A35578:65
The excellent woman a sermon preached at the funeral of Mrs. Elizabeth Scott ... on the 16 of Decemb. 1658 / by Tho. Case ...
London: printed for Robert Gibs, 1659
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.
There was not the least good in any of the Churches, though intermixed with much ⟨p. 17⟩•in, and corruption, but it is taken notice of, and recorded in the Register of Gods remembrance, & is mentioned to their honour & praise; only there was proud conceited Laodicea that had nothing but an high opinion of her self,1 and she stands with a brand upon her forehead, instead of a Crown upon her head; Luke-warm.
There was not the least good in any of the Churches, though intermixt with much ⟨p. 17⟩•in, and corruption, but it is taken notice of, and recorded in the Register of Gods remembrance, & is mentioned to their honour & praise; only there was proud conceited Laodicea that had nothing but an high oopinion of her self,1 and she stands with a brand upon her forehead, instead of a Crown upon her head; Luke-warm.
In wicked Jeroboam's family, there was but one poor child, that had some good in him, and that but very little, yet that is taken notice of, and an asterism set upon it; In him was found some good thing toward the Lord God of Israel. Therefore, 1&c.
In wicked Jeroboams family, there was but one poore childe, that had some good in him, and that but very little, yet that is taken notice of, and an asterism set upon it; In him was found some good thing toward the Lord God of Israel. Therefore, 1&c.
Here the Daughters that had done virtuously are upon Record, though they came ⟨p. 18⟩not up to the character of t• excellent woman,
Here the Daughters that had done vertuously are upon Record, though they came ⟨p. 18⟩not up to the character of t• excellent woman,
As all that helped to r• pair the wall of Jerusalem had not a like share in t• work, yet all their name are upon the file, their labo•• of love is registered and r• ported to succeeding generations.
As all that helped to r• paire the wall of Jerusale• had not a like share in t• work, yet all their nam• are upon the file, their labo•• of love is registred and r• ported to succeeding genrations.
The Ground or Reason• this Observation is this,1 s• Because true grace though never so small, is thea wo•• of God; yea, theb Image, God; ac beam of the Divi• Nature: and God will n• despise the work of his o•• hands: God will own eve• one that is called by his Na•• why? for I have created hi• for my glory, I have form• him, yea I have made him.
The Ground or Reason• this Observation is this,1 s• Because true grace thoug• never so small, is thea wo•• of God; yea, theb Image, God; ac beam of the Divi• Nature: and God will n• despise the work of his o•• hands: God will own eve• one that is called by his Na•• why? for I have created hi• for my glory, I have form• him, yea I have made him.
God knows how to distil guish1 ⟨p. 19⟩between the Gold and the dross; between a want of grace, and a want in grace: between sincerity and corruption in his people; between a child and a bastard: And he will not throw the heap of corn into the fire, because there is much chaff in it; he will not reprobate the gold because there is dross mixed with it:2 nor disinherit the child because a weak child: froward Ephraim, because a child, God will heal him, and lead him, and restore comforts to him, and to his mourners.
God knows how to disti• guish1 ⟨p. 19⟩between the Gold and the dross; between a want of grace, and a want in grace: between sincerity and cor•uption in his p•ople; between a childe and a bastard: And he will not throw the heap of corn into the fire, because there is much chaff in it; he will not reprobate the gold because there is dross mixt with it:2 nor disinherit the childe because a weake childe: froward Ephraim, because a childe, God will heal him, and lead him, and restore comforts to him, and to his mourners.
It may serve,
1. To encourage weak Christians, say not in thy heart I have no grace, because ⟨p. 20⟩thou findest much corruption God doth not say so. T•• heavenly Father can discov•• a spark of grace in a sea […] corruption, Christians mu•• learn to distinguish betwe•• the having of corruption• and the allowing of corru• tion, between a little grace and being contented with […] little grace.
1. To encourage weake Christians, say not in thy heart I have no grace, because ⟨p. 20⟩thou findest much corruptio• God doth not say so. T•• heavenly Father can discov•• a spark of grace in a sea 〈…〉 corruption, Christians mu•• learn to distinguish betwe•• the having of corruption• and the allowing of corru• tion, between a little grac• and being contented with 〈…〉 little grace.
2. It may serve to Cauti•• us against despising of o• weaker brethren. He is n•• of the spirit and disposition of our heavily Father, th• can despise one of Chris• little ones, a little faith, an• a little strength; some goo• thing towards the Lord, Go• takes notice of, and Go• owns; so should we; if […] will be the Children of ou• heavenly Father. Him that […] ⟨p. 21⟩week in faith receive, only •ot to doubtful disputations; 1•e should own the weakest Christians, to encourage and •elp their graces, but not […] perplex them with unprovable disputes.
2. It may serve to Cauti•• us against despising of o• weaker brethren. He is n•• of the spirit and dispositio• of our heavely Father, th• can despise one of Chris• little ones, a little faith, an• a little strength; some goo• thing towards the Lord, Go• takes notice of, and Go• owns; so should we; if 〈…〉 will be the Children of ou• heavenly Father. Him that 〈…〉 ⟨p. 21⟩weeke in faith receive, onely •ot to doubtfull disputations; 1•e should own the weakest •hristians, to encourage and •elp their graces, but not 〈…〉 perplex them with unpro•able disputes.
3. It may serve as an Encouragement to all to be •od; to labour to get grace, •ho would not serve such a •od, as will own the least •ood that is in his children? ••at knows how to pardon •reat sins, and to accept of […] little grace where there is ••cerity? Bring into God •hat thou hast, thy mite •hall be accepted, if it be all •hou hast.1 A pair of Turtle ••ves will be accepted on •ods Altar, as well as cost•er Sacrifices; where the sa•rificers ability will extend ⟨p. 22⟩no higher. But cursed […] the deceiver which hath in h• Flock a Male, 2and sacrifice• to the Lord a corrupt thin• A man is accepted with Go• according to what he hath. 3[…] according to what he hath no• Only let not this make y•• idle, to be content with a litt•• grace, because God will acce•• a little: argueth no grace […] all: know thus much I b• seech you, that though Go• will own the weak Christian yet he delights in the exce• lent; which brings me upon the third and main Doctri•• which I intend to handle.
3. It may serve as an En•ouragement to all to be •od; to labour to get grace, •ho would not serve such a •od, as will own the least •ood that is in his children? ••at knows how to pardon •reat sins, and to accept of 〈…〉 little grace where there is ••cerity? Bring into God •hat thou hast, thy mite •hall be accepted, if it be all •hou hast.1 A paire of Turtle ••ves will be accepted on •ods Altar, as well as cost•er Sacrifices; where the sa•rificers ability will extend ⟨p. 22⟩no higher. But cursed 〈…〉 the deceiver which hath in h• Flock a Male, 2and sacrifice• to the Lord a co rupt thin• A man is accepted with Go• according to what he hath. 3〈…〉 according to what he hath no• Onely let not this make y•• idle, to be content with a litt•• grace, because God will acce•• a little: argueth no grace 〈…〉 all: know thus much I b• seech you, that though Go• will own the weak Christia yet he delights in the exce lent; which brings me upo the third and main Doctri which I intend to handle.
