A29686:650
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.
Fifthly, The generality of Christians are but Lambs, §5Babes and Children in grace,1 the springs of grace runs low in them, their fears frequently over-top their faith, and their strong passions and corruptions do often raise such a dust and smoke in their souls, that […] they might have all the world, yea if their salvation lay upon it, they were not able to discern the least measure of grace in their own souls. A little grace is next to none, small things are hardly discerned; he ⟨p. 340⟩had need to have a clear light and good eyes, that is to discern a hair, a mote, or an atom. A little grace is not discoverable but by a shining light from above. There are none so full of fears, and doubts, and questions, and disputes, about the truth of their faith in Christ, and the sincerity of their love to Christ, as those that least believe and least love. The Kingdom of God in most Christians,2 is but as a grain of mustard-seed, which is the least of all seeds; and therefore▪ 'tis no wonder they see it not. The root of the matter in most Christians is but small, and that small root is often covered over with many sinful infirmities and weaknesses, and therefore we are not to look upon it as a strange thing, if we see such Christians not sensible of the root of the matter that is in them. Weak habits put forth such faint actions (and with so much interruption) that it is not an easy thing to discern whether they are the products of special or of common grace. Now most Christians having but small measures of grace, holiness and sanctification in them; and these small measures being much obscured and buried under the prevalency of fears, doubts and unmortified lusts, can speak but weakly and darkly for them; & upon this ground they are not fond of bringing in this witness of sanctification to speak for them. In civil Courts men are not ambitious to bring such witnesses to the Bar, as can witness but weakly & faintly in their case. Tis so here.
Fifthly, The generality of Christians are but Lambs, §5