A44342:137
The application of redemption by the effectual work of the word, and spirit of Christ, for the bringing home of lost sinners to God ... by that faithful and known servant of Christ, Mr. Thomas Hooker ...
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1656
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.
Instruction. We may here see, how great and […] 1a work it is, to obtain the least Spiritual Good that appertains to the everlasting welfare of our souls, were it but the guilt of the least sin that should be removed, were it but the power of the least […] that should be brought under, one smile of Gods countenance, and one blessed look of his face and favour toward a poor wretch, were it but a saving and a heavenly thought of a mans mind, the least spiritual motion or stir of our hearts in any sincere affection to the Lord: It is not all the Policy or Parts of men that can procure it, not all the power of created Nature in heaven or earth that can accomplish it, not all the […] of Pearls, mines of Gold and Silver in the […] […] […] that can purchase this; no, if it were […] from a vain Conversation, from a Tradition, from a Delusion, you must be redeemed from it by the […] blood of Christ: So the text. God will not […] any good of the Covenant of Grace, but he […] ⟨p. 9⟩well paid for it, and it comes at such a rate that all […] and all Creatures are not able to reach the […], Psal. 49. 8. The Redemption of the Soul is […], it ceaseth for ever: Men and Angels must […] it alone, only the Lord Jesus the God of glory in […] all the treasures of Grace are hid, he is able to […] the purchase, and it hath cost him sweetly […] full dear, no less than his very heart blood.
Instruction. We may here see, how great and 〈…〉 1a work it is, to obtain the least Spiritual Good that appertains to the everlasting welfare of our souls, were it but the giult of the least sin that should be removed, were it but the power of the least 〈…〉 that should be brought under, one smile of Gods countenance, and one blessed look of his face and favor toward a poor wtetch, were it but a saving and a heavenly thought of a mans mind, the least spiritual motion or stir of our hearts in any sincere affection to the Lord: It is not all the Policy or Parts of men that can procure it, not all the power of created Nature in heaven or earth that can accomplish it, not all the 〈…〉 of Pearls, mynes of Gold and Silver in the 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 that can purchase this; no, if it were 〈…〉 from a vain Conversation, from a Tradition, from a Delusion, you must be redeemed from it by the 〈…〉 blood of Christ: So the text. God wil not 〈…〉 any good of the Covenant of Grace, but he 〈…〉 ⟨p. 9⟩well paid for it, and it comes at such a rate that all 〈…〉 and all Creatures are not able to reach the 〈…〉, Psal. 49. 8. The Redemption of the Soul is 〈…〉, it ceaseth for ever: Men and Angels must 〈…〉 it alone, only the Lord Jesus the God of glory in 〈…〉 all the treasures of Grace are hid, he is able to 〈…〉 the purchase, and it hath cost him sweetly 〈…〉 full dear, no less than his very heart blood.
Reproof. It checks a double Practice.1
First of those that have interest in this purchase and §1[…] want the Exercise, of that heavenly skill, or care, […] confidence, or all, to improve it for their best […].
First of those that have interest in this purchase and §1〈…〉 want the Exercise, of that heavenly skill, or care, 〈…〉 confidence, or all, to improve it for their best 〈…〉.
They sit down appalled and […] with the […] […] their sins so […], so loathsome, with the […] of Gods holiness, and […] […] […] as that they dare not believe it, dare […] think it, that either the pardon of their sins, […] […] their persons, […] the least look of Gods love […] be vouchsafed to them. Another while they sit […] discouraged under the pressure and pursuit of […] […] and policy, the violence and strength of […] own corruptions, their sins live and are mighty, […] therefore they conclude they can never overcome: They stagger again in the assurance of Gods love, and […] they dare not say but they would be Christs, and […] his Death and […] shed is theirs, they will not […] away that. Why? Have you laid down the purchase? Take possession then into your hand: Have you tendered the payment? Take the Commodity, […] is your own; nay, your due. Say, Lord, I and all […] I have, and all I can do are worthless and vile, I am […] base sinful creature, that need all spiritual good and comfort, and yet deserve nothing but the contrary; But here is the precious Blood of thy Son which thou […] […] upon me, it is a full purchase every way ⟨p. 10⟩answerable to thy justice, this precious blood is […] of precious Faith, precious Peace, […] Grace, its pardoning, purging, pacifying blood; […] beseech thee therefore, though I be a sinful […] Creature, through the blood of Jesus pity me; though polluted and loathsome through the […] of the blood of Jesus cleanse me. So the […], Let us draw near with a true heart, in full […] of Faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an […] Conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water, Heb. 10. 22. Eye the worth of this Blood above all our unworthiness; the Holiness of this above all the unholiness of our hearts and lives. He that knows […] what the purchase will come, and hath the sum in sight and under his hand, he can lay it down upon the […], pay it, take it, here is one there's the other.
