A44342:740
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.
1 There are but two sorts of men in the World, […] Children of God, and the children of the Devil. 2 These may be known. 3 He that is a hater of the Saints, and a worker of ⟨p. 274⟩iniquity, hath the Brand-mark of a child of the Devil, by which he may be discerned.
1 There are but two sorts of men in the World, 〈…〉 Children of God, and the children of the Devil. 2 These may be known. 3 He that is a hater of the Saints, and a worker of ⟨p. 274⟩iniquity, hath the Brand-mark of a child of the Devil, by which he may be discerned.
It is not then a breach of Charity to judg the tree by the fruits, the […] by the Symptoms, yea; it was folly and little less than madness to do other; As the Word […] I may judg, and so should.
It is not then a breach of Charity to judg the tree by the fruits, the 〈…〉 by the Symptomes, yea; it was folly and little less than madness to do other; As the Word 〈…〉 I may judg, and so should.
But to […] the Lord out of the Throne of Judgment, to sit upon the life and death of mens souls, to set down mens peremptory doom further than the Word warrants, as though we had been admitted into Gods secrets, and seen the Books of Reprobation and Election drawn, this is hellish impiety and presumption; we may boldly say, the tree is not a Vine that brings forth Thorns, nor that a Fig-tree that beareth Thistles; he who hath a naughty life, cannot have a good heart, He who serves 'Mammon, cannot serve God, Mat. 6. 24. He who walks after the lusts of the flesh, must be a stranger from the life of Christ, Rom. 8. 1. hath not yet his Spirit, is in the state of Condemnation, and that if he so continue, he shall perish, but whether he shall be converted and brought home at last by the Almighty Power of the Lord, it rests only in his own bosom, depends alone upon his good pleasure; leave we then the Sentence with the Lord, who will either recover him out of his sin, or most righteously judg him for it.
But to 〈…〉 the Lord out of the Throne of Judgment, to sit upon the life and death of mens souls, to set down mens peremptory doom further than the Word warrants, as though we had been admitted into Gods secrets, and seen the Books of Reprobation and Election drawn, this is hellish impiety and presumption; we may boldly say, the tree is not a Vine that brings forth Thorns, nor that a Fig-tree that beareth Thistles; he who hath a naughty life, cannot have a good heart, He who serves 'Mammon, cannot serve God, Mat. 6. 24. He who walks after the lusts of the flesh, must be a stranger from the life of Christ, Rom. 8. 1. hath not yet his Spirit, is in the state of Condemnation, and that if he so continue, he shall perish, but whether he shall be converted and brought home at last by the Almighty Power of the Lord, it rests only in his own bosom, depends alone upon his good pleasure; leave we then the Sentence with the Lord, who will either recover him out of his sin, or most righteously judg him for it.
Of Consolation. Here's also a Cordial to keep1 up the fainting hearts of decrepit and aged sinners, whose noisome lusts plead prescription of continuance as though they were beyond the Authority of any Law to cast them out: I confess it indeed (Oh that ancient men would consider it) the case is very desperate, and brought to the last cast; Is it not a marvellous strait, that the great work of Everlasting Life lies upon the moment of an hour (as it ⟨p. 275⟩[…]) to follow the words of the Parable, […] considering it is not usual for men then to be […] The little twig such may take hold on, is this, hath been done, and therefore there is hope it may done again, and this hope it is which keeps the […] above water; never too late to forsake our […], the Lord accepts at the Eleventh hour: […] must not then suffer our own fears, or Satan's […] to pluck up our resolutions and […] by the roots, with any false shows of hopeless possibilities. When a decrepit sinner hath tired […] in his ungodly courses, grows weary with […] burden, of an accusing conscience, and […] of an ill led life, and begins to bethink himself, is not in a right way; suddenly the Enemy […] to his view the number and nature of his many […], and withal suggests the way so long, […] the time to return so short; better not set out, […] not to be able to get home. In vain now says […] to begin so great a work of Preparation, when […] have so little opportunity, and so great an […] thereunto. To what purpose is it to strive […] we cannot overcome? to enter upon the […] when in all likely hood we shall be benighted (see […] Sun is but an hour high) and never come to the […] of it?
