A30579:522
Gospel-conversation
Gospel-conversation: wherein is showed, I. How the conversation of believers must be above what could be by the light of nature. II. Beyond those that lived under the law. III. And suitable to what truths the Gospel holds forth. By Jeremiah Burroughs, preacher of the Gospel to Stepney and Cripplegate, London. Being the third book published by Thomas Goodwin, William Greenhil, Sydrach Simpson, Philip Nigh, William Bridge, John Yates, William Adderly.Gospel-conversation: wherein is shewed, I. How the conversation of believers must be above what could be by the light of nature. II. Beyond those that lived under the law. III. And suitable to what truths the Gospel holds forth. By Jeremiah Burroughs, preacher of the Gospel to Stepney and Criplegate, London. Being the third book published by Thomas Goodwyn, William Greenhil, Sydrach Simpson, Philip Nye, William Bridge, John Yates, William Adderly.
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1650
GOSPEL Conversation. › THE MISERY OF THOSE MEN THAT HAVE THEIR PORTION IN THIS LIFE.
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.
Eighthly. God fetches a great deal of Glory from hence, He fetches about His own ends very much, from the portion ⟨p. 309⟩that wicked men have; as sometimes He doth it, that they might stumble and harden their hearts, and break their necks at it, and to ripen their sins; hence He lets them go on a long time, and have their wills; in Isa. 33. 1. Woe to thee who spoilest, and wert not spoiled, and dealest treacherously, and wert not dealt treacherously withal; when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; I'll let thee go on, thou shalt spoil as much as thou wilt, and when thou hast done spoiling, thou shalt be spoiled. And sometimes God doth it, to fetch about this end, Namely, to chastise. His own people, with the prosperity of the wicked: And as an Ancient writer hath this Story of one that (he saith) by an extraordinary way, from being a Monk was advanced into an Episcopal Seat, and being a lewd wicked man, he began to be proud of this his Advancement, and being proud, he heard these words in the story, Ab angelo audivit, Cur superbus ô infaelix, non es creatus Episcopus, quia tu dignus, sed quia Civitas haec digna fuit tali Episcopi; it was a wicked place, and this was the answer: Why art thou so proud Oh unhappy man, for thou art not advanced because thou art worthy of this advancement, but because this City is so ill; it is worthy of such a Prelate to be over it: In way of judgment to that place God advanced such a man: And so many are advanced that they may be heavy judgments unto others; God gives them such a portion, not out of His love to them (though they are ready to gather the Argument) but out of His displeasure unto others: And then He gives a plentiful portion to many, to teach us all to do good unto our enemies, not only humanitati (as they say) but homini, not only to human nature, but to men, to men that are wicked, some good must be done unto them.
Eighthly. God fetches a great deal of Glory from hence, He fetches about His own ends very much, from the portion ⟨p. 309⟩that wicked men have; as sometimes He doth it, that they might stumble and harden their hearts, and break their necks at it, and to ripen their sins; hence He lets them go on a long time, and have their wills; in