A44342:554
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.
Taken from John, 14. 17. Christ says he would1 send them another Comforter, even the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive: Every man while he is in his corrupt and natural condition, he is one of the World, Eph. 2. 2. When in times passed ye walked according to the course of this world: ⟨p. 161⟩vers. 3. Among whom also we had our Conversations in times past, in the lusts of the flesh; How otherwise could they be called […] of the World, unless they were in it.
Taken from John, 14. 17. Christ saies he would1 send them another Comforter, even the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive: Every man while he is in his corrupt and natural condition, he is one of the World, Eph. 2. 2. When in times passed ye walked according to the course of this world: ⟨p. 161⟩vers. 3. Among whom also we had our Conversations in times past, in the lusts of the flesh; How otherwise could they be called 〈…〉 of the World, unless they were in it.
They who cannot receive the Spirit, cannot receive the Lord Jesus, nor union to him; but men Naturally cannot receive the Spirit, therefore they must be called out of the World, and from the Power of Satan, and so be prepared, and then receive Faith, that so they may receive […].
They who cannot receive the Spirit, cannot receive the Lord Jesus, nor union to him; but men Naturally cannot receive the Spirit, therefore they must be called out of the World, and from the Power of Satan, and so be prepared, and then receive Faith, that so they may receive 〈…〉.
But Conversion being a Creating Work; a Work1 of Creation needs […] preparation to […], or for it, […] his Word is […]; he calls men his people who are not his people, and by calling them so, he makes them to be so.
But Conversion being a Creating Work; a Work1 of Creation needs 〈…〉 preparation to 〈…〉, or for it, 〈…〉 his Word is 〈…〉; he calls men his people who are not his people, and by calling them so, he makes them to be so.
Preparation is required to the implantation of the1 […] into Christ: not […] regard of God or his work upon us, as though he needed any help to the execution of his holy will; but in regard of the thing wrought in us; for he working all things according to the 2counsel of his own will, and the rules of his Infinite Wisdom, he needs not any help, in his work: yet it is […] his perfection and sufficiency to go against the wise Order set down in the Dispensation of his Providence for the bringing about of this work; the causes of a thing do not help God in Working or Creating, they are necessarily required to make up the thing wrought or created: there is nothing in a blind eye […] may help God to restore it to sight, yet God according to reason must put a power and ability of sight or a […] faculty, before he will, nay indeed can, bring forth seeing: God can turn Water into Wine, but in reason he must destroy the Nature of Water, and then make Wine: for it implies a contradiction to say that Water should remain Water, and yet have Wine made out of it: So it is in the soul, he ⟨p. 162⟩can change a proud and unbelieving heart into a […] heart: but he must first destroy the power of unbelief […] […] can bring in faith.
Preparation is required to the implantation of the1 〈…〉 into Christ: not 〈…〉 regard of God or his work upon us, as though he needed any help to the execution of his holy wil; but in regard of the thing wrought in us; for he working all things according to the 2counsel of his own will, and the rules of his Infinite Wisdom, he needs not any help, in his work: yet it is 〈…〉 his perfection and sufficiency to go against the wise Order set down in the Dispensation of his Providence for the bringing about of this work; the causes of a thing do not help God in Working or Creating, they are necessarily required to make up the thing wrought or created: there is nothing in a blind eye may help God to restore it to sight, yet God according to reason must put a power and ability of sight or a faculty, before he will, nay indeed can, bring forth seeing: God can turn Water into Wine, but in reason he must destroy the Nature of Water, and then make Wine: for it implies a contradiction to say that Water should remain Water, and yet have Wine made out of it: So it is in the soul, he
He that is under the power of infidelity and corrupt1 Nature, he is under the guilt of his sins, and in the state of condemnation, John 3. 18. He that believes not is condemned already, and vers. 36. The wrath of God abides upon him: But he that is in Christ, to him there is no condemnation, Rom. 8. 1. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, Matth. 3. last; and for his sake with all that are in him: Now to be in the state of condemnation, and acceptation together; in the state of Life and death; to have the wrath of God abiding, and the good pleasure of God resting upon a party at the […] time, […] a perfect contradiction, and so impossibilities in reason.
He that is under the power of infidelity and corrupt1 Nature, he is under the guilt of his sins, and in the state of condemnation, John 3. 18. He that beleeves not is condemned already, and vers. 36. The wrath of God abides upon him: But he that is in Christ, to him there is no condemnation, Rom. 8. 1. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, Matth. 3. last; and for his sake with all that are in him: Now to be in the state of condemnation, and acceptation together; in the state of Life and death; to have the wrath of God abiding, and the good pleasure of God resting upon a party at the 〈…〉 time, 〈…〉 a perfect contradiction, and so impossibilities in reason.
