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A comment upon Christ's last prayer in the seventeenth of John wherein is opened…

Name: A comment upon Christ's last prayer in the seventeenth of John wherein is opened…
Author: Thomas Hooker

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.

:897p. 185–187

No man knows the affection of a Father, or Husband, but those that are in that estate and condition: because its a secret of Nature, which is only to be seen in the impression of the work: yet that a Father loves his Son, above all other his dearest friends, and nearest acquaintance: ⟨p. 187⟩That the Husband tenders his Spouse with an endeared affection above all mortal creatures: This appears by the expressions of his respect, that all he hath, is at her command, all he can do, is wholly improved for her content and comfort, she lies in his Bosom, and his heart trusts, in her, which forceth all to confess, that the stream of his affection, like a mighty current, runs with full Tide and strength; Though what that affection is, he doth not know: yet this he knows, The choicest affection is there.

No man knows the affection of a Father, or Husband, but those that are in that estate and condition: because its a secret of Nature, which is only to be seen in the impression of the work: yet that a Father loves his Son, above al other his dearest friends, and neerest acquaintance: ⟨p. 187⟩That the Husband tenders his Spouse with an indeared affection above al mortal creatures: This appeares by the expressions of his respect, that all he hath, is at her command, al he can do, is wholly improved for her content and comfort, she lies in his Bosom, and his heart trusts, in her, which forceth al to confess, that the stream of his affection, like a mighty current, runs with ful Tide and strength; Though what that affection is, he doth not know: yet this he knows, The choicest affection is there.

:898p. 187

So it was with Haman, when the Question was by the King made, What shall be done to the Man, whom the King will Honour? He expressed his opinion, and was forced to put it also in practise. He then knew who was most deep and dear in the Kings Royal affection. Mal. 3.20. When God makes up his Jewels, then men shall discern betwixt him that serveth the Lord, and him that serveth him not, how ever happily before they were all shuffled up together, and then there was no differencing betwixt the most precious Jewel, and the most refuse Pebble.

So it was with Haman, when the Question was by the King made, What shal be done to the Man, whom the King will Honor? He expressed his opinion, and was forced to put it also in practise. He then knew who was most deep and dear in the Kings Royal affection. Mal. 3.20. When God makes up his Jewels, then men shal discern betwixt him that serveth the Lord, and him that serveth him not, how ever happily before they were al shuffled up together, and then there was no differencing betwixt the most precious Jewel, and the most reffuse Pebble.

:899p. 187¶3

3. This knowledge in the full extent of it, as it is here to be attended, and that which is appropriated to that time in peculiar, it may be expressed in two particulars, if we would lay out the limits and bounds thereof.

3. This knowledg in the ful extent of it, as it is here to be attended, and that which is appropriated to that time in peculiar, it may be expressed in two particulars, if we would lay out the limits and bounds thereof.

:900p. 187¶1

1. They shall then stand persuaded of the love of God to believers, by a settled and well grounded conviction, that cannot be removed: I say, settled conviction; because for a time or turn, for a present push and under pressure, they may freely yield, and confess, and profess as much. So many profane wretches, in the horror of their hearts, they have then honoured, then advance• the faithful as the most happy. Oh Blessed such, that ever they were Born, Balaam-like, Let my Soul die th• Death of the righteous, and my latter end be like his But this is but a pang. Now only settled conviction Seizeth upon the Souls of the worldly men,

1. They shal then stand perswaded of the love of God to beleevers, by a setled and wel grounded conviction, that cannot be removed: I say, setled conviction; because for a time or turn, for a present push and unde• pressure, they may freely yield, and confess, and profess as much. So many profane wretches, in the horro• of their hearts, they have then honored, then advance• the faithful as the most happy. Oh Blessed such, that ever they were Born, Balaam-like, Let my Soul die th• Death of the righteous, and my latter end be like his But this is but a pang. Now only setled conviction Seizeth upon the Souls of the worldly men,

:901p. 188¶2

2. It is a grounded Acknowledgement from a sensible Experience of the contrary. Condition, which they have observed in their own Souls, and therefore now it's past gainsaying, when their own sense gives in constant Evidence without alteration; of which, more afterward.

