A44342:525
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
Title page: Internet Archive scan of the Early English Books microfilm
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.
This Preparative Work imports not so much any gracious habit or spiritual quality which is put into the soul, as a principle by which it is enabled to act that which concerns its everlasting welfare: but its rather an act of the spirit of Christ, whereby it doth fling down those strong holds, dispossess the power of Satan, and quit the soul from those overpowering and prevailing claims which Satan and Sin […] over it, as to exercise their tyranny and authority upon it; The soul sues out a divorce; now that is to weaken, and wholly to remove the claim of marriage, and authority which the party challenged thereby to act upon the party and overrule her, and yet […] divorce is neither marriage nor matrimonial love, but making room for the right and possession of the spirit by faith; as Hos. 3. 3. Thou shalt not before another, so I will be for thee. Acts' 26 18. To turn men from darkness, and from the power of Satan. It's a cutting off of the branch that it grow not upon its old root, and receive not sap and influence therefrom. For in the Fall of Man, there was a double work of Sin, First a turning of the soul from God; Then Secondly a settling of the soul upon the root of Adams rebellion, by a delivery of it up into the hand and power of perverted mutability, whence comes a daily ⟨p. 152⟩influence, and intercourse of the power of sin, and of Satan by sin, acting of it as he will; now this cutting off the soul by preparation, breaks off the continuance, and growing to the root of […]; which being interrupted and intercepted, it cannot act and carry the soul as formerly.
This Preparative Work imports not so much any gracious habit or spiritual quality which is put into the soul, as a principle by which it is enabled to act that which concerns its everlasting welfare: but its rather an act of the spirit of Christ, whereby it doth fling down those strong holds, dispossess the power of Satan, and quit the soul from those overpowering and prevailing claims which Satan and Sin 〈…〉 over it, as to exercise their tyranny and authority upon it; The soul sues out a divorce; now that is to weaken, and wholly to remove the claim of marriage, and authority which the party challenged thereby to act upon the party and overrule her, and yet 〈…〉 divorce is neither marriage nor matrimonial love, but making room for the right and possession of the spirit by faith; as Hos. 3. 3. Thou shalt not befor another, so I will be for thee. Acts' 26 18. To turn men from darkness, and from the power of Satan. It's a cutting off of the branch that it grow not upon its old root, and receive not sap and influence therefrom. For in the Fall of Man, there was a double work of Sin, First a turning of the soul from God; Then Secondly a settling of the soul upon the root of Adams rebellion, by a delivery of it up into the hand and power of perverted mutability, whence comes a daily ⟨p. 152⟩influence, and entercourse of the power of sin, and of Satan by sin, acting of it as he will; now this cutting off the soul by preparation, breaks off the continuance, and growing to the root of 〈…〉; which being interrupted and intercepted, it cannot act and carry the soul as formerly.
When this Preparation is fully wrought, Faith is §3certainly, and will undoubtedly be infused, and cannot be hindered, when (I say) it is complete and come to its full period in ultimata disposition: for there is a legal preparation which may befall Reprobates, it is a plashing of the soul not a total cutting off the soul from sin, which makes corruption couch more close, but will never kill it, nor is appointed by God for this end, to make way for the form of Faith, but for other ends, (as shall appear in the use of the point.)
When this Preparation is fully wrought, Faith is §3certainly, and wil undoubtedly be infused, and cannot be hindered, when (I say) it is compleat and come to its full period in ultimata dispositione: for there is a legal preparation which may befall Reprobates, it is a plashing of the soul not a total cutting off the soul from sin, which makes corruption couch more close, but will never kill it, nor is appointed by God for this end, to make way for the form of Faith, but for other ends, (as shall appear in the use of the point.)
But there is also an Evangelical Preparation, wherein the Lord intends to fit the soul fully for faith, and its implanting by faith into Christ: and this end he doth never, he can never miss; For there is no Efficient that spends his time & labour in preparing the matter but he will bring in the form, unless either he wanted wisdom in beginning that which he should not perfect, or wanted power in making a preparation for that, he could never bring to perfection, but neither of these can befall the Lord. Mal. 3. 1. When the soul is prepared, then the Lord presently comes into it.
But there is also an Evangelical Preparation, wherin the Lord intends to fit the soul fully for faith, and its implanting by faith into Christ: and this end he doth never, he can never miss; For there is no Efficient that spends his time & labor in preparing the matter but he will bring in the form, unless either he wanted wisdom in beginning that which he should not perfect, or wanted power in making a preparation for that, he could never bring to perfection, but neither of these can befall the Lord. Mal. 3. 1. When the soul is prepared, then the Lord presently comes into it.
Hence that Cavil is crushed, as being a […] 1merely coined to cast a blemish upon this truth, say they who deny this Work, imagine a man in this Preparative Work should die, whither should he go? to Heaven he cannot, […] he hath not life not having Christ; to Hell he cannot, because he hath a […] Work wrought upon him.
