A29687:732
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.
Lycurgus (as Musculus observes) among all his Laws made none against the ungrateful, because ingratitude was thought a thing so prodigious as not to be committed by man. And the Persians and Athenians condemned the ungrateful to death; Ah unthankful Christians, how can you think of these Heathens and not blush? Shall they bless God for crumbs, and will not you bless God for crowns? shall they bless God for the gifts of nature, and will not you bless God for the gifts of grace, ⟨p. 460⟩&c? Next to a holy Christ, holiness is the greatest gift that God can give, and therefore be thankful for it, &c. But,
Lycurgus (as Musculus observes) among all his Lawes made none against the ungrateful, because ingratitude was thought a thing so prodigious as not to be committed by man. And the Persians and Athenians condemned the ungra•eful to death; Ah unthankful Christians, how can you think of these Heathens and not blush? Shall they bless God for crums, and will not you bless God for crownes? shall they bless God for the gifts of nature, and will not you bless God for the gifts of grace, ⟨p. 460⟩&c? Next to a holy Christ, holiness is the greatest gift that God can give, and therefore be thankful for it, &c. But,
Thirdly, Evidence and declare your holiness by the reality of your constant pursuit after holiness, by your holding up and holding on in a way of holiness,1 by your perseverance in holiness; this exhortation, Follow peace with all men, and holiness, was given forth to such as had a spirit of holiness, and principles of holiness in them; and these are the men that the holy Apostle presses to press after holiness. That holiness will do us no good, that is not made good by perseverance. O Sirs, shall the ambitious person pursue after his honours, and the voluptuous person after his pleasures, and the worldling pursue after his gain, and the wanton pursue after his Harlots, and the drunkard pursue after his full Cups, &c. And shall not Christians much more pursue after holiness? not to go forward, is to go backward,