A29687:654
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.
When one desired to know what kind of man Basil was, there was presented to him in a dream, saith the History, a Pillar of fire with this motto (Talis est Basilius) Basil is such a one, he is all on a light fire for God; persecutions will but set a Christian all on a light fire for God. Look as Well-water is warmest in the winter time, so real Christians are warmest for God, his glory, truth, and ways, in the winter of affliction and persecution: true grace rises by opposition & ⟨p. 405⟩persecution; many a man had not been so good if the times had not been so bad; many a man had not been so gracious, if the times had not been so dangerous; many a man had not been so holy, if the times had not been so profane; many a man had not been so zealous, if the times had not been so lukewarm; many a man had not been so stout and resolute against bowing the knee to Baal, if multitudes had not been worshippers of Baal. 1All the afflictions and persecutions that befall the people of God, do but add to their spiritual life, light, and lustre. As Stars shine brightest in the darkest nights, and as Spices smell sweetest when pounded, and as Vines are the better for bleeding, and Gold the brighter for scouring, and Palm-trees the better for pressing; so the graces of the Saints shine brightest, and smell sweetest, and rise highest in times of affliction and persecution. The Naturalists have long since observed, that though the South wind be more pleasant, yet the North wind is more healthful; for the South wind with his warmth raiseth vapours, which breed putrefaction, and cause diseases; but the North wind with his cold drieth up those vapours, purging the blood, and quickening the spirits: so the North wind of affliction and persecution, contributes most to the drying up of sinful vapours, and to the quickening up of a Christians Graces. Though the wind may blow, and the rain in stormy weather may beat upon a painted Post or Sign, whose colour is laid in oil, yet the wind and rain is so far from blowing or washing off the colour or beauty that is upon the Post or Sign, that it rather adds to their beauty, and makes them shine more beautiful then before; so the rain of affliction and the wind of persecution, do rather add to the beauty and lustre of a Christians graces, then any way cloud them, or take off the spiritual beauty and glory of them. But,