A32723:3253
Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God
Several discourses upon the existence and attributes of God by that late eminent minister in Christ, Mr. Stephen Charnocke ...
London: printed for D. Newman, 1682
A DISCOURSE UPON GODS Dominion. › The USE.A DISCOURSE UPON GODS Dominion. › The ƲSE.
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.
4. It would make us watchful, and arm us against all temptations. Had Eve stuck to her first Argument against the Serpent, she had not been instrumental to that destruction, which Mankind yet feel the smart of. Gen. 3.3. God hath said, ye shall not eat of it; The great Governor of the World hath laid his Sovereign command upon us in this point. The temptation gained no ground, till her heart let go the sense of this for the pleasure of her eye and palate. The repetition of this, the great Lord of the World hath said, or ordered, had both unargumented and disarmed the Tempter. A sense of God's Dominion over us would discourage a temptation, and put it out of countenance; It would bring us with a vigorous strength to beat it back to a retreat; If this were as strongly urged as the temptation, it would make the heart of the tempted strong, and the motion of the tempter feeble.
4. It would make us watchfull, and arm us against all temptations. Had Eve stuck to her first Argument against the Serpent, she had not been instrumental to that destruction, which Mankind yet feel the smart of. Gen. 3.3. God hath said, ye shall not eat of it; The great Governour of the World hath laid his Soveraign command upon us in this point. The temptation gain'd no ground, till her heart let go the sense of this for the pleasure of her eye and palate. The repetition of this, the great Lord of the World hath said, or order'd, had both unargumented and disarm'd the Tempter. A sence of God's Dominion over us would discourage a temptation, and put it out of countenance; It would bring us with a vigorous strength to beat it back to a retreat; If this were as strongly urg'd as the temptation, it would make the heart of the tempted strong, and the motion of the tempter feeble.
5. It would make us entertain afflictions, as they ought to be entertained, viz. with a respect to God. When men make light of any affliction from God, 'tis a contempt of his Sovereignty, as to contemn the frown, displeasure and check of a Prince, is an affront to Majesty: 'Tis, as if they did not care a straw what God did with them, but dare him to do his worst. There is a despising the chastening of the Almighty.