A25294:877
The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easy draught of the Christian…The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easie draught of the Christian…
The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easy draught of the Christian catechism in LII lectures on chosen texts of Scripture, for each Lords-day of the year, learnedly and perspicuously illustrated with doctrines, reasons, and uses / by that reverend and worthy labourer in the Lord's vineyard, William Ames ...The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easie draught of the Christian catechisme in LII lectures on chosen texts of Scripture, for each Lords-day of the year, learnedly and perspicuously illustrated with doctrines, reasons, and uses / by that reverend and worthy laborer in the Lord's vineyard, William Ames ...
London: printed by T. Mabb for Thomas Davies, 1659
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.
Reas. 3. Because it is not enough to our comfort, that we be sometimes well disposed to partake ⟨p. 193⟩of these good blessings of God, unless we also discern this disposition to be in us. For our comfort dependeth not only on the presence, or having of grace; but also on our inward feeling, and perceiving that we have it: Which perceiving that we may attain to, it is needful that we seriously examine our selves, and know what is in us.
Reas. 3. Because it is not enough to our comfort, that we be sometimes well disposed to partake ⟨p. 193⟩of these good blessings of God, unless we also discerne this disposition to be in us. For our comfort dependeth not onely on the presence, or having of grace; but also on our inward feeling, and perceiving that we have it: Which perceiving that we may attain to, it is needfull that we seriously examine our selves, and know what is in us.
Use, Of Exhortation, that we may have a care of this duty, and deal not too gently with our selves, nor slightly; but bring all to a very punctual and rigorous trial. Now the special points that we ought to examine in our selves, are these: 1. Whether we have knowledge and understanding of the things that belong to the institution of the Supper; that is, whether we rightly discern the Lords body, as hath been taught in the precedent Doctrine. 2. Whether we have a true acknowledgement and repentance for our sins, from the guilt whereof we would be disburdened; i. e. the pardon whereof we seek to be sealed unto us in the use of this Sacrament. 3. Whether we have that faith, whereby we flee only to Christ, that we may be freed from […] sins. 4. Whether we be so far in charity, and love with our Neighbour, as that we carry no spite, hatred, malice, or revenge to his person, but can pray heartily for him to God, for his forgiveness (in case he be froward to convenient and fitting means of reconciliation) as for our selves, though we may not outwardly testify our forgiveness of him in such case, where Ecclesiastical procedure cannot be had for fear of hardening him in his sin, or exposing our selves and these mysteries to derision; or because some other hinderance will not suffer us, as remote absence of the parties, and others