A44344:1367
A comment upon Christ's last prayer in the seventeenth of John wherein is opened…
A comment upon Christ's last prayer in the seventeenth of John wherein is opened the union believers have with God and Christ, and the glorious privileges thereof ... / by that faithful and known servant of Christ, Mr. Thomas Hooker ... ; printed from the authors own papers written with his own hand, and attested to be such in an epistle by Thomas Goodwin and Philip Nigh.A comment upon Christ's last prayer in the seventeenth of John wherein is opened the union beleevers have with God and Christ, and the glorious priviledges thereof ... / by that faithful and known servant of Christ, Mr. Thomas Hooker ... ; printed from the authors own papers written with his own hand, and attested to be such in an epistle by Thomas Goodwin and Philip Nye.
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.
USE, 1. Of Instruction.
1. Hence there is no reconciliation between such as be of the World, and such as be of God, to be hoped for; between the Worldlings, and those that are truly Christians: It's as possible to make Heaven and Earth meet, Fire and Water, Light and Darkness, Christ and Belial accord together; Because these are Contraries, their very Being and Constitution is Dissension; and therefore they must cease to be, if they cease to oppose, and seek the good and preservation, each of other.
1. Hence there is no reconciliation between such as be of the World, and such as be of God, to be hoped for; between the Worldlings, and those that are truly Christians: It's as possible to make Heaven and Earth meet, Fire and Water, Light and Darkness, Christ and Belial accord together; Because these are Contraries, their very Being and Constitution is Dissen•ion; and therefore they must cease to be, if they cease to oppose, and seek the good and preservation, each of other.
Let the ungodly, for their own ends, and to serve their ⟨p. 414⟩own turns, profess never so fair, promise never so much, pretend never so much Love and Faithfulness, and seem also somewhat seriously to endeavour to ingratiate themselves into the hearts of the Godly: Be they never so near in acquaintance, and familiarity with them: Be they for the present, never so studious, and laborious in all proceedings to promote their good. It's certain, their distempers are but restrained, and the malignity of their Nature curbed, and confined for the while: Let but occasion suit, and temptation be offered, and they will be as deadly Enemies, nay, most fierce in their malice, and out-rage, as they have been friendly in appearance in former times. None more inward with David, than Ahithophel, while opportunity served to bring about his own Honour, by that acceptance he had with David. It was thou my familiar friend, we took sweet Counsel together, and went up to the House of God together also: complied in all occasions, temporal, spiritual, were endeared each to other, bore each other in their very Bosoms: But no sooner is Conspiracy stirred, and Rebellion raised by Absalom, that was likely to carry it; but Ahithophel, he forsakes his Colours, forgets all former Engagements, becomes the deadliest Enemy of the most inward, and endeared Friend, as formerly he did pretend. Judas trained up under the Wing of Christ, but he had a worldly heart; and when the time served, he betrayed his Master for it. Never therefore, look what men pretend, but look what they are: If he be of the World, and Friend to it, know assuredly, he will be an Enemy to God. And therefore, it checks the deluded Conceits, and misguided Apprehensions of some of Gods own, that are Novices in Religion, who are apt to conclude, It's want of Prudence, and Christian Moderation, Humility, and sweetness of Carriage, that they do not win every man, even the wicked, and such as be worldly, and Carnal; that they might have their Approbation, their Love, and Affections, as they list enlarged.