A29686:383
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.
First, Because grace is above the reach of nature, 1 Cor. §12.14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. The water riseth no higher than the springs from whence it came; so natural men can ascend no higher than nature: Spiritual things can neither be discerned nor desired, but by those that are anointed with the eye-salve of the Spirit. The natural man is dark and blind, and he sees no beauty nor excellency in grace, that he should desire it, or be in love with it. Man in his natural ⟨p. 174⟩estate is without, Eph. 2.12. There are five withou ts, 1. Without Christ, 2. Without the Church, 3. Without the Promise, 4. Without hope, 5. Without God in the world. Now every natural man being under these five withouts, how is it possible that he should have any serious desires after grace? Such is the corruption of our nature, that if you propound any divine good to it, it is entertained as fire by water, or wet wood with hissing; propound any evil, then 'tis like fire to straw, 'tis like the foolish Satyr that made hast to kiss the fire, 'tis like that unctuous matter which Naturalists say sucks and snatches the fire to it with which it is consumed.1 The contrariety and enmity that is in every natural mans heart, against God, and Christ, and grace, and holiness, may sufficiently satisfy us, that the natural man is a mere stranger to serious and sincere desires after God, or Christ, or grace, or the great things that belong to his everlasting peace. Such sincere and serious desires as these, Oh, that Christ were mine, Oh, that I were married to his person, Oh, that I were clothed with his righteousness, Oh, that my soul were adorned with his grace, Oh, that I was filled with his Spirit, Oh, that he would be my King to rule me, and my Prophet to teach and instruct me, and my Priest to make an atonement for me; Oh, that I might enjoy choice and high communion with him, Oh, that I might sin no more against him, Oh, that I may do nothing unworthy of him, Oh, that after death I might live for ever in the enjoyments of him, &c. I say such serious and sincere desires are not to be found in the natural mans breast.