A39682:187
A Saint Indeed
A saint indeed: or The great work of a Christian, opened and pressed; from Prov. 4. 23 Being a seasonable and proper expedient for the recovery of the much decayed power of godliness, among the professors of these times. By John Flavell M. of the Gospel.
London: printed by W.R., 1668
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.
2. Consid. If God leave you not in this necessitous condition without a promise, you have no reason to repine or despond under it.
That is a sad condition indeed, to which no promise belongs. I remember Mr. Calvin upon those words, Isa. 9. 1. Nevertheless, the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, &c. Salves the doubt, in what sense the darkness of the Captivity was not so great, as the lesser incursions made by Tiglath Pileser. In the Captivity the City was destroyed and the Temple burnt with fire; there was no comparison in the affliction; but yet the darkness should not be such, and the reason (saith he) is this, huic certam promissionem esse additam, cum in prioribus nulla esset, (•. e.) there was a certain promise made to this, but none to the other.
That is a sad condition indeed, to which no promise belongs. I remember Mr. Calvin upon those words, Isa. 9. 1. Nevertheless, the dimnesse shall not be such as was in her vexation, &c. Salves the doubt, in what sense the darkness of the Captivity was not so great, as the lesser incursions made by Tiglath Pileser. In the Captivity the City was destroyed and the Temple burnt with fire; there was no comparison in the affliction; but yet the darkness should not be such, and the reason (saith he) is this, huic certam promissionem esse additam, cum in prioribus nulla esset, (•. e.) there was a certain promise made to this, but none to the other.
'Tis better be as low as Hell with a Promise, than in Paradise without one. Even the darkness of Hell it self would be comparatively no darkness at all,