A29687:300
The crown & glory of Christianity, or, Holiness, the only way to happiness discovered…The crovvn & glory of Christianity, or, Holiness, the only way to happiness discovered…
The crown & glory of Christianity, or, Holiness, the only way to happiness discovered in LVIII sermons from Heb. 12. 14, where you have the necessity, excellency, rarity, beauty and glory of holiness set forth, with the resolution of many weighty questions and cases, also motives and means to perfect holiness : with many other things of very high and great importance to all the sons and daughters of men, that had rather be blessed then cursed, saved then damned / by Thomas Brooks ...The crovvn & glory of Christianity, or, Holiness, the only way to happiness discovered in LVIII sermons from Heb. 12. 14, where you have the necessity, excellency, rarity, beauty and glory of holiness set forth, with the resolution of many weighty questions and cases, also motives and means to perfect holiness : with many other things of very high and great importance to all the sons and daughters of men, that had rather be blessed then cursed, saved then damned / by Thomas Brooks ...
London: printed for H. Crips, 1662
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 so holy Paul could not with dry eyes make mention of those belly-gods, and earth-worms that were in his time, Phil. 3.18. So holy ⟨p. 141⟩Lot was much affected and afflicted with seeing and hearing of the wickedness of those among whom he lived, 2 Peter 2.7, 8. The Greek word for vexed, in verse 7. ([Greek or Hebrew]) signifies to be oppressed under the wanton and wicked conversation of the ungodly Sodomites, as a man that is oppressed under a heavy burden which he labours under, and would fain be delivered from; Or to be oppressed as the Israelites were under their cruel Egyptian Taskmasters. Ah, the sins, the wickedness of others sets hard upon the hearts of the Saints. The Israelites did not more labour, and sigh, and groan under all their loads and oppressions, then many holy hearts do labour, and sigh, and groan under the load of wicked mens sins. And the Greek word for vexed, in ver. 8.1 ([Greek or Hebrew]) signifies to be tortured, tormented and wracked. Oh their wickedness did torment and wrack his righteous soul, he could not see, nor hear of their wickedness, but his soul was as upon a wrack. Pambus in Ecclesiastical History wept when he saw an Harlot take so much pains to deck and dress her self in curious and costly apparel, and all to entertain a wanton lover, and so to make work for hell. Oh it cannot but grieve a gracious soul to see what pains poor sinners take to go to hell! A holy heart looks upon other mens sins as great dishonours done to his Father, his King; And therefore he cannot but cry out with Croesus his Son (who though he was born dumb, yet seeing some going about to kill his Father, his tongue-strings unloosed, and he cried out) O kill not King Croesus, kill not my Father. Oh kill not my God, and my King! Oh kill not, Oh dishonour not my dear Father, and Saviour, saith a holy heart. Such is the love, and high respects that holy hearts bear to their heavenly Father, that they cannot but grieve, and mourn, and cry out when they see others to act Treason against the Crown and dignity of heaven. Elijah had rather dye then to see Ahab and Jezebel to cast contempt and dishonour upon his God.