A25241:573
Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of…
Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of Jesus as carrying on the great work of mans salvation from first to last / by Isaac Ambrose ...
London: printed for Richard Chiswel, 1680
Book 3 › Chapter 2 › Section 5: Of Believing in Jesus in that Respect.
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.
Poor soul! thou standest wondering at this great condescension of God; What? That God should enter into covenant with me? What? that God should make such great and precious promises with me? Surely these comforts, and these privileges, are too high for me, or for any soul breathing. — It may be so; and yet be not discouraged, for God will magnify his grace, and therefore he will do this great thing; all that thou hast to do, and all that God requires of thee, in this case, is only to believe; indeed thou hast no part in Christ, no part in the covenant of grace, if thou wilt not believe; faith is the condition of the covenant of grace; and therefore either believe, or no covenant.
Poor soul! thou standest wondering at this great condescention of God; What? That God should enter into covenant with me? What? that God should make such great and precious promises with me? Surely these comforts, and these priviledges, are too high for me, or for any soul breathing. — It may be so; and yet be not discouraged, for God will magnifie his grace, and therefore he will do this great thing; all that thou hast to do, and all that God requires of thee, in this case, is onely to believe; indeed thou hast no part in Christ, no part in the covenant of grace, if thou wilt not believe; faith is the condition of the covenant of grace; and therefore either believe, or no covenant.
I know it is not easy to believe; nay, it is one of the hardest things under heaven to persuade a soul into faith: What? Will the great God of heaven make a Covenant with such a wretch as I am? I cannot believe it. Why, What's the matter? Ah my sins, my sins, my sins! God is a consuming fire against such, he cannot endure to behold iniquity: little hopes that ever God should enter into a covenant with me. But to help on, or to allure a soul in, consider, O thou soul, of these following passages.
I know it is not easie to believe; nay, it is one of the hardest things under heaven to perswade a soul into faith: What? Will the great God of heaven make a Covenant with such a wretch as I am? I cannot believe it. Why, What's the matter? Ah my sins, my sins, my sins! God is a consuming fire against such, he cannot endure to behold iniquity: little hopes that ever God should enter into a covenant with me. But to help on, or to allure a soul in, consider, O thou soul, of these following passages.