A77593:1075
The Unsearchable Riches of Christ
Ton anexichniaston plouton [sic] tou Christou. The unsearchable riches of Christ. Or, Meat for strong men. Milk [for] babes. Held for th in twenty-two sermons from Ephesians 3.8. By Thomas Brooks, preacher of the Word at Margarets New-Fishstreet.Ton anexichniaston plouton [sic] tou Christou. The unsearchable riches of Christ. Or, Meat for strong men. Milke [for] babes. Held for th in twenty-two sermons from Ephesians 3.8. By Thomas Brookes, preacher of the Word at Margarets New-Fishstreet.
London: printed by Mary Simmons for John Hancock, 1655
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Sermon › The Uses of this Point.Sermon › The Ʋses of this Point.
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.
Eighthly, and lastly, Be sure to maintain a secret trade with God.
Eighthly, and lastly, Be sure to maintaine a secret trade with God.
You know many men come to be very rich in the world, 1by a secret trade: Though many have not such an open trade as others, yet they have a more secret Trade, and by that they gain very great Estates, as many of you here in London know by experience. Take it friends as an experienced truth, there is no such way under heaven, to be rich in spirituals, as ⟨p. 248⟩by driving of a secret Trade heavenwards. 'Tis true, it's good for men to attend upon this, and that, and the other public administration; for in all Divine administrations God shows his beauty and glory; I, but such that delight to be more 2upon the public stage, then in the Closet, will never be rich in spirituals; they may grow rich in notions, but they will never grow rich in gracious experiences. Oh! God loves to see a poor Christian to shut his closet door, and then to open 3his bosom, and pour out his soul before him. God hath very discoveries for souls that drive a secret Trade. The best wine, the best dainties and delicates, are for such: And I never knew any man or woman in my life, that was richer in grace, then those that were much in closet communion with God. Much of a Christians spiritual strength lies in secret prayer, as Sampson's did in his hair. Nothing charms Satan, and weakens sin, like this: Secret Prayers are the pillars of smoke wherein the soul ascendeth to God out of the wilderness of this world. Secret prayer is Jacobs Ladder, where you have God descending down into the soul, and rhe soul sweetly ascending up to God. No way to be rich in spirituals like this, therefore be sure to maintain and keep up a secret Trade between God and your own souls: Oh let God hear often of you in secret. In