A44344:308
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.
Herein lies the life and incomparable excellency of the covenant of Grace, and the fullness of the sufficiency of the quickening power of the second Adam, the Lord Jesus, not only to procure unto acceptance and approbation with the Father, but the lively communication of himself, and the assistance of his spirit, to keep our hearts, and the gracious work thereof to him for ever.
Herein lies the life and incomparable excellency of the covenant of Grace, and the fulness of the sufficiency of the quickning power of the second Adam, the Lord Jesus, not only to procure unto acceptance and approbation with the Father, but the lively communication of himself, and the assistance of his spirit, to keep our hearts, and the gracious work thereof to him for ever.
So that, though our Graces might and would fall us in Adam, yet the spirit of Jesus upholds and holds us for ever towards him, a fountain of living water. Though ⟨p. 48⟩the virtue and work thereof would wanse away, and through not-attendance, not put forth it self upon the rule, and for the work, as we see in Adam, He attended not unto, acted not upon a command, but listened to the delusion and suggestion of the enemy. Yet the spirit of Christ, which dwelleth with us, and shall be in us, is there, not only to keep with us and carry us to Christ, but to quicken us by virtue from Christ, according to the tenure of the Gospel. Joh. 14.17. And this is indeed to be under the powerful impression of the covenant of Grace. And this is the meaning of that place. I live not, but Christ lives in me. Gal. 3.20. Christ by Faith brings me to God. By his spirit keeps the bent of the heart towards him. carries it to himself, acts it upon himself: quickens it by influence of virtue, the fountain whereof is in himself. Adam might have said, I live, by a power and principle of Grace, in which I was created, and in which I have pleased God thereby, and according to a covenant of works may challenge life and happiness. But Paul in the person of all self-denying sinners, professeth that, I live not. Christ hath called me, brought me to himself; gives me his spirit, and keeps the Eye of my Soul upon himself: That he may thereby, Be all in all to me, work all in me and by me.