Of Consolation. Here's also a Cordial to keep1 up the fainting hearts of decrepit and aged sinners, whose noysom lusts plead prescription of continuance as though they were beyond the Authority of any Law to cast them out: I confess it indeed (Oh that ancient men would consider it) the case is very desperate, and brought to the last cast; Is it not a marvelous streight, that the great work of Everlasting Life lies upon the moment of an hour (as it
Oh shake off those sluggish discouragements, sit […] down and perish; there is yet hope in Israel […] this thing; 'tis true, the work is hard, yet God […] done as much for others, and therefore can do much for thee also. Thy time is short, thou hast […] foot in the grave, but the Arm of the Lord is […] shortened that he cannot help; thou hast ancient […], he hath ancient mercies, his loving kindness […] been ever of old. When thou hast neither time […] strength to relieve thy self, the Lord notwithstanding ⟨p. 276⟩at the last hour, and when thou doest least expect it, and hast least deserved it, who knows but yet he may call thee into his Vineyard, listen therefore unto his voice, make hast to answer his call, and leave the success with him.
Oh shake off those sluggish discouragements, sit 〈…〉 down and perish; there is yet hope in Israel 〈…〉 this thing; 'tis true, the work is hard, yet God 〈…〉 done as much for others, and therefore can do much for thee also. Thy time is short, thou hast 〈…〉 foot in the grave, but the Arm of the Lord is 〈…〉 shortened that he cannot help; thou hast ancient 〈…〉, he hath ancient mercies, his loving kindness 〈…〉 been ever of old. When thou hast neither time 〈…〉 strength to relieve thy self, the Lord notwithstanding ⟨p. 276⟩at the last hour, and when thou doest least expect it, and hast least deserved it, who knows but yet he may call thee into his Vineyard, listen therefore unto his voyce, make hast to answer his call, and leave the success with him.
Lastly, If the Lord put forth this work of Preparation1 most ordinarily in our middle age, all those whom more especially it concerns who are yet in the flower of their years, whose Breasts run full of Milk, and their Bones full of Marrow, as Job speaks, they are to be exhorted in the Lord to take the safest and the easiest course for themselves, even the counsel of the wise man, Eccles. 12. 1. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before thy evil days come; the time that God useth to bless most, let us be wary to improve most for our good. A wise Traveller useth to take the day before him, and […] accounts the middle of the day most safe for his passage; the Rule is most true and useful also for us, while we are wildering onward towards the end […] our hopes, rise we early, prevent the morning watch, to make speed to run the ways of Gods Commandments, while the best of our Natural abilities are about us; the middle of our age like the middle […] the day will be most safe for our spiritual Travel and endeavour, considering we carry such a charge about us, even our souls and the care of their Salvation and happiness, lest deferring till our old age and our evening shut in upon us, we be wholly spoiled of both; for Preparation put off until our crazy time is like never to be, or very uncomfortable if […] be attained.
Lastly, If the Lord put forth this work of Preparation1 most ordinarily in our middle age, all those whom more especially it concerns who are yet in the flower of their years, whose Breasts run full of Milk, and their Bones full of Marrow, as Job speaks, they are to be exhorted in the Lord to take the safest and the easiest course for themselves, even the counsel of the wise man, Eccles. 12. 1. Remember now thy Creator in the daies of thy youth, before thy evil daies come; the time that God useth to bless most, let us be wary to improve most for our good. A wise Traveller useth to take the day before him, and 〈…〉 accounts the middle of the day most safe for his passage; the Rule is most true and useful also for us, while we are wildring onward towards the end 〈…〉 our hopes, rise we early, prevent the morning watch, to make speed to run the waies of Gods Cammandements, while the best of our Natural abilities are about us; the middle of our age like the middle the day will be most safe for our spiritual Travel and endeavor, considering we carry such a charge about us, even our souls and the care of their Salvation and happiness, lest deferring till our old age and our evening shut in upon us, we be wholly spoyled of both; for Preparation put off untill our crazy time is like never to be, or very uncomfortable if be attained.
