A92857:418
The riches of grace displayed in the offer and tender of salvation to poor…
The riches of grace displayed in the offer and tender of salvation to poor sinners. Wherein is set out, the gracious behaviour of Christ, standing at the door and knocking for entrance. The dutiful behaviour of sinners in hearing Christs voice and opening to him. And the comfortable event upon them both. / By Obadiah Sedgwick. B.D. and late minister of the Gospel in Covent-Garden.
London: printed by T.R. & E.M. for Adoniram Byfield, 1657
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.
3. Though his humblings be very small, yet if he will open to Christ, Christ will be his. It is true, that humblings (for ought I know) are a necessary antecedent before the opening of the heart to Christ. The stinging Serpent was felt before the healing Serpent was looked on: The ground is ploughed before it is sown; The breaking hammer of the Law strikes the conscience, before the golden key of the Gospel opens the will. But as Christ enters not after the greatest humblings in conscience, if the will opens not to him, so he will enter into ⟨p. 124⟩the least humblings in the soul, if the will therefore opens to receive him.
3. Though his humblings be very small, yet if he will open to Christ, Christ will be his. It is true, that humblings (for ought I know) are a necessary antecedent before the opening of the heart to Christ. The stinging Serpent was felt before the healing Serpent was lookt on: The ground is plowed before it is sowen; The breaking hammer of the Law strikes the conscience, before the golden key of the Gospel opens the will. But as Christ enters not after the greatest humblings in conscience, if the will opens not to him, so he will enter into ⟨p. 124⟩the least humblings in the soul, if the will therefore opens to receive him.
Humblings may be considered two ways.
1. Intensively, for high degrees