A86531:550
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.
Wilful Hardness: OR, The Means of Grace Abused.Willful Hardness: OR, The Means of Grace Abused.
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.
The thing you see is evident in the proof of it, we will a little further discover the nature of such men as live under the means, and yet harden their necks, and how that corruption that is in the heart, doth discover it self most, where the best means are. And you shall see it made good in these two particulars; That wicked men, corrupt hearts are the worst under the best means, though they have admonition after admonition, though they are often reproved.
The thing you see is evident in the proof of it, we will a little further discover the nature of such men as live under the means, and yet harden their necks, and how that corruption that is in the heart, doth discover it self most, where the best means are. And you shall see it made good in these two particulars; That wicked men, corrupt hearts are the worst under the best meanes, though they have admonition after admonition, though they are often reproved.
First of all, The hearts of those men grow usually most rebellious against the Lord, and against that truth that cometh with greatest power upon them, either discovering sin to them, or working effectually upon the soul and conscience. The disposition of men usually that are naught is so, that they manifest a marvellous fierceness of soul, whereby they carry themselves violently against the blessed truth and Word of God; and the more, because it is the more powerful; we have a rule in reason, that contraries when they meet, the more violent one is, the more the other will work against it, as we may see it in fire and water: So it is here, the greater violence, and Spirit, and power, the Word hath in any place, the more violent the heart will show it self in gainsaying the Ministry thereof: The more home the Word cometh to the conscience, and the more powerfully it is applied, either in the convincing of sin, or persuasion to holiness of life, the greater risings and stirrings of heart there is against it.
First of all, The hearts of those men grow usually most rebellious against the Lord, and against that truth that cometh with greatest power upon them, either discoveriing sin to them, or working effectually upon the soul and conscience. The disposition of men usually that are naught is so, that they manifest a marvailous fiercenesse of soul, whereby they carry themselves violently against the blessed truth and Word of God; and the more, because it is the more powerfull; we have a rule in reason, that contraries when they meet, the more violent one is, the more the other will work against it, as we may see it in fire and water: So it is here, the greater violence, and Spirit, and power, the Word hath in any place, the more violent the heart will shew it self in gainsaying the Ministry thereof: The more home the Word cometh to the conscience, and the more powerfully it is applied, either in the convincing of sin, or perswasion to holiness of life, the greater risings and stirrings of heart there is against it.