A29686:384
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.
Secondly, Because grace is contrary to nature. The wisdom of the flesh is enmity against God, Rom. 8.7. Fire cannot desire water, nor water fire, because they are contrary, one expelling the other; for either the water will quench the fire, or else the fire will lick up the water: So here, nature would have a man love himself, and seek himself, and exalt himself; but grace will have a man love God, and seek God, and exalt God, &c. Take nature when 'tis most adorned, enriched, raised, elevated, &c. yet then you shall find it at enmity with God and grace. Ergo, &c.
Thirdly, Because grace is not only above nature, and §3contrary to nature, but it is even a hell to nature; grace and holiness is a hell to a natural man.1 Look as a glorified estate would be a hell to every wicked person, (Coelum est altera gehenna damnatorum, saith one of the Ancients; Heaven is another hell to the damned) so would a gracious estate also. Grace puts a man to take up the Cross of Christ, to deny his natural self, his sinful self, his religious self, his relative self, and to give up a mans self to the strictest and exactest ways of God, and to crucify his lusts, and to pull out his right eye, and to cut off his right hand, &c. And oh! what hard work is this, yea what a hell is this to nature? &c.
Thirdly, Because grace is not only above nature, and §3contrary to nature, but it is even a hell to nature; grace and holiness is a hell to a natural man.1 Look as a glorified estate would be a hell to every wicked person, (Coelum est altera gehenna damnatorum, saith one of the Ancients; Heaven is another hell to the damned) so would a gracious estate also. Grace puts a man to take up the Cross of Christ, to deny his natural self, his sinful self, his religious self, his relative self, and to give up a mans self to the strictest and exactest wayes of God, and to crucifie his lusts, and to pull out his right eye, and to cut off his right hand, &c. And oh! what hard work is this, yea what a hell is this to nature? &c.