A86531:172
The saints dignity and duty· Together with the danger of ignorance and hardness. /…The saints dignitie and dutie· Together with the danger of ignorance and hardnesse. /…
The saints dignity and duty· Together with the danger of ignorance and hardness. / Delivered in several sermons: by that reverend divine, Thomas Hooker, late preacher in New-England.The saints dignitie and dutie· Together with the danger of ignorance and hardnesse. / Delivered in severall sermons: by that reverend divine, Thomas Hooker, late preacher in New-England.
London: printed by G.D. for Francis Eglesfield, 1651
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.
And now it is more easy to understand what is meant by the Spirit: The Spirit is life, because of righteousness: For if by the body be meant original corruption, then by the Spirit must be meant original righteousness, that which is elsewhere in the Scripture called the divine nature, or the seed of God, or grace, or holiness, or the like. Original holiness or righteousness is that which (I take it) is here meant by the Spirit: It is so called John 3.6. That which is born of the spirit is spirit; and so in many other places.
And now it is more easie to understand what is meant by the Spirit: The Spirit is life, because of righteousnesse: For if by the body be meant originall corruption, then by the Spirit must be meant originall righteousnesse, that which is elsewhere in the Scripture called the divine nature, or the seed of God, or grace, or holiness, or the like. Originall holiness or righteousness is that which (I take it) is here meant by the Spirit: It is so called John 3.6. That which is born of the spirit is spirit; and so in many other places.
Now this same habit of holiness is called the Spirit: 1. To show the excellency of it, That as a Spirit is an excellent thing, far above all bodily substances; so is holiness the excellentest of Gods creatures, for grace is also a creature as other things. 2. To show the durableness of it; though sin shall die in the Saints, and be utterly destroyed; yet grace shall never be destroyed, stroyed, nor cease in the Saints of God. 3. It is called the Spirit in regard of the Objects of it, for the Objects of this grace are spiritual things. 4. In regard of the Author of it. It is the holy Spirit of God, that begets and works it in people; therefore as the child beareth the name of the Father, so doth this of the Spirit.
Now this same habit of holiness is called the Spirit: 1. To shew the excellency of it, That as a Spirit is an excellent thing, far above all bodily substances; so is holiness the excellentest of Gods creatures, for grace is also a creature as other things. 2. To shew the durableness of it; though sin shall die in the Saints, and be utterly destroyed; yet grace shall never be destroyed, stroyed, nor cease in the Saints of God. 3. It is called the Spirit in regard of the Objects of it, for the Objects of this grace are spirituall things. 4. In regard of the Author of it. It is the holy Spirit of God, that begets and works it in people; therefore as the child beareth the name of the Father, so doth this of the Spirit.