Where there is nothing but opposition and resistance1 between two, there can be no union; for all union implies […] and agreement, there must be a mutual accord […] things on both hands, before they can be made one: Amos, 3. 3. Can two walk together except they be agreed? love tends to unity and […] the cause of it, and that ever presupposeth some I keneis.
Where there is nothing but opposition and resistance1 between two, there can be no union; for all union implies 〈…〉 and agreement, there must be a mutual accord 〈…〉 things on both hands, before they can be made one: Amos, 3. 3. Can two walk together except they be agreed? love tends to unity and 〈…〉 the cause of it, and that ever presupposeth some I keneis.
But […] man remaining in the state of Unbelief and Corruption is wholly opposite to Christ, and the work of his Spirit: he is wholly Flesh, John, 3. 6. And the flesh lusts against the spirit, and these are […]: Gal. 4. 17. the wisdom of the flesh is […] against God, it is not subject, nor can be subject to the Law: so far from closing with the work of the Spirit, as it is not able to bear it. The Scribes and […] rejected the counsel against themselves: i. e. to their own […], Acts, 7. 51. Ye stifnecked and […] hearted, ye have ever resisted the Spirit of the ⟨p. 163⟩Lord. Paul did no more than every Natural man would do; Being mad (says he) I persecuted that way: The way of Christ, and so Christ himself.
But 〈…〉 man remaining in the state of Unbeleef and Corruption is wholly opposite to Christ, and the work of his Spirit: he is wholly Flesh, John, 3. 6. And the flesh lusts against the spirit, and these are 〈…〉: Gal. 4. 17. the wisdom of the flesh is 〈…〉 against God, it is not subject, nor can be subject to the Law: so far from closing with the work of the Spirit, as it is not able to bear it. The Scribes and 〈…〉 rejected the counsel against themselues: i. e. to their own 〈…〉, Acts, 7. 51. Ye stifnecked and 〈…〉 hearted, ye have ever resisted the Spirit of the ⟨p. 163⟩Lord. Paul did no more than every Natural man would do; Being mad (saies he) I persecuted that way: The way of Christ, and so Christ himself.
In a word: It's said of all, and it's true of all, the best of the Saints, take them in their Naturals, ye were darkness, Eph. 5. 10. darkness cannot but oppose light. He that is acted wholly by the power of Infidelity, he must resist the work of Faith, and so the receiving of Christ by it.
There are but Two Covenants that ever God made1 with man touching his everlasting Estate; The Covenant of Works, or of the Law; the Covenant of the Gospel, and so of Grace; and these two Covenants are so opposite that the one […], the other, If it be of Works, it is no more of Grace, else Works were not Works; If it be of Grace, it is no more of […], else Grace were no more Grace, Rom. 11. 6. Hence they are severed as far as blessing and cursing, Gal. 3. 9, 10. So then, they which be of Faith, are blessed with faithful Abraham, For as many as are of the Works of the Law are under the Curse. Now all men by Nature are Members and Heirs of the first Adam, and therefore under his Covenant, and under his Curse, Rom. 7. 5. 8. Whilst we were in the […], the motions of sins which were by the Law did work in our Members to bring forth fruit unto death: Those who are in Christ are under the Covenant of Grace and Life, for he that hath the Son, hath Life: Hence I […],
There are but Two Covenants that ever God made1 with man touching his everlasting Estate; The Covenant of Works, or of the Law; the Covenan of the Gospel, and so of Grace; and these two Covenants are so opposite that the one 〈…〉, the other, If it be of Works, it is no more of Grace, else Works were not Works; If it be of Grace, it is no more of 〈…〉, else Grace were no more Grace, Rom. 11. 6. Hence they are severed as far as blessing and cursing, Gal. 3. 9, 10. So then, they which be of Faith, are blessed with faithful Abraham, For as many as are of the Works of the Law are under the Curse. Now all men by Nature are Members and Heirs of the first Adam, and therefore under his Covenant, and under his Curse, Rom. 7. 5. 8
To be under two contrary Covenants, of Law, and Grace, is impossible, because so a man should be accursed and blessed at once.
But he that is in his corrupt Condition, and state of Infidelity, he is under the Covenant of Works; he that is in Christ, under the Covenant of Grace.
Hence followeth a Fifth Reason.
Who ever is under Grace, over them sin shall not1 have Dominion, Rom. 6. 14. Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under the Law, but under Grace: […] they who are in their natural condition, and in the state of Unbelief, they are under the power and dominion of […]; therefore they are not under Grace, nor yet in Christ.
Who ever is under Grace, over them sin shall not1 have Dominion, Rom. 6. 14. Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under the Law, but under Grace: 〈…〉 they who are in their natural condition, and in the state of Unbeleef, they are under the power and dominion of 〈…〉; therefore they are not under Grace, nor yet in Christ.
