A29687:326
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.
Answ. First, Such a man as makes the glory of God his aim, his end, he will do duty when all outward encouragements to duty fail; when the eye of men, the favour of men,1 the respects of men, and all other encouragements from men fails, yet then a holy man will hold up, and hold on in his work and way, yea, when all outward encouragements from God shall fail, yet such a person will keep close to his duty, Hab. 3.17, 18. Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the Olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat, the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herds in the stalls▪ Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. When all necessary and delightful mercies fail, yet he will not fail in his duty: though God withholds his blessings, yet he will not withhold his service: in the want of a livelihood he will be lively in his duty; when he hath nothing to subsist by, yet then he will live upon his God. Though war and want come, yet he will not be wanting in his duty. There are three things in a holy heart that strongly incline it to duty when all outward encouragements fail: The first is a forcible principle, divine love: The second is a mighty aid, the Spirit of God: The third is a high aim,2 the ⟨p. 160⟩glory of God: but now it is otherwise with those that have only a show of godliness: let but their outward encouragements fail them: let but the eye, the ear, the applause of the creature fail them: if they cannot make some gain of their godliness, some profit of their profession, some advantage of their religion, they are ready with Demas, to throw up, and throw off all. Profit and applause are usually the baits that these men bite at;3 and if they miss these baits, then farewell profession, farewell religion, farewell all. But now look as Ruth kept close to her mother in the want of all outward encouragements,