A86532:174
The saints guide, in three treatises
The saints guide, in three treatises; I. The mirror of mercy, on Gen. 6.13. II. The carnal mans condition, on Rom. 1.18. III. The plantation of the righteous, on Psa. l.3 / By Thomas Hooker minister in New-England.The saints guide, in three treatises; I. The mirror of mercie, on Gen. 6.13. II. The carnall mans condition, on Rom. 1.18. III. The plantation of the righteous, on Psa. l.3 / By Thomas Hooker minister in New-England.
London: printed for John Stafford over against Brids Church, 1645
THE PLANTATION OF The RIGHTEOUS.THE PLANTATION OF The RIGHTEOVS.
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.
Reas. 1 First, if the season of doing duties be thus observed, it beautifieth all our actions, Prov. 25.11. A word spoken in season is like apples of Gold in pictures of Silver. If a man strike while the metal is hot, glorious forms may be effected; So in the work of grace, if a man take the opportunity while the wind is blowing, the word preaching, the Spirit lifting, and stirring in the Soul, then a glorious work, a new creation may be wrought, but if men delay until their eyes be dime, their limbs feeble, their strength spent, their spirits weak, and corruption strong and fast rooted in the Soul, this seldom proves a season for the ⟨p. 162⟩doing of such a Soul good, for if conscience now cometh to be awakened, and the sinful Soul to see, what opportunities God hath vouchsafed it, what proffers he hath made, what seasons for the doing, and receiving of good have been afforded: all which he hath abused and trifled away, and the Soul now fearing that it shall never have such seasons more, but that the day of grace shall set upon it, hereupon it is driven to despair.
Reas. 1 First, if the season of doing duties be thus observed, it beautifyeth all our actions, Prov. 25.11. A word spoken in season is like apples of Gold in pictures of Silver. If a man strike while the mettell is hot, glorious formes may be effected; So in the worke of grace, if a man take the opportunity while the wind is blowing, the word preaching, the Spirit lifting, and stirring in the Soule, then a glorious worke, a new creation may be wrought, but if men delay untill their eyes be dime, their limbes feeble, their strength spent, their spirits weake, and corruption strong and fast rooted in the Soule, this seldome proves a season for the ⟨p. 162⟩doing of such a Soule good, for if conscience now cometh to be awakened, and the sinfull Soule to see, what opportunities God hath vouchsafed it, what profers he hath made, what seasons for the doing, and receiving of good have beene afforded: all which he hath abused and trifled away, and the Soule now fearing that it shall never have such seasons more, but that the day of grace shall set upon it, hereupon it is driven to despaire.