A29686:402
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.
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.2 O, that I had grace! O, that I had much grace! &c. Balaam in a fit, in a good mood, desires to die the death of the righteous, but his desires were fleeting and flashy, they were transient, not permanent. Some poor sinners,3 when they are in a good mood, or under some distress of conscience, or under some grievous trials, or when they see the hand-writing upon the wall; and when death, which is the King of terrors, and the terror of Kings knocks at their doors; O! then they cry out, O, that we had grace! O, what shall we do for grace! O, send to such a Minister, and to such a Christian, whom we have hated, scorned, reproached and opposed, and desire them to be earnest with God,4 that he would give us grace, for now we see, that without grace there is no escaping of hell, nor no coming to heaven. But all these desires of theirs are but like the morning cloud, or the early dew that quickly passeth away: But now if you look upon the weak Christian, as you shall commonly find a tear in his eye, a sigh in his breast, and a complaint in ⟨p. 187⟩his mouth; so you shall always find desires in his heart after grace, O, that I had grace! O, that I had much grace! O, that I did but excel in grace! O, that I had as much grace as such a Christian! O that I had a greater exercise of grace!