They sit down appaled and 〈…〉 with the 〈…〉 their sins so , so loathsom, with the of Gods holiness, and as that they dare not beleeve it, dare think it, that either the pardon of their sins, their persons, the least look of Gods love be vouchsafed to them. Another while they sit discouraged under the pressure and pursuit of and policy, the violence and strength of own corruptions, their sins live and are mighty, therefore they conclude they can never overcome: They stagger again in the assurance of Gods love, and they dare not say but they would be Christs, and his Death and shed is theirs, they will not away that. Why? Have you laid down the purchase? Take possession then into your hand: Have you tendered the payment? Take the Commodity, is your own; nay, your due. Say, Lord, I and all I have, and all I can do are worthless and vile, I am base sinful creature, that need all spiritual good and comfort, and yet deserve nothing but the contrary; But here is the precious Blood of thy Son which thou upon me, it is a full purchase every way
So Paul, Rom. 8. 34. Who shall lay any thing […] the charge of Gods elect? it is Christ that […] died: Here's the Blood of Jesus which thou art well pleased with, hast accepted of, therefore Lord give me my due, that comfort, that peace, that wisdom, that assurance, which I stand in need of. So again, Gall. 6. 14. […] be it from me that I should rejoice in any thing […] in the Cross of Christ: He rejoiced in nothing but this, therefore far be it from him, that he should […] rejoice in this.
So Paul, Rom. 8. 34. Who shall lay any thing 〈…〉 the charge of Gods elect? it is Christ that 〈…〉 died: Here's the Blood of Jesus which thou art well pleased with, hast accepted of, therefore Lord give me my due, that comfort, that peace, that wisdom, that assurance, which I stand in need of. So again, Gall. 6. 14. 〈…〉 be it from me that I should rejoyce in any thing 〈…〉 in the Cross of Christ: He rejoyced in nothing but this, therefore far be it from him, that he should 〈…〉 rejoyce in this.
It crusheth the confidence, and dasheth the […] §2and delusions of presumptuous wretches, who out of a brazen-faced kind of boldness, will be scrambling for their own comfort, catching at grace, and mercy, and peace, when it belongs not to them: True, say they, our sins, persons, conditions, are such and so vile, but the Lord is gracious and merciful, and therefore they doubt not but to be accepted and saved, and conclude that peace and happiness is theirs; they take the good, but tender no purchase; lay hold upon their comfort, ⟨p. 11⟩[…] never lay down the payment; A way that God […] appointed, a course that justice never permits, […], mercy it self will not allow; There's no precious […] without precious blood, No Redemption from […] blood and filth in which we lie by reason of our […] evils (when I saw thee in thy blood, I said, […]) but only by the blood of Jesus. So the Apostle […]. 9. 22. The Book, the People, the Tabernacle, […] Vessels, the Ministry, all things by the Law was […] with blood, and without shedding of blood […] no remission, No entering into the Holy of […] but by the blood of Jesus: Mercy it self through […] virtue of the blood of Christ is communicated, […] it self through the virtue of the blood of Christ […]; unless therefore thou canst bring the […], the payment, the blood of Jesus with thee, […] dream to receive any good at the hands of the […].
It crusheth the confidence, and dasheth the 〈…〉 §2and delusions of presumptuous wretches, who out of a brazen-faced kind of boldness, will be scrambling for their own comfort, catching at grace, and mercy, and peace, when it belongs not to them: True, say they, our sins, persons, conditions, are such and so vile, but the Lord is gracious and merciful, and therefore they doubt not but to be accepted and saved, and conclude that peace and happiness is theirs; they take the good, but tender no purchase; lay hold upon their comfort, ⟨p. 11⟩〈…〉 never lay down the payment; A way that God 〈…〉 appointed, a course that justice never permits, 〈…〉, mercy it self will not allow; There's no precious without precious blood, No Redemption from blood and filth in which we lie by reason of our evils (when I saw thee in thy blood, I said, ) but only by the blood of Jesus. So the Apostle . 9. 22. The Book, the People, the Tabernacle, Vessels, the Ministery, all things by the Law was with blood, and without shedding of blood no remission, No entring into the Holy of but by the blood of Jesus: Mercy it self through vertue of the blood of Christ is communicated, it self through the vertue of the blood of Christ ; unless therefore thou canst bring the , the payment, the blood of Jesus with thee, dream to receive any good at the hands of the .
