A29709:283
A word in season to this present generation, or, A sober and serious discourse…
A word in season to this present generation, or, A sober and serious discourse about the favourable, signal and eminent presence of the Lord with his people in their greatest troubles, deepest distresses, and most deadly dangers : with the resolution of several questions, concerning the divine presence, as also the reasons and improvements of this great and glorious truth ... / by Thomas Brooks ...A word in season to this present generation, or, A sober and serious discourse about the favorable, signal and eminent presence of the Lord with his people in their greatest troubles, deepest distresses, and most deadly dangers : with the resolution of several questions, concerning the divine presence, as also the reasons and improvements of this great and glorious truth ... / by Thomas Brooks ...
London: printed for Dorman Newman, 1675
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.
Thirdly, The more holy any person is, the more like to God he is; and the more like to God he is, doubtless 1the more he is beloved of God; it is likeness both in nature and grace that always draws the strongest love: Though every Child is the Father multiplied, the father of a second Edition; yet the Father loves him best, and delights in him most, who is most like him, and who in feature, spirit, and action does most resemble him to the life; and so does the Father of Spirits also, he always loves them best who in holiness resemble him 2most. There are four remarkable things in the beloved Disciple, above all the rest: 1. That he lay nearest to 3Christ's bosom at the Table. 2. That he followed Christ closest to the high Priests Palace. 3. That he stood close to Christ when he was on the Cross, though others had basely deserted him, and turned their backs upon him. 4. That Christ commended the care of his ⟨p. 208⟩Virgin Mother to him. Now, why did Christs desire, love, and delight run out with a stronger and a fuller tide towards John, than to the rest of the Disciples? doubtless it was because John did more resemble Christ than the rest, it was because John was a more exact picture, and lively representation than the others were. Now the more any man in holiness is like to Christ, the more any man in holiness resembles Christ; the more that man shall enjoy of the presence of Christ, the more that man shall lay in the bosom of Christ. The Father loves to be most with that Child that is like him most: So here, As ever you would enjoy the presence of God in your greatest troubles, deepest distresses, and most deadly dangers, be sure that you keep up holiness in your hearts and lives, be sure that you grow in holiness, and flourish in holiness, and then you shall be sure of the presence of God with you, in all your troubles, and deep distresses: A holy God will never leave the holy Christian; and thus much for this use of Exhortation.
Thirdly, The more holy any person is, the more like to God he is; and the more like to God he is, doubtless