A44344:1505
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.
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.
The Specialty of this Knowledge, consists in Four Things: 1. In the Ability by which they know. 2. In the thing known. 3. The Manner of the discovery of that so known. 4. The settling of the heart by that.
The Specialty of this Knowledg, consists in Four Things: 1. In the Ability by which they know. 2. In the thing known. 3. The Manner of the discovery of that so known. 4. The setling of the heart by that.
1. This Knowledge is peculiar to the Saints, in regard ⟨p. 443⟩of that special Ability, which they do receive from God, in special manner, by which their Judgments are cleared, and their Understandings enabled to search and see into such mysterious depths, and secret Dispensations of God unto the Souls of his, in the Covenant of his Grace, and the Conveyance of his Mercy; which exceeds, and over-flies the most Eagle-sighted Apprehensions of any Natural Man in the World.
1. This Knowledg is peculiar to the Saints, in regard ⟨p. 443⟩of that special Ability, which they do receive from God, in special manner, by which their Judgments are cleered, and their Understandings enabled to search and see into such mysterious depths, and secret Dispensations of God unto the Souls of his, in the Covenant of his Grace, and the Conveyance of his Mercy; which exceeds, and over-flies the most Eagle-sighted Apprehensions of any Natural Man in the World.
They have the wisdom, and enlightening Grace of the Spirit in their Minds, and the concurrence, and assistance of the Spirit, to act and lead them out, and thereby to lead them into all Truths: and these must not be severed, because God hath joined them together, Zach. 4.2, 3. There must not be Lamps only to burn in the Golden Candle-stick; but there must be Olive Trees, to feed those Lamps, and to further their Light in their daily burning. As that is true in the Church of Christ, it's true also in the heart of every Member of the Church, there is not only a Lamp of Knowledge burning in the Mind, but there must be also a constant supply of the Oil of the Spirit, which must quicken, and act out that Spiritual Wisdom, for the right discerning of the things of our Peace. And this is the Condition of all the Saints, and the ordinary course of Gods Dispensation of himself, in the way of the Gospel. He hath given us a mind to know him, says the Apostle, 1 John, 5.20 he hath given his Spirit, says Paul, whereby we may know the things, that are graciously given us of God. This is the end of giving both, without which, it cannot be. So the words run, 1 Cor. 2.11, 12. We have not received the Spirit of the World, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are graciously given us of God, q.d. There is no man of the world, who only hath the Spirit of the world, that can know such things: None of the Princes of the World knew them, verse 8. nay, no Natural Man can know them, verse 14.
They have the wisdom, and enlightening Grace of the Spirit in their Minds, and the concurrence, and assistance of the Spirit, to act and lead them out, and thereby to lead them into al Truths: and these must not be severed, because God hath joined them together, Zach. 4.2, 3. There must not be Lamps only to burn in the Golden Candle-stick; but there must be Olive Trees, to feed those Lamps, and to further their Light in their dayly burning. As that is true in the Church of Christ, it's true also in the heart of every Member of the Church, there is not only a Lamp of Knowledg burning in the Mind, but there must be also a constant supply of the Oyl of the Spirit, which must quicken, and act out that Spiritual Wisdom, for the right discerning of the things of our Peace. And this is the Condition of al the Saints, and the ordinary course of Gods Dispensation of himself, in the way of the Gospel. He hath given us a mind to know him, saies the Apostle,
But the Spirit searcheth the deep things of God. There be depths of the warmings of our minds and hearts, and none but the Spirit of God can discover them: deep things in the mind of God, and whoever knew his mind? No Creature ever did, or could; but Christ knew his mind, and we have the mind of Christ, and so come to know the mind of the Father, verse 16. And hence our Saviour surveys the differencing Reason, why his Disciples might perceive; others, as Scribes and Pharisees, had eyes, and could not see. To you it is given to know the things of the Kingdom, but not to them: and upon this ground our Saviour adviseth the Church of Laodicea: I counsel thee, to buy of me Eye-salve, to anoint thine Eyes, that thou mayest see. This Spiritual, and special, Super-natural Light, is that Eye-salve, which all the Disciples of our-Saviour had, and therefore they knew him. As the Sun is seen by his own Light: It must be the wisdom from above, that must enable us to see the things that are above. So John, 14.17. The World hath not seen, nor known the Comforter, but ye know him, that is, by the Light of the Spirit, ye come to see the Spirit.
But the Spirit searcheth the deep things of God. There be depths of the warmings of our minds and hearts, and none but the Spirit of God can discover them: deep things in the mind of God, and whoever knew his mind? No Creature ever did, or could; but Christ knew his mind, and we have the mind of Christ, and so come to know the mind of the Father, verse 16. And hence our Savior surveys the differencing Reason, why his Disciples might perceive; others, as Scribes and Pharisees, had eyes, and could not see. To you it is given to know the things of the Kingdom, but not to them: and upon this ground our Savior adviseth the Church of Laodicea: I counsel thee, to buy of me Eye-salve, to annoint thine Eyes, that thou mayest see. This Spiritual, and special, Super-natural Light, is that Eye-salve, which al the Disciples of our-Savior had, and therefore they knew him. As the Sun is seen by his own Light: It must be the wisdom from above, that must enable us to see the things that are above. So John, 14.17. The World hath not seen, nor known the Comforter, but ye know him, that is, by the Light of the Spirit, ye come to see the Spirit.
2. In the thing known, there is a Specialty of Knowledge. They look at it, as an Embassy of Love, and Life, which the Lord Christ now brings from the Father, who intends their good in both, and our Saviour comes on purpose to work it.
2. In the thing known, there is a Specialty of Knowledg. They look at it, as an Ambassage of Love, and Life, which the Lord Christ now brings from the Father, who intends their good in both, and our Savior comes on purpose to work it.
