A44344:851
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.
1. When the Faithful, either question this Love, when it is so sure. Or, 2. Undervalue it, and little esteem of it, when it is so great, as that it exceeds the thoughts, and apprehensions of men.
Both are marvellously distasteful, and that justly, to the Father of Mercies, and in truth unsufferable, were it not that he makes us acceptable, and lovely through his well-beloved. It could not be that he could bear with the abuse of his constant kindness, in so gross and unkind manner: and yet this is the baseness and wretchedness of our unreasonable hearts. He hath loved us with an everlasting Love; he never ceaseth loving, and we never cease questioning, and quarrelling with his kindness: we are ever of the jealous, and suspicious hand, that this favour of the Lord, it is but for a fit, it will one day fail, and we shall be forsaken utterly:
Both are marvelously distastful, and that justly, to the Father of Mercies, and in truth unsufferable, were it not that he makes us acceptable, and lovely through his wel-beloved. It could not be that he could bear with the abuse of his constant kindness, in so gross and unkind manner: and yet this is the baseness and wretchedness of our unreasonable hearts. He hath loved us with an everlasting Love; he never ceaseth loving, and we never cease questioning, and quarrelling with his kindness: we are ever of the jealous, and suspicious hand, that this favor of the Lord, it is but for a fit, it wil one day fail, and we shal be forsaken utterly:
If Christ will cease to be a Son, and to be this well-beloved of his Father, with whom he is well pleased; then will he cease to love thee, to accept of thee, and to be well pleased with thee in him. The one is impossible, the other is incredible: and therefore stifle those distempered pangs, they are so deeply injurious to the Lord, and distasteful to his Majesty, that he cannot bear them, but will undoubtedly correct. Such a way-ward, jealous pang ye shall perceive in the Church of the Jews in the day of Discouragement, when God calls Heaven and Earth to rejoice in the Consolation of his People; Sing O Heavens, and be joyful of Earth, break forth into singing, O Mountains; for God hath comforted