A44344:140
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.
Reason. 2.
Here, in the Gospel only is certainty to be had of some interest and special Title; whereby the Soul may be encouraged, and faith also find some foot-hold, whereby the heart may bottom and bear up it self in some confidence. For righteousness there is to be had from God in Christ: but this Issues only (in the communication of it) from free mercy. The Lord may do with his own what he will; and therefore he may deny whom he will, and give to whom he please; how then shall I know, and have any ground or evidence, upon any certainty that he will do good to me? God is bound to none.
Here, in the Gospel only is certainty to be had of some interest and special Title; whereby the Soul may be encouraged, and faith also find some foot-hold, whereby the heart may bottom and bear up it self in some confidence. For righteousness there is to be had from God in Christ: but this Issues only (in the communication of it) from free mercy. The Lord may do with his own what he will; and therefore he may deny whom he wil, and give to whom he please; how then shal I know, and have any ground or evidence, upon any certainty that he wil do good to me? God is bound to none.
True. God is bound to none further then he will bind himself; and he binds himself in no wise to the creature, but by his promise, and that he will never deny, who cannot deny himself. Now in the Gospel only this promise and engagement of God is revealed, he hath promised to work the condition, and then tied himself in his truth to do good to those, whom he will so fit for his mercy. And now the Soul upon this notice grows in upon God, here is a handle, as it were, for faith to lay hold on, therefore said a word of promise,