A77605:41
Cases considered and resolved. Wherein all the tender godly conscientious ministers in England (whether…
Cases considered and resolved. Wherein all the tender godly conscientious ministers in England (whether for a Congregational, or a Presbyterial way) are concerned. Or pills to purge malignants. And all profane, ignorant, and scandalous persons. (But more particularly calculated for the meridian of Margarets Fishstreet-hill) from those gross conceits that they have of their children's right to baptism; and of their own right to the Supper of the Lord, &c. Also good counsel to bad men. Or friendly advise (in several particulars) to unfriendly neighbours. By Thomas Brooks, a willing servant unto God, and the faith of his people, in the glorious Gospel of Christ, at Margarets Fishstreet-hill.Cases considered and resolved. Wherein all the tender godly conscientious ministers in England (whether for a Congregationall, or a Presbyteriall way) are concerned. Or pills to purge malignants. And all prophane, ignorant, and scandalous persons. (But more particularly calculated for the meridian of Margarets Fishstreet-hill) from those grosse conceits that they have of their childrens right to baptisme; and of their owne right to the Supper of the Lord, &c. Also good councell to bad men. Or friendly advise (in severall particulars) to unfriendly neighbours. By Thomas Brooks, a willing servant unto God, and the faith of his people, in the glorious Gospel of Christ, at Margarets Fishstreet-hill.
London: printed by M. Simmons for John Hancock, 1653
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Further they say, they cannot find that comfort to their souls they hoped. Here give me leave to query; 1. How they could have any comfort from my ministry, that did not attend it. 2. But grant they did, I Query, whether their want of comfort, did not spring rather from their want of faith, to close with the word, and to feed upon the word, and to apply the word to their own souls, then from any defect in my preaching? The word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith, in them that heard it, Heb. 4.2. Faith and the word meeting, make a happy mixture, a precious confection. When faith and the word is mingled together, then the word will be a word of power and life; then 'twill be a healing word, a quickening word, a comforting word, a saving ⟨p. 3⟩word. Faith makes the soul fruitful; 1faith hath Rachels eye, and Leahs womb. Where faith is wanting, mens souls will be like the Cypress, the more it is watered, the more it is withered. However that tree that is not for fruit, is for the fire, Heb. 6.8. Some say of King Midas, (not true, but fabulous) that he had obtained of the gods, that whatsoever he touched should be turned into gold. I may truly say, in a spiritual sense, what ever faith touches, it turns it into gold, into our good. A Bee can suck honey out of a flower, so cannot a Fly do. Faith will extract abundance of comfort out of the word, and gather one contrary out of another, honey out of the rock, Deut. 32.36.
Further they say, they cannot finde that comfort to their soules they hoped. Here give me leave to quere; 1. How they could have any comfort from my ministry, that did not attend it. 2. But grant they did, I Quere, whether their want of comfort, did not spring rather from their want of faith, to close with the word, and to feed upon the word, and to apply the word to their own soules, then from any defect in my preaching? The word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith, in them that heard it, Heb. 4.2