It's not likely we shall ever share in so glorious §1a work, they who are settled so long upon their […] are hardly ever removed, considering the company […] ⟨p. 277⟩common infirmities, troops and multitudes of sicknesses and sorrows, which seize upon old age, and surprise it as […] prey, decay the Senses, enfeeble the Judgment, weaken the Memory, as though all the passages were now stopped, and gates shut whereby Grace should have any entrance. How shall Faith come to him by hearing, whose Ears are become deaf that he cannot hear? How shall he search the Scriptures in which Grace and Life are to be found, who hath not an eye able to see, much less to read them? How shall he be able to fathom the depths and mysteries of Salvation, who is become a child in understanding, not sufficient to conceive of the most common things? Hence it is the Prophet gives such a man for gone, past recovery as it were, Isa. 65. 20. The sinner of an hundred years old shall be accursed; a Curse is the Portion that is carved out unto him, he must look for nothing else, that's his allowance; an old rotten post is only fit to be chipped out for the fire, no ways profitable to be laid in the Building, no not to make pins for it: He that hath seen an hundred years, and yet never came to the sight and relish of the saving work of Grace, farewell he (as we use to speak) I will not say it is impossible for him to avoid the Curse, I must say it is unusual.
It's not likely we shall ever share in so glorious §1a work, they who are setled so long upon their 〈…〉 are hardly ever removed, considering the company 〈…〉 ⟨p. 277⟩common infirmities, troops and multitudes of sicknesses and sorrows, which seize upon old age, and surprize it as 〈…〉 prey, decay the Sences, enfeeble the Judgment, weaken the Memory, as though all the passages were now stopped, and gates shut whereby Grace should have any entrance. How shall Faith come to him by hearing, whose Ears are become deaf that he cannot hear? How shall he search the Scriptures in which Grace and Life are to be found, who hath not an eye able to see, much less to read them? How shall he be able to fatham the depths and mysteries of Salvation, who is become a child in understanding, not sufficient to conceive of the most common things? Hence it is the Prophet gives such a man for gone, past recovery as it were,
For how justly may God deny to entertain him, who would not so many years give way and entertainment to his Word and Spirit? What Captain will entertain a Soldier that is not able to fight? What Master will hire a Servant that is not able to work in his Vineyard? Why should the Lord […] wise, choose such weaklings, aged and decrepit, who shall not be able to strike one stroke for him in the defence of his Truth, or set one foot forward in […] ways of his Statutes? As Achish spake of David ⟨p. 278⟩when he came to the […] and feigned himself mad, 1 Sam. 21. 15. What […] I need of mad men, that you have brought this man to me, shall he enter into my house? So the Lord may say, Have I any need of dead men that you have brought these aged […] ruinous carcasses before me? shall they ever find acceptance or entrance into the Kingdom of Grace or Glory? Hath the Lord such need of Services that he must entertain in the worst? hath he such need of Sacrifices that the […] and […] must serve his turn? Let men judg, Go offer now the […] and the […] unto thy […], will be accept it? Mat. 1. 8. will he not loath thy Person and thy […] and can the great and glorious God take pleasure […] either? Yea, […] others were silent, let thy own Conscience […] […] in this case, when these evil days, these dog […] come, thou thy self shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. Canst thou for […] present that to the Lord which thou thy self […]? Nay, not only thy self, but thy […] may seem to be weary of thy service; thy pleasures have taken their leave, the world and the delights thereof […] gone from thee: thy unclean lusts have forsaken thy […] and languishing members, blasphemy is departed from thy speechless tongue, and shall the Lord have the Devils leavings? When thus thou art become a burden to thy self, a trouble to others, and fit for nothing but to be fuel for the fire of Hell, how […] is it to desire it? how hard to conceive it? that the holy, wise, and blessed God will make choice of thee: and therefore it is to be feared thou […] never […] […].
