A29686:309
A cabinet of choice jewels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…A cabinet of choice jevvels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…
A cabinet of choice jewels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain discovery of, or, what men are worth for eternity, and how 'tis like to go with them in another world ... / by Thomas Brooks ...A cabinet of choice jevvels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain discovery of, or, what men are worth for eternity, and how 'tis like to go with them in another world ... / by Thomas Brooks ...
London : Printed and are to be sold by John Hancock ..., 1669
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.
why his Lord had compassion on him, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt, v. 27. his Lord took this for full and current payment, he accepted of the will for the deed. So when Zacheus had unfeignedly professed his purpose and willingness to make restitution, Christ presently replies, This day is Salvation come to thy house, Luke 19.9. Certainly the Lord accounts that Soul a true Believer, and a blessed Soul, that unfeignedly desires to believe, witness that Matth. 5.6. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after Righteousness, for they shall be filled. And 'tis as certain that the Lord accounts that sinner a true penitent, that doth unfeignedly desire, purpose, and resolve to repent, to break off his sins, and to turn to the Lord, as you may see in that great instance of the Prodigal, Luke 15.18, 19, 20. I will arise and go to my Father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy Son, make me as one of thy hired Servants. And he arose and came to his Father; But when he was yet a great way off, his Father saw him, and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck, and kissed him. As soon as ever the Prodigal did but purpose and resolve to repent, and return to his Father, the compassions of his Father are kindled and turned towards him, and he does not go, but runs and falls on his neck, and in stead of kicking and killing, there is nothing but kissing and embracing a returning Prodigal. God always sets a higher value upon our dispositions, than upon our actions,1 and in our best services he esteems more of our wills, than he does of our deeds, as is evident by the Scriptures in the ⟨p. 132⟩Margin. Every good man is as good in the eye and account of God, as the ordinary frame and bent of his Spirit speaks him to be. Every man is as holy, as humble, as heavenly, as spiritual, as gracious, as serious, as sincere, as fruitful, as faithful, as watchful, &c. as the settled purposes, desires, resolutions, and endeavours of his Soul speaks him to be. Hence Noah is said to be a just man, and perfect or upright in his Generation,