A90291:156
The steadfastness of promises, and the sinfulness of staggeringThe stedfastness of promises, and the sinfulness of staggering
The steadfastness of promises, and the sinfulness of staggering: opened in a sermon preached at Margarets in Westminster before the Parliament Febr. 28. 1649. Being a day set apart for solemn humiliation throughout the nation. By John Owen minister of the Gospel.The stedfastness of promises, and the sinfulness of staggering: opened in a sermon preached at Margarets in Westminster before the Parliament Febr. 28. 1649. Being a day set apart for solemn humiliation throughout the nation. By John Owen minister of the Gospel.
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1650
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Observe, that 1 They grieve him. 2 They provoke him. 3 They dishonour him.
Observe, that 1 They grieve him. 2 They provoke him. 3 They dishonor him.
1 Such a frame grieves the Lord. Nothing more presses true Love, then to have any Appearance of Suspicion. Christ comes to Peter and asks him, Simon, Son of Jonah, lovest thou me? Joh. 21. 15. Peter seems glad of an opportunity to confess him, and his love to him, whom not long since he had denied; and Answers readily, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. But when Christ comes with the same Question again and again, the holy Ghost tells us, Peter was grieved because he said unto him the 3d time, Lovest thou me? It exceedingly troubled Peter, That his Love should come under so many Questionings, which he knew to be sincere. The Love of Christ to his, is infinitely beyond the Love of his, to him. All our Doubtings are nothing but so many Questionings of his Love. We cry, Lord Jesus, Lovest thou us? and agai•• Lord Jesus, Lovest thou us? and that with distrustf•• […] thoughts, That it is not, it cannot be. […] ⟨p. 50⟩the Unbelieving Jews, the holy Ghost tells us, Jesus was grieved for the hardness of their hearts: Mark 3. 5. And as it is bitter to him in the Root, so also in the Fruit. Our Staggerings and Debates when we have a Word of Promise; is a Grief to his holy Spirit, as the unkindest return we can make unto his Love.
1 Such a frame grieves the Lord. Nothing more presses true Love, then to have any Appearance of Suspition. Christ comes to Peter and asks him, Simon, Son of Jonas, lovest thou me?