A44344:1500
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.
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.
See and be swallowed up with the wonderment of Gods love to such worthless ones, as we. Had he sent his letters to comfort, his Creatures to visit, his Angels to administer, it had been more than we worthless worms could have expected. So the Apostle. 1 Joh. 4.9, 10. In this was manifested the love of God towards us in that he sent his Son. If any man question his love, or desire to see the discovery of love: In this its manifested undeniably, infallibly. Love unmatchable, unconceivable, that he should send his own Son, from his own bosom, to such worthless dust.
See and be swallowed up with the wonderment of Gods love to such worthless ones, as we. Had he sent his letters to comfort, his Creatures to visite, his Angels to administer, it had been more than we worthless worms could have expected. So the Apostle. 1 Joh. 4.9, 10. In this was manifested the love of God towards us in that he sent his Son. If any man question his love, or desire to see the discovery of love: In this its manifested undeniably, infallibly. Love unmatchable, unconceivable, that he should send his own Son, from his own bosom, to such worthless dust.
In this is Love, herein is Love, it's here to be adored, admired for ever. Not that we loved him: for that had been Love, to have owned us, and accepted of us, But that he loved us, and sent his Son to be a Propitiation for our sins. Elizabeth is drawn to a wonderment at the coming of Mary: How comes it, that the Mother of my Lord, cometh unto me? Luke, 1.43. But how cometh it, that the Lord himself come? It's more than is usually observed, or indeed can be expected, that a man should send a choice Pearl from his Closet, a Diamond out of his Cabinet. But that one should send his whole Treasure, it's more than can be imagined, Or desired.
In this is Love, herein is Love, it's here to be adored, admired for ever. Not that we loved him: for that had been Love, to have owned us, and accepted of us, But that he loved us, and sent his Son to be a Propitiation for our sins. Elizabeth is drawn to a wonderment at the coming of Mary: How comes it, that the Mother of my Lord, cometh unto me? Luke, 1.43. But how cometh it, that the Lord himself come? It's more than is usually observed, or indeed can be expected, that a man should send a choyce Pearl from his Closet, a Diamond out of his Cabinet. But that one should send his whol Treasure, it's more than can be imagined, Or desired.
But it's so here: God hath sent his Son, in whom all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge are his; and to us so vile, so unthankful, and unworthy.
But it's so here: God hath sent his Son, in whom al the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledg are his; and to us so vile, so unthankful, and unworthy.
Nay, as God, when he would convince Satan of Jobs Sincerity, he impanels a Jury from Hell; tells him, that he had moved him to afflict Job without a Cause: for yet he held his Innocency, and the Devil could not deny it.
Nay, as God, when he would convince Satan of Jobs Sincerity, he impannels a Jury from Hel; tels him, that he had moved him to afflict Job without a Cause: for yet he held his Innocency, and the Devil could not deny it.
So consider here for thy shame, if thy heart stir not with admiration, we shall impanel a Jury from Hell, which will give in a Verdict.
So consider here for thy shame, if thy heart stir not with admiration, we shal impannel a Jury from Hel, which wil give in a Verdict.
2 Thes. 1.8, 9. At the day of Judgment, God shall be Glorious in all his Saints, but admired in them that believe. When all the wicked shall be gathered at the left hand of Christ, the Devils, and damned Spirits, and all the rabble of those fulsome Goats, shall see the poor Saints, such as were opposite to Christ, haters of him, to be made one with him: They who rejected, nay, may be, persecuted Christ, and the means of Grace, to be now made partakers of Christ and Grace: The Devils will admire this mercy, though they never share in it; and shalt not thou admire it, who art partaker of it?
2 Thes. 1.8, 9. At the day of Judgment, God shal be Glorious in all his Saints, but admired in them that believe. When al the wicked shal be gathered at the left hand of Christ, the Devils, and damned Spirits, and al the rabble of those fulsom Goats, shal see the poor Saints, such as were opposite to Christ, haters of him, to be made one with him: They who rejected, nay, may be, persecuted Christ, and the means of Grace, to be now made partakers of Christ and Grace: The Devils wil admire this mercy, though they never share in it; and shalt not thou admire it, who art partaker of it?
2. Comfort, of never failing assurance of our safety and happiness. It's the will of the Father, and that must stand; and Christ is sent to do his will, and he will not fail of doing that, for which he was appointed; and therefore thou canst not fail of Heaven. Christ professeth (John, 6.38, 39.) he came to do the Will of the Father, and this is his Will, That he should lose none, but raise them up at the last day; and he resolves he will lose none, but he will raise them up, verse 40.
2. Comfort, of never failing assurance of our safety and happiness. It's the wil of the Father, and that must stand; and Christ is sent to do his wil, and he wil not fail of doing that, for which he was appointed; and therefore thou canst not fail of Heaven. Christ professeth (John, 6.38, 39.) he came to do the Wil of the Father, and this is his Wil, That he should lose none, but raise them up at the last day; and he resolves he wil lose none, but he wil raise them up, verse 40.
We have done with the Two former Things which were to be attended in the Explication. 1. What it was to be sent. 2. Why, or for what End he was sent.
III. We are now to enquire touching the knowledge of this, so far as it comes in an especial manner to be appropriated to the Saints: And his is the third Particular to be opened, for the discovery of the former Point; are we shall only look at it in that peculiar respect, as it is a proper Brand for Christs Sheep, and a Livery of his Servants, and Followers. For so the Text intimates, and our Saviour speaks of it in that regard.
III. We are now to enquire touching the knowledge of this, so far as it comes in an especial manner to be appropriated to the Saints: And his is the third Particular to be opened, for the discovery of the former Point; are we shal only look at it in that peculiar respect, as it is a proper Brand for Christs Sheep, and a Livery of his Servants, and Followers. For so the Text intimates, and our Savior speaks of it in that regard.
The World knows thee not, they never attained this Learning, nor were trained, and taught up to it: they are amongst the Petties, and Punies of the world, and may have some worldly wisdom. These ways of wisdom, they are above, and too high for a Fool, such as the wicked of the World are. These who are promoted to the University of the Gospel, and have learned of Christ, these know; such and such only know, have a special knowledge of God the Father in Christ: they know him as sent, and therefore must needs know the Father who did send him.
The World knows thee not, they never attained this Learning, nor were trained, and taught up to it: they are amongst the Petties, and Punies of the world, and may have some worldly wisdom. These waies of wisdom, they are above, and too high for a Fool, such as the wicked of the World are. These who are promoted to the University of the Gospel, and have learned of Christ, these know; such and such only know, have a special knowledge of God the Father in Christ: they know him as sent, and therefore must needs know the Father who did send him.
Touching the Specialty of this Knowledge, which is the Portion and Inheritance appropriated to the Saints, as the wise man says, The Wicked meddle not with the Joy of the Righteous: so it's as true in this, they reach not their Knowledge.
Touching the Specialty of this Knowledg, which is the Portion and Inheritance appropriated to the Saints, as the wise man saies, The Wicked meddle not with the Joy of the Righteous: so it's as true in this, they reach not their Knowledg.
Of this we shall enquire: 1. Wherein the Specialty of this Knowledge consists. 2. How it comes to be communicated to them.
Of this we shal enquire: 1. Wherein the Specialty of this Knowledg consists. 2. How it comes to be communicated to them.
First.