For how justly may God deny to entertain him, who would not so many years give way and entertainment to his Word and Spirit? What Captain will entertain a Soldier that is not able to fight? What Master will hire a Servant that is not able to work in his Vineyard? Why should the Lord wise, chuse such weaklings, aged and decrepit, who shall not be able to strike one stroke for him in the defence of his Truth, or set one foot forward in waies of his Statutes? As Achish spake of David
But Secondly, I […] thou dost attain. it, it will §2he very uncomfortable; when thou wilt be like […], that could not taste his meat for age; so you will not be able to taste the sweetness of the Promises ⟨p. 279⟩of Grace and Christ little or nothing. A poor old man comes in, and gets as near the Pulpit as he […], and listens, but he says he cannot hear; he asks […] what was said? they tell him, Oh the great and precious Promises of Grace, and Mercy, and Christ: says he, I did not hear them; where are they? and takes his Book, and then takes his […] and looks; […] child (says he) I cannot see: tell him of them presently after, I cannot remember them. And so you will be unfit for any Service to God, as an old Journey-man that is but a […], so you will bungle at Prayer and Conference, and in all the duties of Obedience; and when God hath showed mercy to you, you will wonder, and think, if I had a thousand lives what could I do again for God: but alas, he can do little, but sit down as a senseless spectacle of Gods everlasting compassions, a wonder to himself, and a warning to others not to defer […] till old Age, it being then so uncomfortable, and he so unfit for it: And therefore […] little ones that are growing up to years of understanding, you have the day before you, if you do not take and improve the first of your time, to repent and turn to God in, God will require it of you, believe it he will: you may read in 2 Kings, 2. 23, 24. of a company of wicked children who mocked the Prophet, and the Lord sent two Bears amongst […] that devoured two and forty of them: they might have said, my Father caught me, or I did not know what I did, or I was but young; but none of all this would serve their turn; they had their time to repent in, but they spent that time in sin and wickedness, and the Lord sent Bears among them to devour them; and so he will deal with you that are careless, impenitent, wicked children, believe it he will, God hath thousands of Devils to torment you ⟨p. 280⟩for ever, if you go on and continue in your Natural condition without Jesus Christ.
But Secondly, I 〈…〉 thou dost attain. it, it will
And you young men, your glass is now running, and as yet you have the day before you, My heart in with you all, you that offer your selves willingly: Oh remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days of sickness, and sorrow, and age come upon you. […] only say Three Things to you.
And you yong men, your glass is now running, and as yet you have the day before you, My heart in with you al, you that offer your selves willingly: Oh remember your Creator in the daies of your youth, before the evil daies of sickness, and sorrow, and age come upon you. 〈…〉 only say Three Things to you.
Consider what good you may do now: A young §1[…], and a glorious Christian: Your example may be leading to many that may know you, and […] […] […] you all the days of their lives; and […] you shall be going to Heaven in your old age, […] […] be able to say, Lord, here am I, and the […], […] Children that thou hast given me; you may […] […] means to convert others, and they will bless […] […] in the day of their visitation, 1 Pet. 2. […] […] smell of your gracious speeches, and holy […] will be as Lebanon, that no man […] meets you, but will be the better for you, and […] you are going to Heaven every man will mourn […] […] loss of you; He was a Father to me […] […] and he was a great help to me says another: […] was a means under God to bring my soul to Christ. Thus you will not only do good to your […], but you will do good to others also.
Consider what good you may do now: A yong §1〈…〉, and a glorious Christian: Your example may be leading to many that may know you, and 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 you all the daies of their lives; and 〈…〉 you shall be going to Heaven in your old age, 〈…〉 〈…〉 be able to say, Lord, here am I, and the 〈…〉, 〈…〉 Children that thou hast given me; you may 〈…〉 〈…〉 means to convert others, and they will bless 〈…〉 〈…〉 in the day of their visitation, 1 Pet. 2. 〈…〉 〈…〉 smell of your gracious speeches, and holy 〈…〉 will be as Lebanon, that no man meets you, but will be the better for you, and you are going to Heaven every man wil mourn loss of you; He was a Father to me and he was a great help to me saies another: was a means under God to bring my soul to Christ. Thus you will not only do good to your , but you will do good to others also.
[…] your death you will have more than this §2[…] to, your Peace and Joy will be unspeakable […] […], then you will go to Heaven […] […] Death, and Hell, and Devils and all: you […] […] be Fathers serving God in uprightness, you […] […] your children, I go to my God, and to […] […], and I leave you to a better Father that […] […] well for you, and so he shakes hands […] […] […], says he, we shall meet in Heaven ⟨p. 281⟩again: so Paul 2 Tim. 4. 7, 8. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the Faith, henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which the Lord shall give unto me, he saw it before him, and was able to tell others of it. So David 2 Chron. 28. 9. And thou Solomon my Son, know thou the God of thy Father, and serve him with a perfect heart, and a willing mind, &c. Thus you will be able to give a change and a blessing to your Children, and to speak something suitable to the condition of all that come about you; as a man that hath been a good husband from his youth, he hath been a gatherer, he is able to give to every one about him somewhat; another that hath been a spend thrift can scarce pay his debts, and well if he do so. So here, a man that has been long a gathering of Promises, Commands, Directions, Consolations, when his friends come about him on his death bed, he knows the frame of every man, he knows one man is worldly, another hath good Parts and gifts, but he is proud, another under discouragements; and he will speak something suitable to every mans condition, and his dying words stick by them while they live.
