A86531:254
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.
GRACE Magnified: OR, The PRIVILED GES of those that are under Grace.
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.
Oh then, you that would fain better your obedience in these times wherein Gods judgements be abroad, when God so much expects we should grow better; for I persuade my self, there is never a child of God, but is much desirous to be more obedient now than ever, now in these evil times; and I should much suspect that soul yet to be under the power of Satan and sin, that by the judgements of God that are abroad, is not provoked to a resolution, and endeavour to better obedience. Now I say to such of you as desire to grow better in obedience, learn the way. Observe what the Text saith, Neh. 8. 10. Be not sorry, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Would you have strength to obey Gods Commandments better then ever? Here is the way, do not give way to sadness, and dumpishness, and discouragements. Godly sorrow is to be admitted, and is a great help of bettering your obedience, but such a sorrow as doth afflict your souls, and keep them under discouragements, this is not to be admitted; strength of obedience lieth not in this slavish fear, but it is the joy of the Lord, that is your strength: Get the joy of the Lord by believing that God will make you able to obey whatsoever he biddeth, and that will make you able to obey.
Oh then, you that would fain better your obedience in these times wherein Gods judgements be abroad, when God so much expects we should grow better; for I perswade my self, there is never a child of God, but is much desirous to be more obedient now than ever, now in these evill times; and I should much suspect that soul yet to bee under the power of Sathan and sin, that by the judgements of God that are abroad, is not provoked to a resolution, and endeavour to better obedience. Now I say to such of you as desire to grow better in obedience, learn the way. Observe what the Text saith, Neh. 8. 10. Be not sorry, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Would you have strength to obey Gods Commandements better then ever? Here is the way, doe not give way to sadness, and dumpishness, and discouragements. Godly sorrow is to be admitted, and is a great help of bettering your obedience, but such a sorrow as doth afflict your souls, and keep them under discouragements, this is not to be admitted; strength of obedience lyeth not in this slavish fear, but it is the joy of the Lord, that is your strength: Get the joy of the Lord by beleeving that God will make you able to obey whatsoever he biddeth, and that will make you able to obey.