Hence that Cavill is crushed, as being a 〈…〉 1meerly coyned to cast a blemish upon this truth, say they who deny this Work, imagin a man in this Preparative Work should die, whither should he go? to Heaven he cannot, 〈…〉 he hath not life not having Christ; to Hell he cannot, because he hath a 〈…〉 Work wrought upon him.
The Answer is, he is in a state of Salvation Preparatively,1 and shall certainly possess it, because he cannot but have faith and be united to Christ, and so saved by him, The like may be said of such as are Justified, what if they should die before they be Sanctified, no impure thing shall see Gods face, the Answer here and there will be alike.
This Preparation makes the sinner give way to §4Christ in all, of himself, and that in all things there is not a corner in the heart, not an affection, no back door, no […] or cunning conveyance in the soul, to be kept from Christ: But it sets open the Door and delivers up the Keys into the hands of Christ. Either all, or none at all; not cut, but cut off; the soul is not only changed from her lusts, but divorced fully. In Jer. 3. 10. It is said they turned not to the Lord with all their hearts but feignedly, there is some secret lust reserved in the heart that is the bane of all Hypocrites, but this Preparative Work fetcheth off the heart from all secret distempers, there is none reserved, but the soul is willing that the Lord Christ should take away every thing that hinders; A reservation of any lust will not stand with Preparation; a sad Preparation fetcheth off the whole soul.
This Preparation makes the sinner give way to §4Christ in all, of himself, and that in al things there is not a corner in the heart, not an affection, no back door, no 〈…〉 or cunning conveyance in the soul, to be kept from Christ: But it sets open the Door and delivers up the Keys into the hands of Christ. Either all, or none at all; not cut, but cut off; the soul is not only changed from her lusts, but divorced fully. In Jer. 3. 10. It is said they turned not to the Lord with all their hearts but fainedly, there is some secret lust reserved in the heart that is the bane of all Hypocrites, but this Preparative Work fetcheth off the heart from al secret distempers, there is none reserved, but the soul is willing that the Lord Christ should take away every thing that hinders; A reservation of any lust will not stand with Preparation; a sad Preparation fetcheth off the whol soul.
First let the Testimony of the Scriptures be heard which will evince it; and Secondly the force of Argument which will conclude it undeniable.
The Scriptures are pregnant which speak to this point, I shall insist mainly upon three.
John, 5. 44. When our Saviour had in the foregoing verses discovered the unteachable stiffness of the ⟨p. 154⟩hard hearted and rebellious Jews, that though they had the Preaching of John the Baptist who was a shining and a burning light to point out our Saviour to them; they saw the works of our Saviour daily before their eyes that might convince them; yea, […] the Scriptures the Records of the counsels of God, which might show them the way to life in Christ and persuade their hearts to embrace it; yet our Saviour upbraids their rebellion to their faces, Ye will not come to me that you might have life, verse 40. But the question might grow what might be the cause of this incorrigible perverseness of their spirits, for if another came in his own name they would hear him, but though he came in his Fathers name they would not receive him. verse 43. He answers therefore in vers. 44. How can ye believe which receive honour one of another, but seek not the honour that comes from God only? Where these Two things are plain.
John, 5. 44. When our Savior had in the foregoing verses discovered the unteachable stifness of the ⟨p. 154⟩hard hearted and rebellious Jews, that though they had the Preaching of John the Baptist who was a shining and a burning light to point out our Savior to them; they saw the works of our Savior daily before their eyes that might convince them; yea, 〈…〉 the Scriptures the Records of the counsels of God, which might shew them the way to life in Christ and perswade their hearts to imbrace it; yet our Savior upbraids their rebellion to their faces, Ye will not come to me that you might have life, verse 40. But the question might grow what might be the cause of this incorrigible perversness of their spirits, for if another came in his own name they would hear him, but though he came in his Fathers name they would not receive him. verse 43. He answers therefore in vers. 44. How can ye beleeve which receive honor one of another, but seek not the honor that comes from God only? Where these Two things are plain.
1 When the poise of corruption and the body of death so far prevails, that we seek our selves, and set up our own persons, in the eyes and hearts of others: when we would study to please men, and to seek applause and approbation from them, and satisfy our selves therein, and so set up our selves in their esteem: our Saviour professeth and that peremptorily, how can ye believe? that is, it is impossible ye should believe, as if he should say, these two are so contrary, as Heaven and Earth one to another, they cannot meet together in one heart; and therefore this is made the first step to Christianity, If any man will be my […] let him deny him self and follow me, Matt. 16. 24. Where there is no denying of a mans self, there can be no following of Christ.
