature, exalted, by a personal union to the Son of God, and by him, to the glory of the Trinity: superior to the Angels: a Fellow-Brother with Angels in spiritual grace and everlasting glory.
On the other side, thou seest (O Man) how happy and blessed thy estate is, being truely reconciled vnto GOD in Christ, in that through the restauration of ⟨p. 221⟩Gods Image, and thy restitution into thy soueraigntie ouer other Creatures, thou art in this life little inferiour to the Angels, and shalt be in the life to come equall to the Angels; yea, in respect of thy Nature, exalted, by a personall vnion to the Sonne of God, and by him, to the glory of the Trinitie: superiour to the Angels: a Fellow-Brother with Angels in spirituall grace and euerlasting glory.
Thou hast seen how glorious and perfect GOD is, and how that all thy chief bliss and happiness consisteth in having an eternal communion with his Majesty.
Thou hast seene how glorious and perfect GOD is, and how that all thy chiefe blisse and happinesse consisteth in hauing an eternall communion with his Maiestie.
Now therefore (O impenitent Sinner) in the bowels ⟨p. 222⟩of Christ Jesus I entreat thee; nay, I conjure thee, as thou tenderest thy own salvation, seriously to consider with me, how false, how vain, how vile are those things, which still retain and chain thee in this wretched and cursed estate, wherein thou livest: and do hinder thee from the favour of God, and the hope of eternal life and happiness.
Now therefore (O impenitent Sinner) in the bowels ⟨p. 222⟩of Christ Iesus I entreat thee; nay, I coniure thee, as thou tenderest thy owne saluation, seriously to consider with mee, how false, how vaine, how vile are those things, which still retaine and chaine thee in this wretched and cursed estate, wherein thou liuest: and doe hinder thee from the fauour of God, and the hope of eternall life and happinesse.
Those Hinderances are chiefly seven.
THose Hinderances are chiefely seauen.
I. An ignorant mistaking of the true meaning of certain places of the holy Scripture, ⟨p. 223⟩and some other chief grounds of Christian Religion.
I. An ignorant mistaking of the true meaning of certaine places of the holy Scripture, ⟨p. 223⟩and some other chiefe grounds of Christian Religion.
1 Ezek. 33.14.16. At what time soever a sinner repenteth him of his sin, I will blot out all, &c. Hence the carnal Christian gathereth: That he may repent when he will. It is true: Whensoever a sinner doth repent, GOD will forgive: but the text saith not, that a sinner may repent whensoever he will, but when GOD will give him grace. Many (saith the Scripture) when they would have repented were rejected;1 and could not repent, though they sought it carefully with tears. What comfort yields this Text to thee, who hast not repented, ⟨p. 224⟩nor knowest whether thou shalt have grace to repent hereafter?
1 Ezek. 33.14.16. At what time soeuer a sinner repenteth him of his sinne, I will blot out all, &c. Hence the carnall Christian gathereth: That he may repent when hee will. It is true: Whensoeuer a sinner doth repent, GOD will forgiue: but the text saith not, that a sinner may repent whensoeuer he will, but when GOD will giue him grace. Many (saith the Scripture) when they would haue repented were reiected;1 and could not repent, though they sought it carefully with teares. What comfort yeelds this Text to thee, who hast not repented, ⟨p. 224⟩nor knowest whether thou shalt haue grace to repent heereafter?
2 Math. 11.26. Come unto me all you that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Hence the lewdest man collects, that he may come unto Christ when he list. But he must know; That no man ever comes to Christ, but he, who (as Peter saith) Having known the way of righteousness, 1hath escaped the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ. To come unto Christ is to repent and believe. 2And this no man can do, except his heavenly father draweth him by his grace.
2 Math. 11.26. Come vnto mee all you that labour and are heauy laden, and I wil giue you rest. Hence the lewdest man collects, that he may come vnto Christ when he list. But he must know; That no man euer comes to Christ, but hee, who (as Peter saith) Hauing knowne the way of righteousnesse, 1hath escaped the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of our Lord & Sauiour Iesus Christ. To come vnto Christ is to repent and beleeue. 2And this no man can doe, except his heauenly father draweth him by his grace.
3 Rom. 8.1. There is no ⟨p. 225⟩condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. True. But they are such, who walk not after the flesh (as thou dost) but after the spirit, which thou diddest never yet resolve to do.
3 Rom. 8.1. There is no ⟨p. 225⟩condemnation to them which are in Christ Iesus. True. But they are such, who walke not after the flesh (as thou dost) but after the spirit, which thou diddest neuer yet resolue to doe.
4 1 Tim. 1.15. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, &c. True. But such sinners who like Paul are converted from their wicked life: not like thee, who still continuest in thy lewdness. For that Grace of God which bringeth salvation unto all men, teacheth us, 1that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts: we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.
4 1 Tim. 1.15. Christ Iesus came into the world to saue sinners, &c. True. But such sinners vvho like Paul are conuerted from their wicked life: not like thee, who still continuest in thy lewdnesse. For that Grace of God which bringeth saluation vnto all men, teacheth vs, 1that denying vngodlinesse and wordly lusts: we should liue soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.
5 Prou. 23.26. A just man falleth seven times in a ⟨p. 226⟩day, and riseth, &c. [In a day] is not in the Text: Which means not falling into sin, but falling into trouble, which his malicious enemy plots against the just: and from which GOD delivers him▪ 1And though it meant falling in, and rising out of sin; what is this to thee? whose falls all men may see every day: but neither God nor man can at any time see thy rising again, by repentance?
5 Prou. 23.26. A iust man falleth seauen times in a ⟨p. 226⟩day, and riseth, &c. [In a day] is not in the Text: Which meanes not falling into sinne, but falling into trouble, which his malicious enemie plots against the iust: and from which GOD deliuers him▪ 1And though it meant falling in, and rising out of sinne; what is this to thee? whose falles all men may see euery day: but neither God nor man can at any time see thy rising againe, by repentance?
