A29687:496
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.
5. They are called holy by way of distinction, and in opposition, not only to all humane and profane writings, but also to the writings of the best and choicest men that ever wrote, for they have had their failings, weaknesses and infirmities, and therefore must have their many grains of allowance, but the holy Scripture is most perfect and complete. Now sirs, if ever you would be holy, it stands you upon to make more conscience of reading the holy Scriptures then ever yet you have done; many a man has been made holy by reading the holy Scriptures; and why mayest not thou also be made holy by reading of the same holy word? Certainly all the Angels in heaven, and all the men on earth can't tell to the contrary, but that thou mayest be made holy even by reading of the holy word, the Holy Ghost is a free Agent, and he can as well work holiness in thy heart by reading, as by hearing, and therefore set thy self about this noble and necessary work. Ah friends, the Scriptures are Gods Epistle, they are Gods love-letter to the sons of men, and why then will you not read them? Count Anhalt (that princely preacher) was wont to say that the Scriptures were Christs swaddling bands, the child ⟨p. 319⟩Jesus being to be found almost in every page, in every verse, and in every line; Oh who would not therefore be often in looking upon and in handling of these swaddling bands? O sirs, there are no histories that are comparable to the histories of the Scripture.
5. They are called holy by way of distinction, and in opposition, not onely to all humane and prophane writings, but also to the writings of the best and choicest men that ever wrote, for they have had their failings, weaknesses and infirmities, and therefore must have their many grains of allowance, but the holy Scripture is most perfect and compleat. Now sirs, if ever you would be holy, it stands you upon to make more conscience of reading the holy Scriptures then ever yet you have done; many a man has been made holy by reading the holy Scriptures; and why maist not thou also be made holy by reading of the same holy word? Certainly all the Angels in heaven, and all the men on earth can't tell to the contrary, but that thou mayest be made holy even by reading of the holy word, the Holy Ghost is a free Agent, and he can as well work holiness in thy heart by reading, as by hearing, and therefore set thy self about this noble and necessary work. Ah friends, the Scriptures are Gods Epistle, they are Gods love-letter to the sons of men, and why then will you not read them? Count Anhalt (that princely preacher) was wont to say that the Scriptures were Christs swadling bands, the child