Chapter 1 › Maxim 8: The eighth Maxim or Consideration., A cabinet of choice jewels, or, A box of precious ointment being a… by Thomas Brooks (1669) | AskReformation

Skip to content

:142p. 26§1

First, Whosoever truly and heartily receives the Lord Jesus Christ, are truly and justly reputed to be the sons of God,¹ Joh. 1.12. But I have received Christ all the ways that the Word there can import; I am heartily willing to receive the Lord Jesus Christ in all his offices, viz. as a King to rule me, a Prophet to teach and instruct me, and a Priest to offer and intercede for me; I am willing to receive him as a Sanctifier, as well as a Saviour, and to receive him as my Lord, as well as to receive him as my Redeemer, and to receive him upon his own terms, viz. of taking up his Cross, denying my self, and following of him; therefore I may safely, boldly, plainly and warrantably conclude, that I am a son of God, and that I have an interest in God, according to the Scripture last cited; which Scripture cannot be broken, nor cannot fail, nor cannot be unbound or loosed, as the Greek word in that, John 10.35. imports, &c.

First, Whosoever truly and heartily receives the Lord Jesus Christ, are truly and justly reputed to be the sons of God,¹ Joh. 1.12. But I have received Christ all the wayes that the Word there can import; I am heartily willing to receive the Lord Jesus Christ in all his offices, viz. as a King to rule me, a Prophet to teach and instruct me, and a Priest to offer and intercede for me; I am willing to receive him as a Sanctifier, as well as a Saviour, and to receive him as my Lord, as well as to receive him as my Redeemer, and to receive him upon his own terms, viz. of taking up his Cross, denying my self, and following of him; therefore I may safely, boldly, plainly and warrantably conclude, that I am a son of God, and that I have an interest in God, according to the Scripture last cited; which Scripture cannot be broken, nor cannot fail, nor cannot be unbound or loosed, as the Greek word in that, John 10.35. imports, &c.

1[Greek or Hebrew], signifies authority. Such as receive the Lord Jesus, have authority to be called the sons of God. Others may call God father, and themselves sons, but they have not that right and authority to do it as believers have, Mark 16.16. Joh. 3.16, 18, 36 Mat. 3.2, 8. Luke 24 47. Act. 5.31. Chap. 3.19. Luke 13.3.〈non-Latin alphabet〉, signifies authority. Such as receive the Lord Jesus, have authority to be called the sons of God. Others may call God father, and themselves sons, but they have not that right and authority to do it as believers have, Mark 16.16. Joh. 3.16, 18, 36 Mat. 3.2, 8. Luke 24 47. Act. 5.31. Chap. 3.19. Luke 13.3.

:145p. 27–28§2

Thirdly, a godly man may argue thus. He that hath respect §3unto all Gods commands, shall never be ashamed, Psal. 119.6. Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto ⟨p. 28⟩a l thy commandments. ¹He that is so honest and faithful with God, as to do his best, shall find that God will be so gracious as to pardon his worst. And this Gospel indulgence, David does more than hint at in those words, Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. Or, as the Hebrew has it, Then shall I not blush when my eye is to all thy commandments. The Traveller you know, hath his eye towards the place where he is going; and though he be yet short of it, yet he is putting on and pressing forward all he can to reach it; so when the eye of a Saint is to all the commands of God, and he is still a pressing forwards toward full obedience, such a foul shall never be put to shame, it shall never be put to the blush, but it shall be able, living and dying, boldly to appear in the presence of the Lord. Mark, the Psalmist doth not say, when I obey all thy commandments, but when I have respect to all thy commandments; and that implies an inward awe and reverential eye towards every duty God requires: You know, to have respect unto a thing is this, When that of all others sways most with us, as when a Master commands such a business, the servant will do it, because he respects him; and at his command he will go and come, though he will not at the command of any other.) But I have respect unto all his commandments, therefore I shall never be ashamed.

Thirdly, a godly man may argue thus. He that hath respect §3unto all Gods commands, shall never be ashamed, Psal. 119.6. Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto ⟨p. 28⟩a l thy c•mmandments. ¹He that is so honest and faithful with God, as to do his best, shall find that God will be so gracious as to pardon his worst. And this Gospel indulgence, David does more than hint at in those words, Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. Or, as the Hebrew has it, Then shall I not blush when my eye is to all thy commandments. The Traveller you know, hath his eye towards the place where he is going; and though he be yet short of it, yet he is putting on and pressing forward all he can to reach it; so when the eye of a Saint is to all the commands of God, and he is still a pressing forwards toward full obedience, such a foul shall never be put to shame, it shall never be put to the blush, but it shall be able, living and dying, boldly to appear in the presence of the Lord. Mark, the Psalmist doth not say, when I obey all thy commandments, but when I have respect to all thy commandments; and that implies an inward aw and reverential eye towards every duty God requires: You know, to have respect unto a thing is this, When that of all others swayes most with us, as when a Master commands such a business, the servant will do it, because he respects him; and at his command he will go and come, though he will not at the command of any other.) But I have respect unto all his commandments, therefore I shall never be ashamed.

1Shame is both the tempora•• deternal fru•• sin, Rom 6• •. Dan. 12.2.