〈…〉 your death you will have more than this §2〈…〉 to, your Peace and Joy will be unspeakable 〈…〉 〈…〉, then you will go to Heaven 〈…〉 〈…〉 Death, and Hell, and Devils and all: you 〈…〉 be Fathers serving God in uprightness, you your children, I go to my God, and to , and I leave you to a better Father that well for you, and so he shakes hands , saies he, we shall meet in Heaven
And this is but the beginning, but what will the §3Crown of Glory be? He that begins betimes, shall have a […], weighty, Excessive, Exceeding Crown of Glory, he shall go loaded as it were to the Kingdom of Heaven, the Sufferings, Obedience, Commands, Promises, Counsels of so many years, all shall be rewarded; other men shall be honoured and crowned but he especially, and when he is going to Heaven every man gives him a lift, when he is sick the Prayers go all the Town over for him; Lord, comfort him (says one) he hath often done it to me; Lord, strengthen him says another, he hath often ⟨p. 282⟩strengthened me: I had almost said that a man shall increase in Glory for the Prayers of Gods Servants here, but that they do not pray for the dead: But this is certain, A man hath counselled and prayed for such an one, he dies and goes to Heaven, it doth not work till afterward, then the Servant or the Child remembers, and they pray and bless God for him, and his Glory is augmented by it; even as the torments of the damned are increased by the fruits of their ill examples after they are dead: So […] as ever you desire to do good to your selves and others, to provide for your own Comfort at Death, and for your Eternal Glory in Heaven, to begin betimes for the carrying on of the Work of the Lord in your own Souls.
And this is but the beginning, but what will the §3Crown of Glory be? He that begins betimes, shall have a 〈…〉, weighty, Excessive, Exceeding Crown of Glory, he shall go loaded as it were to the Kingdom of Heaven, the Sufferings, Obedience, Commands, Promises, Counsels of so many years, all shal be rewarded; other men shall be honored and crowned but he especially, and when he is going to Heaven every man gives him a lift, when he is sick the Prayers go all the Town over for him; Lord, comfort him (saies one) he hath often done it to me; Lord, strengthen him saies another, he hath often ⟨p. 282⟩strengthened me: I had almost said that a man shall encrease in Glory for the Prayers of Gods Servants here, but that they do not pray for the dead: But this is certain, A man hath counselled and prayed for such an one, he dies and goes to Heaven, it doth not work till afterward, then the Servant or the Child remembers, and they pray and bless God for him, and his Glory is augmented by it; even as the torments of the damned are encreased by the fruits of their ill examples after they are dead: So as ever you desire to do good to your selves and others, to provide for your own Comfort at Death, and for your Eternal Glory in Heaven, to begin betimes for the carrying on of the Work of the Lord in your own Souls.
REVEL. 3. 17. Because thou sayest I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing, and knowest not that thou art wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.
REVEL. 3. 17. Because thou sayest I am rich and encreased with goods, and have need of nothing, and knowest not that thou art wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.
THE General Nature of Preparation hath been opened […], and those common Circumstances, that were of special consideration have been […] […], […] […] the freeness of the Work, and the fitness of the Time that the Lord is pleased to take, to bring the […] of his […] […] in that Spiritual good that was provided and stored up for them in the Lord Jesus. We are now to enquire about the Main and Substantial Parts of this so great a Work.
THE General Nature of Preparation hath been opened 〈…〉, and those common Circumstances, that were of special consideration have been 〈…〉 〈…〉, 〈…〉 〈…〉 the freeness of the Work, and the fitness of the Time that the Lord is pleased to take, to bring the 〈…〉 of his 〈…〉 〈…〉 in that Spiritual good that was provided and stored up for them in the Lord Jesus. We are now to enquire about the Main and Substantial Parts of this so great a Work.