1 When the poyse of corruption and the body of death so far prevails, that we seek our selves, and set up our own persons, in the eyes and hearts of others: when we would study to please men, and to seek applause and approbation from them, and satisfie our selves therein, and so set up our selves in their esteem: our Savior professeth and that peremptorily, how can ye beleeve? that is, it is impossible ye should beleeve, as if he should say, these two are so contrary, as Heaven and Earth one to another, they cannot meet together in one heart; and therefore this is made the first step to Christianity, If any man will be my 〈…〉 let him deny him self and follow me, Matt. 16. 24. Where there is no denying of a mans self, there can be no following of Christ.
That God should give all to me, work all by me, and take all from me, this is to seek the glory that comes ⟨p. 155⟩from God only, this is my honour, when I am willing that God should honour himself upon me and by me.
That God should give al to me, work all by me, and take al from me, this is to seek the glory that comes ⟨p. 155⟩from God only, this is my honor, when I am willing that God should honor himself upon me and by me.
2 If seeking honour from man and faith cannot stand together, then the sovereignty of this sinful distemper must be renounced, as cross to Grace and Christ, before we can receive Faith or Christ by Faith.
2 If seeking honor from man and faith cannot stand together, then the sovereignty of this sinfull distemper must be renounced, as cross to Grace and Christ, before we can receive Faith or Christ by Faith.
The like place you have John, 6. 44. Uttered §2and expressed upon the same ground and occasion, and tending to the same end: When the Pharisees despised the Person and quarrelled with the Word of our Saviour Christ, Is not this Jesus the Son of Joseph whose Father and Mother we know, how is it that he saith I came down from Heaven? vers. 42. That which they saw not, understood not, that they would not entertain; our Saviour shows the reason of this wretched rebellion of heart, No man can come to me unless the Father which hath sent me draw him, unless the Father who hath called our Saviour, and committed the great Work of Salvation to him, and sent him to that purpose, by a holy constraint draw the rebellious […] out of himself to Christ, he will not he cannot come unto him; coming is Believing; drawing is Preparing; when God the Father lets in his heavy displeasure into the soul of a sinner to force him to seek out to Christ for present relief, there is else no way but perishing, this is that that causes him to go out to Christ. It is hence plain.
The like place you have John, 6. 44. Uttered §2and expressed upon the same ground and occasion, and tending to the same end: When the Pharisees despised the Person and quarrelled with the Word of our Savior Christ, Is not this Jesus the Son of Joseph whose Father and Mother we know, how is it that he saith I came down from Heaven? vers. 42. That which they saw not, understood not, that they would not entertain; our Savior shews the reason of this wretched rebellion of heart, No man can come to me unless the Father which hath sent me draw him, unless the Father who hath called our Savior, and committed the great Work of Salvation to him, and sent him to that purpose, by a holy constraint draw the rebellious 〈…〉 out of himself to Christ, he will not he cannot come unto him; comming is Beleeving; drawing is Preparing; when God the Father lets in his heavy displeasure into the soul of a sinner to force him to seek out to Christ for present relief, there is else no way but perrishing, this is that that causes him to go out to Christ. It is hence plain.
1 Unless a man be Drawn there is […] Coming. 2 He that is Drawn will certainly […] Without Preparing there is no Believing, and he that is Prepared, will undoubtedly come and Believe.
1 Unless a man be Drawn there is 〈…〉 Comming. 2 He that is Drawn will certainly 〈…〉 Without Preparing there is no Beleeving, and he that is Prepared, will undoubtedly come and Beleeve.
It's the scope of that […], and the very aim of the §3parable, No man can enter into a strong mans house before he first bind the strong man, and then […] ⟨p. 156⟩possession of the house, 12. Matt. 29. The house is the heart the strong man is Satan, who takes possession thereof, and rules in the soul by means of […], the binding of this strong man, is taking away of the over ruling claim, and challenge, that Satan by […] lays to the soul, and by virtue whereof he acts it and carries it to the commission of evil, […] […] while our Saviour by a superior right of […], by […] precious blood, lays claim to the soul, this soul is mine: he binds Satan's hands, brings to nought and disannuls his claims, and so spoils him of […] that rule and tyranny he exerciseth in the soul.
It's the scope of that 〈…〉, and the very aim of the §3parrable, No man can enter into a strong mans house before he first bind the strong man, and then 〈…〉 ⟨p. 156⟩possession of the house, 12. Matt. 29. The house is the heart the strong man is Satan, who takes possession thereof, and rules in the soul by means of 〈…〉, the binding of this strong man, is taking away of the over ruling claim, and challenge, that Satan by 〈…〉 laies to the soul, and by vertue whereof he acts it and carries it to the commission of evill, 〈…〉 〈…〉 while our Savior by a superior right of 〈…〉, by 〈…〉 precious blood, laies claim to the soul, this soul is mine: he binds Satans hands, brings to nought and disanulls his claims, and so spoyls him of 〈…〉 that rule and tyranny he exerciseth in the soul.
