A44439:336
A second volume of discourses or sermons on several scriptures
A second volume of discourses or sermons on several scriptures by Ezekiel Hopkins ...
London: printed by E.H. for Nathanael Ranew, 1693
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Sermon 4: The Nature, Danger, Aggravations, and Cure of Presumptuous Sinning, &c. ON
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.
all this may be from a mere restraint in those, who are altogether unacquainted with the power of sanctifying Grace; this is the symptom and Character of a gracious Soul, that when it is most inclinable unto sin, yet at the same time is most averse from it, when it most wisheth the accomplishment of ⟨p. 295⟩sin; yet even then it strongly wishes the subduing and mortifying of that sin; I know this appears a Riddle and a strange Paradox to wicked Men, but those who have any true sense of the work of Grace upon their own hearts, know it to be a truth, and rejoice in the experiences that they have of it.
all this may be from a mere restraint in those, who are altogether unacquainted with the power of sanctifying Grace; this is the symptom and Character of a gracious Soul, that when it is most inclinable unto sin, yet at the same time is most averse from it, when it most wisheth the accomplishment of ⟨p. 295⟩sin; yet even then it strongly wishes the subduing and mortifying of that sin; I know this appears a Riddle and a strange Paradox to wicked Men, but those who have any true sense of the work of Grace upon their own hearts, know it to be a truth, and rejoyce in the experiences that they have of it.
Fourthly and lastly, Restraining and sanctifying Grace differ in the motives and arguments, that they make use of for the resisting of sin; there are two general Topics or common places, whence all arguments against sin are drawn, and those are the Law and the Gospel, both of these administer such weapons, that if rightly used, are very effectual for the beating down of sin, and commonly restraining Grace useth those only that are borrowed from the Law; it urgeth the command, it thunders the curse, it brandisheth the sword of Justice, and makes reports of nothing but Hell and eternal Damnation, and such like arguments that scare Men from the committing of their sins, though still they love them; now sanctifying Grace though it also makes a most profitable use of ⟨p. 296⟩