A93085:133
Subjection to Christ in all his ordinances, and appointments, the best means to preserve…
Subjection to Christ in all his ordinances, and appointments, the best means to preserve our liberty. Together with a treatise of ineffectual hearing the word; how we may know whether we have heard the same effectually: and by what means it may be come effectual unto us. With some remarkable passages of his life. By Tho. Shepherd, late pastor of the Church of Christ in Cambridge in New-England. Now published by Mr. Jonathan Michel pastor of the said church in New England.Subjection to Christ in all his ordinances, and appointments, the best means to preserve our liberty. Together with a treatise of ineffectual hearing the word; how we may know whether we have heard the same effectually: and by what means it may be come effectual unto us. With some remarkable passages of his life. By Tho. Shephard, late pastor of the Church of Christ in Cambridge in New-England. Now published by Mr. Jonathan Michell pastor of the said church in New England.
London: printed for John Rothwell, 1652
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.
The Ordinances of the Lord were too costly for you. Mark 12.7, 8. The Lord hath his Vine-yard, he lets it out to husband-men, and he sends for the fruit; and at last the son himself comes to call for fruit. Now say they; Here is the son, let us kill him. Why, what is the matter? out of gain, that is the business; That the inheritance may be ours. Here is this gain to be without them, and therefore to cast off Christ: What will the Lord do to these husband-men? he will take away his Vine-yard from them, &c.
The Ordinances of the Lord were too costly for you. Mark 12.7, 8. The Lord hath his Vine-yard, he lets it out to husband-men, and he sends for the fruit; and at last the son himself comes to call for fruit. Now say they; Here is the son, let us kill him. Why, what is the matter? out of gaine, that is the businesse; That the inheritance may be ours. Here is this gaine to be without them, and therefore to cast off Christ: What will the Lord do to these husband-men? he will take away his Vine-yard from them, &c.
It is the speech of Luther, Venture in omni religione potentissimum Idolum: When the Belly is served, Christ must be destroyed. Men may have this quiet life without these Ordinances; and hence men bear a privy grudge against the Ordinances of the Lord, because the belly is not served. Look as it was with the Jews; they looked for a glorious King to come to them, and Christ came; and though they were told of it before; when he came, he had nothing but his Cross; and he tells them, If they will be his Disciples, they must take his Cross. But now, because he came not with pomp, but only with his cross, this is the great reason; why to this day the Jews do set themselves against the Lord Jesus Christ; the Cross came with Christ, that's the cause of it: So when men shall look for great things from the Ordinances of Christ, and ⟨p. 66⟩