A53713:696
Of Communion with God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Of communion with God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, each person distinctly in love, grace, and consolation, or, The saints fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, unfolded by John Owen ...Of communion with God the Father, Sonne, and Holy Ghost, each person distinctly in love, grace, and consolation, or, The saints fellowship with the Father, Sonne, and Holy Ghost, unfolded by John Owen ...
Oxford: printed by A. Lichfield for Tho. Robinson, 1657
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.
3. Usefulness, A man without Holiness is good for nothing: Ephraim, says the Prophet, is an empty vine, that brings forth fruit to it self. And what is such a vine good for? nothing, saith another Prophet, a man cannot make a pin of it, so much as to hang a vessel on: A barren tree is good for nothing, but to be cut down for the fire. Notwithstanding the seeming usefulness of men, who serve the providence of God in their Generations, I could easily manifest that the World and the Church might want them, and that indeed in themselves they are good for nothing: only the holy man is commune bonum.
3. Usefullnesse, A man without Holinesse is good for nothing: Ephraim, saies the Prophet, is an empty vine, that brings forth fruit to it selfe. And what is such a vine good for? nothing, saith another Prophet, a man cannot make a pin of it, so much as to hang a vessell on: A barren tree is good for nothing, but to be cut downe for the fire. Notwithstanding the seeming usefullnesse of men, who serve the providence of God in their Generations, I could easily manifest that the World and the Church might want them, and that indeed in themselves they are good for nothing: only the holy man is commune bonum.
3. The end of it in respect of others, in the world is manifold. 1. It serves to the Conviction, and stopping the mouths of §. 32 some of the Enemies of God, both here and hereafter: Here, 1 Pet. 3. 16. Keeping a good Conscience that wherein they speak against you as evil doers, they may be ashamed, beholding your good conversation in Christ. By our keeping of a good Conscience men will be made ashamed of their false accusations. That whereas their malice and hatred of the ways of God, hath provoked them to speak all manner of evil of the profession of them; by the Holiness and Righteousness of the Saints, they are convinced, and made ashamed, as a Thief is when he is taken, and be driven to acknowledge that God is amongst them, and that they are wicked themselves,