This is the Third Particular to be considered in §3[…] the former point, viz. The Parties for whom […] Purchase is made: The Doctrine tells us, Christ […] purchased all Spiritual Good FOR HIS: […] we are to attend.
This is the Third Particular to be considered in §3〈…〉 the former point, viz. The Parties for whom 〈…〉 Purchase is made: The Doctrine tels us, Christ 〈…〉 purchased all Spiritual Good FOR HIS: 〈…〉 we are to attend.
1 What is that Formalis ratio, that special respect […] which they come to be considered as having part in Christs merits. 2 The meaning of that Particle, what it imports, to purchase FOR HIS.
1 What is that Formalis ratio, that special respect 〈…〉 which they come to be considered as having part in Christs merits. 2 The meaning of that Particle, what it imports, to purchase FOR HIS.
To the First […] Answer plainly, That this Purchase §1[…] obtained, this precious blood of Christ was shed […] Sinners, BUT NOT AS SINNERS. Its true, Rom. 5. 6. That Christ died […] the ungodly: That is, When they are such, and […] they are such (vers. 8. While we were yet Sinners ⟨p. 12⟩Christ died for us) but not […] such, That is […] the special respect unto which the death of Christ […] appropriated in a peculiar and proper manner. […] an old rule, A […] ad omne, That which agreed firstly to a thing under such a respect; agrees to all […] have that respect, and therefore if our Saviour should die for sinners as sinners, then he should die for all sinners, and therefore for all men, because all are […] When our Saviour professed. Matth. 9. 13. He […] not to call the righteous, but sinners to […], i. e. there is none righteous; all men being sinners, […] such sinners as are secure and carnally confident […] their own righteousness, Christ came not to call them; Though then this respect is not to be excluded, […] there is something more to be added, 1 Tim. 1. 15. Christ came to save sinners, of whom I am […] (says Paul:) Such sinners as are, or shall be […] sensible of their sins in a right manner, being lost […] point of pardon, and grace and peace, such sinners Christ came to save.
To the First 〈…〉 Answer plainly, That this Purchase §1〈…〉 obtained, this precious blood of Christ was shed 〈…〉 Sinners, BUT NOT AS SINNERS. Its true, Rom. 5. 6. That Christ died 〈…〉 the ungodly: That is, When they are such, and 〈…〉 they are such (vers. 8. While we were yet Sinners ⟨p. 12⟩
Besides, However Christ died for none but the Elect, and none but they shall receive any benefit […] Christ, yet I take it, Election is not that special respect that Christ looked at in his death and sufferings, it is not low enough, it lies not level to that […] which Christ and his have one towards another.
Besides, However Christ died for none but the Elect, and none but they shall receive any benefit 〈…〉 Christ, yet I take it, Election is not that special respect that Christ looked at in his death and sufferings, it is not low enough, it lies not level to that 〈…〉 which Christ and his have one towards another.
But Christ died for a sinner who is of the seed of the Covenant, and shall beleeve, qua peccator […], and therefore I do not exclude the respect of sin, […] require that with an Addition, Cum peccator sed […] crediturus, as may appear in this expression. As Adam being a common person and root of all mankind, and in their room, he sinned for himself and all his, that is, all those that were to proceed of him by natural generation, so that if there were any […] should not have been begotten of him, as they […] ⟨p. 13⟩not of his nature, no more should they be […] or his fault: So it is with the second Adam, […] a common root suffered and obeyed for all his, […] is, all those that should come of him and be […] by spiritual generation, so that if there were any […] did not partake of his spirit in effectual Vocation […] Faith, neither should they have benefit by his […], so that if the Lord should in his Election […] and create thousands of men […] in holiness, […] so save them by a Covenant of works in yielding […] obedience, they should never be partakers of […] death and obedience of Christ, or have the virtue […] applied to them though Elect.
But Christ died for a sinner who is of the seed of the Covenant, and shall beleeve, qua peccator 〈…〉, and therefore I do not exclude the respect of sin, 〈…〉 require that with an Addition, Cum peccator sed 〈…〉 crediturus, as may appear in this expression. As Adam being a common person and root of all mankind, and in their room, he sinned for himself and all his, that is, all those that were to proceed of him by natural generation, so that if there were any 〈…〉 should not have been begotten of him, as they 〈…〉 ⟨p. 13⟩not of his nature, no more should they be 〈…〉 or his fault: So it is with the second Adam, 〈…〉 a common root suffered and obeyed for all his, 〈…〉 is, all those that should come of him and be 〈…〉 by spiritual generation, so that if there were any did not partake of his spirit in effectual Vocation Faith, neither should they have benefit by his , so that if the Lord should in his Election and create thousands of men in holiness, so save them by a Covenant of works in yielding obedience, they should never be partakers of death and obedience of Christ, or have the vertue applied to them though Elect.
