A86532:54
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
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.
First, As in a suite of Law before there can be a day of Hearing, the Party is summoned to answer.
First, As in a suite of Law before there can be a day of Heareing, the Party is summoned to answer.
So the Lord having a Controversy with a sinner, the Lord summons the sinner into his Court, the Lord causeth a Writ to issue out to attach a sinful Creature that lieth snorting in his sins, and securely posts to destruction, one that never saw his misery and wants, and never sought for mercy and supply, Salvation being the furthest end of his thoughts, and the least part of his care. Now the Lord doth bring this about in his providence, by bringing them to the word, and therein mercifully making ⟨p. 27⟩known the sinners estate before ever he imagined thereof. Jsa: 65.5. I was found of them that sought me not. Hence in ordinary experience many a poor sinful creature hath been accidentally cast into such a Town, or into a good family, and the Lord comes upon him on a sudden when he never dreamed of life and grace. As many a soul in the acknowledgement of Gods mercy and providence breaks out in this wonder, Oh that I should be brought into such a place, such a family, and meet with such opportunities, when I dreamed of it as little as of dooms day and desired nothing more then mischief, that God should stop ⟨p. 28⟩me in the way to Hell: See that of Saul when he was running to Damascus, ah (saith he) I will take these Puritans in their Conventicles; a light shined suddenly from Heaven and almost tumbled him down into Hell; Even such a kind of light is let into the soul; not that we must expect a miracle, or a new thing, but when the word is brought home to the understanding, the soul will think those strange things, such as he never heard or thought of.
So the Lord having a Controversie with a sinner, the Lord summons the sinner into his Court, the Lord causeth a Writ to issue out to attach a sinfull Creature that lieth snorting in his sins, and securely posts to destruction, one that never saw his miserie and wants, and never sought for mercy and supply, Salvation being the furthest end of his thoughts, and the least part of his care. Now the Lord doth bring this about in his providence, by bringing them to the word, and therein mercifully making