2. It is a grounded Acknowledgment from a sensible Experience of the contrary. Condition, which they have observed in their own Souls, and therefore now it's past gainsaying, when their own sense gives in constant Evidence without alteration; of which, more afterward.

:902p. 188

If Conviction be settled, so as it cannot be removed; their Experience undeniable, which brings in Evidence that cannot be gain-said; then it's true, The World may be said to know that there is such a Love of God to the Saints.

If Conviction be setled, so as it cannot be removed; their Experience undeniable, which brings in Evidence that cannot be gain-sayed; then it's true, The World may be said to know that there is such a Love of God to the Saints.

:903p. 188¶2

Quest. 2. Why doth not the World come to know this in this Life?

:904p. 188

Answ. Upon a double Ground, or for a two-fold Reason.

:905p. 188¶1

1. Because the Life Spiritual of the Saints, is hid and concealed while they wilder up and down in this Vale of Tears, clouded partly with sorrows and miseries which attend them, as a constant Companion in a Christian Course; partly collied and bemired with corruptions of their hearts and lives: so that neither the beauty of Gods Grace, nor the tender expressions of Gods Love, doth in any peculiar manner appear in them; and go no further than the Judgment of Sense, they are the most forlorn, despicable Persons upon the face of the Earth. And truly, were their hopes only in this life, they were of all men most miserable; and further than this Life, men do not look, nor can in truth see, wanting Faiths Prospective, which is the Evidence of things not seen, that they so judg, nay, conclude it, as beyond controversy.

1. Because the Life Spiritual of the Saints, is hid and concealed while they wilder up and down in this Vale of Tears, clouded partly with sorrows and miseries which attend them, as a constant Companion in a Christian Course; partly collied and bemited with corruptions of their hearts and lives: so that neither the beauty of Gods Grace, nor the tender expressions of Gods Love, doth in any peculiar manner appear in them; and go no further than the Judgment of Sense, they are the most forlorn, despicable Persons upon the face of the Earth. And truly, were their hopes only in this life, they were of all men most miserable; and further than this Life, men do not look, nor can in truth see, wanting Faiths Prospective, which is the Evidence of things not seen, that they so judg, nay, conclude it, as beyond controversie.

:906p. 188

And this sometime stumbled holy Asaph, Psal. 73. See also, 1 John, 3.1, 2. Our Life is hid with Christ in God: when Christ who is our Life shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in Glory.

And this somtime stumbled holy Asaph, Psal. 73. See also, 1 John, 3.1, 2. Our Life is hid with Christ in God: when Christ who is our Life shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in Glory.

:907p. 189¶2

Because their Understandings are wholly perverted, and their hearts also so corrupt, that they are not able to judg of the Love of the Lord, or the evidencing expressions thereof. The god of this World hath so blinded their eyes, that the beauty of Gods Grace, and so the beams and heat of Gods Love cannot come home to their Consciences, to convince them thereof: And such is the corrupt distempered frame of their hearts, that they savour only the things of the Flesh; and not to have things suit their sensual Appetite, or to contrive Contentments to their own carnal Affections, they count it the greatest curse and expression of Gods distaste, and displeasure that may be. The carnal heart savours the things of the Flesh, nothing seems sweet, unless it suits his corruption. So that,

Because their Understandings are wholly perverted, and their hearts also so corrupt, that they are not able to judg of the Love of the Lord, or the evidencing expressions thereof. The god of this World hath so blinded their eyes, that the beauty of Gods Grace, and so the beams and heat of Gods Love cannot come home to their Consciences, to convince them thereof: And such is the corrupt distempered frame of their hearts, that they savor only the things of the Flesh; and not to have things suit their sensual Appetite, or to contrive Contentments to their own carnal Affections, they count it the greatest curse and expression of Gods distast, and displeasure that may be. The carnal heart savors the things of the Flesh, nothing seems sweet, unless it suits his corruption. So that,

