A36315:158
Captives bound in chains made free
Captives bound in chains made free by Christ their surety, or, The misery of graceless sinners and their recovery by Christ their saviour by T. Doolittle.
London: printed by A.H. for Tho. Parkhurst, 1674
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.
1. If this were enough to prove your Redemption and Salvation, because Christ died for Sinners, and you acknowledge your selves to be such, then the damned souls in Hell might have hope of being delivered and saved; for they know that Christ died for Sinners, and they are now sensible that they are Sinners and miserable; the pains they feel do convince them that they are sinners I know (as I have already said) that there is a difference betwixt the state of Devils and damned Souls, and of sinners upon earth, Christ is preached to the one, and not to the other, freedom from bondage is possible to one but not to the other, mercy doth entreat, and the Spirit doth strive, and patience doth wait upon the one, but not upon the other; mercy and patience hath done with them for ever; no more asking them, what? will you have Christ now? and will you be pardoned now? which yet through mercy is not your condition; but yet as to the ground of your plea for Redemption and Salvation by Christ, (before ⟨p. 87⟩alleged) [Christ died for sinners and you are sinners] what is the difference? all men upon earth, and the damned in hell, that ever heard of Christ might say as much; and is it not matter of great astonishment to sober serious men, to see poor sinners bound so fast in a captive-state with this vain confidence of being set free by Christ, and yet can say no more than damned Souls might say, [That they are sinners, and Christ died for sinners.]
1. If this were enough to prove your Redemption and Salvation, because Christ died for Sinners, and you acknowledg your selves to be such, then the damned souls in Hell might have hope of being delivered and saved; for they know that Christ died for Sinners, and they are now sensible that they are Sinners and miserable; the pains they feel do convince them that they are sinners I know (as I have already said) that there is a difference betwixt the state of Devils and damned Souls, and of sinners upon earth, Christ is preached to the one, and not to the other, freedom from bondage is possible to one but not to the other, mercy doth entreat, and the Spirit doth strive, and patience doth wait upon the one, but not upon the other; mercy and patience hath done with them for ever; no more asking them, what? will you have Christ now? and will you be pardoned now? which yet through mercy is not your condition; but yet as to the ground of your plea for Redemption and Salvation by Christ, (before ⟨p. 87⟩