A29686:637
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.
CHAP. V.
Now in this fifth and last Chapter, I shall lay down some Propositions and Directions, that so you may see what a sober use and improvement Christians ought to make of their evidences for Heaven; and how in the use of gracious evidences they ought to live above their gracious evidences, and how to exalt and lift up Christ above all their graces, evidences and performances.
First Proposition. 'Tis the wisdom, and ought to be the work of every Christian to own the least measure of grace that is in him,1 though it be mixed and mingled with many weaknesses and infirmities: Sin is Satan's work, and grace is Christ's work; and therefore Christ's work ought to be eyed and owned, though it be mingled with much of Satan's work. That Christian is much clouded and benighted, who hath two eyes to behold his sins, but never an eye to see his graces. Christ gets no glory, nor the soul gets no good, when a Christian is still a poring upon his sins. How can that Christian prize a little grace, and bless God for a little grace, and improve a little grace, who won't own a little grace because it is mingled with many weaknesses? Shall the Husbandman own a little wheat when mingled with a great deal of chaff?2 shall the Goldsmith own a little filings of gold when mingled with a great deal of dust? and shall not a Christian own a little grace when mingled with a great many failings? David had a great many infirmities, yet he owns his uprightness, Psal. 18.23. I was upright before ⟨p. 333⟩