:908p. 189

If the Life of a Believer, and so the Evidences of Gods Love be hid, and cannot be discerned:

If the Life of a Beleever, and so the Evidences of Gods Love be hid, and cannot be discerned:

:909p. 189

The hearts and minds of the World, be so perverted and surfeited with the sweetness of their own lusts, that they cannot judg of the fruits of Gods Love, though presented before them:

The hearts and minds of the World, be so perverted and surfeted with the sweetness of their own lusts, that they cannot judg of the fruits of Gods Love, though presented before them:

:910p. 189

Then it is no marvel that they do not know it, nor acknowledge it as dispensed to the Saints.

Then it is no marvel that they do not know it, nor acknowledg it as dispensed to the Saints.

:911p. 189

The Point now explicated, the Reasons which give in the Proof thereof, will appear more easy, and more undeniably plain.

The Point now explicated, the Reasons which give in the Proof thereof, will appear more easie, and more undeniably plain.

:912p. 189–190¶1

1. At the Day of Judgment, the World of the wicked, they come to have convicting Evidence, which can neither be gain-said, nor will ever be removed, what is a never failing proof of Gods Love, by the sense woeful Experience they have of Gods direful hatred and displeasure upon their own Souls. Their hearts now find it, and feel it; their Consciences confess it; their Judgments acknowledge it, that the Plague of all Plagues, the Curse of all Curses, that wherein the venom of Gods ⟨p. 190⟩Vengeance and infinite Indignation and hatred of the Lord from his Blessing and comforting presence, to be destroyed from the Presence of the Lord, and the Glory of his Power; the glorious and powerful expression of his saving Mercy. However formerly the soul while it was surfeiting in its sinful distempers, found no greater content, nor conceived any greater favour, than to have it full of its own lusts, and not to be crossed with the Counsel of the Lord; and concluded no other Heaven, nor happiness like the enjoying of their hearts delight, without check of God or Conscience. Yet now he sees the sweet and surfeits of those sins, become the greatest torment unto him, the very quintessence of the Curse, and the substance of the Sentence of Condemnation (Depart from me ye cursed) was the Commission thereof; I thought nothing so delightful, that I might without gainsaying depart from God by sinning: therein the execution of Gods Indignation doth wholly appear, to cast me out of his presence, and to stake me down in his departure, never to see his face, enjoy his presence, come within the smile of his Favour any more.

1. At the Day of Judgment, the World of the wicked, they come to have convicting Evidence, which can neither be gain-sayed, nor wil ever be removed, what is a never failing proof of Gods Love, by the sense woful Experience they have of Gods direful hatred and displeasure upon their own Souls. Their hearts now find it, and feel it; their Consciences confess it; their Judgments acknowledg it, that the Plague of al Plagues, the Curse of al Curses, that wherein the venom of Gods ⟨p. 190⟩Vengeance and infinite Indignation and hatred of the Lord from his Blessing and comforting presence, to be destroyed from the Presence of the Lord, and the Glory of his Power; the glorious and powerful expression of his saving Mercy. However formerly the soul while it was surfeting in its sinful distempers, found no greater content, nor conceived any greater favor, than to have it ful of its own lusts, and not to be crossed with the Counsel of the Lord; and concluded no other Heaven, nor happiness like the enjoying of their hearts delight, without check of God or Conscience. Yet now he sees the sweet and surfets of those sins, become the greatest torment unto him, the very quintessence of the Curse, and the substance of the Sentence of Condemnation (Depart from me ye cursed) was the Commission thereof; I thought nothing so delightful, that I might without gainsaying depart from God by sinning: therein the execution of Gods Indignation doth wholly appear, to cast me out of his presence, and to stake me down in his departure, never to see his face, enjoy his presence, come within the smile of his Favor any more.

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36