A30241:2669
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, or, Christs prayer before his passion explicated, and both practically and polemically improved by Anthony Burgess ...
London: printed by Abraham Miller for Thomas Underhill, 1656
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
6. When a man is thus driven out of all hopes, and like the people of Israel seeing his Enemy of sin following behind, and a Sea before, then the Spirit of God stirreth up desires and hungrings after Christ, then are his out-cries; Oh that I could believe, Oh that I had an Arm to embrace Christ! For we see Judas coming thus far to bewail and confess his sins, to throw away that silver he had so unjustly got, to cry out of himself; But then there were no desires, no groans after Christ, so that while the Soul is in this posture, many times it's ground between hope and despair; It is in great agonies, like the woman that is to be delivered, sometimes throbs come, and there is an hope of deliverance, but then all goeth back again, sometimes they are ready to lay hold on Christ, then comes a violent gust and puts all back again: It's true, desires of faith if real and sincere are faith initial, and Mat. 5. there is a promise of full satisfaction to those that hunger and thirst after Righteousness, and that is implied when our Saviour saith, a bruised reed he will not break, and smoking flax he will not quench, that is, where there are the least motions and tendencies of souls towards grace, there shall be the greatest encouragement.
6. When a man is thus driven out of all hopes, and like the people of Israel seeing his Enemy of sinne following behinde, and a Sea before, then the Spirit of God stirreth up desires and hungrings after Christ, then are his out-cries; Oh that I could believe, Oh that I had an Arm to embrace Christ! For we see Judas coming thus far to bewail and confess his sins, to throw away that silver he had so unjustly got, to cry out of himself; But then there were no desires, no groans after Christ, so that while the Soul is in this posture, many times it's ground between hope and despair; It is in great agonies, like the woman that is to be delivered, sometimes throbs come, and there is an hope of deliverance, but then all goeth back again, sometimes they are ready to lay hold on Christ, then comes a violent gust and puts all back again: It's true, desires of faith if reall and sincere are faith initiall, and Mat. 5. there is a promise of full satisfaction to those that hunger and thirst after Righteousnesse, and that is implied when our Saviour saith, a bruised reed he will not break, and smoaking flax he will not quench, that is, where there are the least motions and tendencies of souls towards grace, there shall be the greatest encouragement.