A44344:848
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.
Though Israel play the Harlot, yet let not Judah offend. And hence it is, The Lord is compelled with such unreasonable carriages to make his complaint unto the senseless creatures, as those who would give in witness against such miscarriages, as professedly cross to the course of things. Hearken O Heaven, and hear O Earth, I have nourished and brought up Children and they have rebelled against me. Isa. 1.2. And upon this ground it is, the Lord makes that so sad an expression, when the Sons of God married with the Daughters of men, and were carried with the common stream, Gen. 6.6. The Text saith, It grieved God to the Heart. It went to the heart of the Almighty. Bears any thing, but the Contempt of his love and goodness.
For it is a sin out of measure sinful. Not only that which Nature gainsays, and reason rejects, and conscience condemns, and Grace abhors to the bottomless pit: But it is a practise more vile than the worst of sinners will adventure upon. Math. 5.46. If ye love them, that love you, what reward have ye? Do not the Publicans the same? Not to return love for love &c. Its that which the Publicans, the worst and most refuse wretches in the world do loath. For the faithful, who have been redeemed by the precious Blood of Jesus, comforted by the spirit of Jesus, beloved of the Father, as the Lord Jesus his only begotten Son: for them to be tainted with that sin, which the Publicans, ⟨p. 172⟩the worst of men will give witness against, Oh, how▪ heinous are such miscarriages, and how grievous must they needs be to the God of love.
For it is a sin out of measure sinful. Not only that which Nature gainsaies, and reason rejects, and conscience condemnes, and Grace abhorres to the bottomless pit: But it is a practise more vile than the worst of sinners wil adventure upon.