A sinner then under the Covenant of Grace, the […] of the Covenant for whom he undertakes to make him self-denying and believing, and so one of the posterity of Christ, for him Christ dies, and this I choose […] than that consideration of Elect as Elect, for these Reasons.
A sinner then under the Covenant of Grace, the 〈…〉 of the Covenant for whom he undertakes to make him selfdenying and beleeving, and so one of the posterity of Christ, for him Christ dies, and this I chuse 〈…〉 than that consideration of Elect as Elect, for these Reasons.
1. Because the merits and mediation of our Saviour §1seem to challenge (in Scripture) some special respect in the party to himself and put a new kind of relation and consideration upon him. Now, to be Elect, is before or without any such respect: God Electing of his, out of his mere good will and pleasure, not looking to our sin or Saviour, Eph. 5. 23. Christ is the Saviour of his Body, vers. 25. Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it, that is the called & believing; and this is the reason Paul and the rest of the Saints […] themselves into the company of Believers; He gave himself […] us, Tit. 2. 14. John, 17. 20. I pray not for the world, but for those that shall believe on me. 2. In what relation Christ looks at his as the Head §2of the Covenant, in the same he looks at his in the work of Redemption and purchase, for that he performs ⟨p. 14⟩as head. But as he is head of the Covenant, […] looks at his as Members called by him, and to be […] ted to him: Therefore in that relation he laid […] his life and blood for them. 3. By this means we may perceive a more easy passage §3for the execution of Gods Judgments and […] and a fitter way to stop the mouths of many, […] would fain load the truth with many absurdities: […]
1. Because the merits and mediation of our Savior §1seem to challenge (in Scripture) some special respect in the party to himself and put a new kind of relation and consideration upon him. Now, to be Elect, is before or without any such respect: God Electing of his, out of his meer good will and pleasure, not looking to our sin or Savior, Eph. 5. 23. Christ is the Savior of his Body, vers. 25. Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it, that is the called & beleeving; and this is the reason Paul and the rest of the Saints themselves into the company of Beleevers; He gave himself us,
Hence men are made justly faulty and guilty […] their own death in not believing nor relying upon Mediator thus graciously offered in the second […] nant, through their own corruption and hardness […] heart neglecting their Saviour: Though it be as impossible to believe as to fulfil the Law, yet because […] comes through their own original sin, whereby […] refuse belief in the one as obedience to the other, they are punished for both.
Hence men are made justly faulty and guilty 〈…〉 their own death in not beleeving nor relying upon Mediator thus graciously offered in the second 〈…〉 nant, through their own corruption and hardness 〈…〉 heart neglecting their Savior: Though it be as impossible to beleeve as to fulfil the Law, yet because 〈…〉 comes through their own original sin, whereby 〈…〉 refuse beleef in the one as obedience to the other, they are punished for both.
Hence also that cavil is crossed whereby they […] load our Doctrine of special Redemption with […]; In vain it is (say they) to persuade a Reprobate to believe, for if he could attain it, he is […] come within the compass of a person rightly qualified for Redemption, for he is not elected: Now Election is the Lords work only, and not mans, no not in innocency, and therefore in vain to labour for it, when […] was and is impossible to attain it. Whereas this gloss is hence plainly confuted; For if Christ died for all that shall believe in him, whosoever shall or will believe in him, shall not spend his labour in vain: If he say, he cannot believe: Answ. The fault is his own, let him but lie under the stroke of the […] […] resistance, and he shall receive it.
Hence also that cavil is crossed whereby they 〈…〉 load our Doctrine of special Redemption with 〈…〉; In vain it is (say they) to perswade a Reprobate to beleeve, for if he could attain it, he is 〈…〉 come within the compass of a person rightly qualified for Redemption, for he is not elected: Now Election is the Lords work only, and not mans, no not in innocency, and therefore in vain to labor for it, when 〈…〉 was and is impossible to attain it. Whereas this gloss is hence plainly confuted; For if Christ died for al that shal beleeve in him, whosoever shall or will beleeve in him, shall not spend his labor in vain: If he say, he cannot beleeve: Answ. The fault is his own, let him but lie under the stroke of the 〈…〉 〈…〉 resistance, and he shall receive it.
