A86531:304
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.
There are three unthankfulnesses, and unmindfulnesses which the Scripture marks. The first is that of the chief Butlers forgetting the kindness of Joseph: The other is, that of the King of Egypts forgetting also the kindness of Joseph. And the last is that of Joash, his forgetting the kindness of Jehojada the high Priest. These are branded for their unmindfulness of the great favours they had received. But all ⟨p. 106⟩these put together, are not so deeply to be charged with the guilt of unthankfulness, and unmindfulness, as we are that live under the Gospel, and enjoy such great favours by Christ and the Gospel, and yet are no more thankful for them than we are.
There are three unthankfulnesses, and unmindfulnesses which the Scripture marks. The first is that of the chief Butlers forgetting the kindness of Joseph: The other is, that of the King of Egypts forgetting also the kindness of Joseph. And the last is that of Joash, his forgetting the kindness of Jehojada the high Priest. These are branded for their unmindfulness of the great favours they had received. But all ⟨p. 106⟩these put together, are not so deeply to be charged with the guilt of unthankfulness, and unmindfulness, as we are that live under the Gospel, and enjoy such great favours by Christ and the Gospel, and yet are no more thankfull for them than we are.
The other Use shall be for an Exhortation, to provoke you above all things to prize Christ and the Gospel, as you prize life, liberty, pardon of sin, favour of God, salvation of souls, so prize Christ and the Gospel, for by them you have all these. Even our outward privileges (my brethren) come by the Gospel; the Gospel of peace hath brought a great deal of peace to this Land; temporal honour, prosperity, renown, and plenty hath come to us by the Gospel. But those things that above all are prize-worthy, are the favour of God, the peace of conscience, the victory over corruptions, &c. These things they are all brought to us by Christ and the Gospel. Therefore let us prize these above our lives or liberties. Great cause have we of this age to fear that Christ and his Gospel are departing from us; we cannot but see that there are those things among us, that usually cause Christ to depart, we have a great deal of intemperance, a world of profaneness and impiety, &c. These things are usually fore-runners of Christs going away, and carrying his Gospel from a Nation. Let us therefore more fear the loss of these, then the loss of our own lives. We may lose our lives, and yet keep the favour of God; we may lose our lives, and yet enjoy all the Privileges of the people of God; but if Christ and the Gospel be taken away, so many of us as have not made a sure part for our selves in Christ, and in the Gospel, we lose all favour with God, and all the privileges of the new Covenant. Therefore let us bestir our selves within the bounds of our callings; to the uttermost of our abilities, both by praying, and every way that God hath appointed (more then for our lives) to preserve among us Christ and the Gospel.