A29686:401
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.
and hereupon they think that they have no grace, or else that they make no progress in grace, at least worth speaking of, so long as they come behind and fall short of such and such, who are very eminent, or most eminent in grace and holiness; and upon this account it is, that they make such sore complaints of their spiritual wants, and of their slow progress in grace and holiness, and that they can hardly perceive but that they stand still at a stay. Now mark, these sad complaints of theirs, and their serious desires to grow in grace, is a sure and infallible evidence of the truth of grace in them; yea it is a sure argument that they love ⟨p. 186⟩grace as it is grace, that they love grace for grace sake, which none can do but such as have grace. 'Tis a sure sign that he was never truly good, that desireth not to be better (ille non est bonus qui non vult esse melior) yea, he has very great cause to fear, that his heart is naught, very naught, if not stark naught, that desireth not to be as good as the best, to be as gracious as he that is most gracious, and to be as holy as he that is most holy. Well Sirs, this will be found an everlasting truth, viz. That no man can sincerely desire, and habitually endeavour after the highest pitches of grace, but he that hath true grace.
Eleventhly, No man can always desire grace, but he that §11has true grace, constant desires after grace, argues the reality of grace;1 constant desires after grace, speaks out a state of grace, Psal. 119.20. My soul breaketh for the longeth that it hath unto thy judgments at all times. Pliny speaks of a golden vine which never withereth. All gracious desires are such golden desires as never wither: Take a Christian when you will, and where you will, and among whom you will, and in what condition you will, and still you shall find his heart full of gracious desires.