A29687:771
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.
Secondly, The prayers that have been put up upon this very account, do clearly evidence the same. Certainly the people §2of God would never have prayed for higher degrees of grace and holiness, if they had not been attainable. Now 'tis very observable that the spirits of the Saints have run out much this way, as is evident in these instances, Phil. 1.9, 10, 11. And ⟨image 252⟩this I pray, 1that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge, and in all judgement. That ye may approve things that are excellent, that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ: Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. Col. 1.9. For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Chap. 4.12. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. The Greek word ([Greek or Hebrew]) is a Metaphor from a Ship, whose Sails are filled with wind; Epaphras was an humble petitioner that the souls of the Colossians might be filled with the highest degrees of grace and holiness, as the Sails of a Ship are filled with wind, 1 Thes. 3.12. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one towards another, and towards all men, even as we do towards you: The Apostle by doubling his word increase and abound, discovers himself to be an importunate suitor, that a double portion of grace and holiness might be given out to the Thessalonians. So in that Heb. 13.20, 21. Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the Sheep, through the blood of the everlasting Covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. The Apostle can't beg any thing for these believing Hebrews below perfection. And the Apostle Peter puts up the same requests for those blessed converts that were scattered throughout Pontius, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, In that