A44342:1773
The application of redemption
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
The Application of Redemption, by the effectual work of the Word an… › Book 10: The Tenth Book.
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.
Or if the Lord intends to manifest himself to the soul §2of a sinner with some ravishing sweetness, with enlarged and amazed communications of the assurance of his Love, Joys unspeakable and glorious: It's ordinary with the Lord to abase the heart exceedingly under the dreadful apprehensions of it's own vileness, that it may be the more fitted to receive such special comforts, not to surfeit with them by security and pride: Great Revelations have great Humiliations go before them; the Ebb is very low before the Tide come with greatest strength and height; otherwise the soul would never be able to bear such over-bearing expressions of Gods Love, and communications of himself, but would certainly abuse them. If the Keel of the Boat were little and narrow, a large Sail would over-turn it, not convey it to the Haven. Great Assurances and glorious Joys, are too great a Sail for a heart that is not widened with enlarged contritions1 and humiliations. God would make Job a pattern of Patience, to all posterities, therefore he exerciseth2 him with all extremities in all kind of sharp and piercing sorrows, and heavy desertions.3
Or if the Lord intends to manifest himself to the soul §2of a sinner with some ravishing sweetness, with enlarged and amazed communications of the assurance of his Love, Joyes unspeakable and glorious: It's ordinary with the Lord to abase the heart exceedingly under the dreadful apprehensions of it's own vileness, that it may be the more fitted to receive such special comforts, not to surfet with them by security and pride: Great Revelalations have great Humiliations go before them; the Eb is very low before the Tyde come with greatest strength and height; otherwise the soul would never be able to bear such over-bearing expressions of Gods Love, and communications of himself, but would certainly abuse them. If the Keel of the Boat were little and narrow, a large Sail would over-turn it, not convey it to the Haven. Great Assurances and glorious Joyes, are too great a Sail for a heart that is not widened with enlarged contritions1