A93085:140
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.
But now when men have found the Lord in an Ordinance, subduing some particular sin: there are other sins remaining in their hearts, and they stand unremovable in their hearts; and hence, are the strongest and dearest of all the rest: Now, I say, when men having these sins, and knowing these sins in their hearts and spirits; when as, because I cannot subdue these sins; and they have attended on the Lord in the use of means, and the Lord helps them not; and because, they hope to be saved at last for all these: Hence they come to a truce with their sin, and never go mourning to the Lord; nor say, the Lord hath begun to subdue some of these lusts: Now Lord, go on, but the soul is at truce with his sins. Beloved, if there be any pollution of the Ordinances of the Lord, here it is; that men come with unbroken hearts to the Ordinances of the Lord; that never feel your need of them, and wounds and sores that are in your hearts, that men do stand with those very sins, that they think they cannot subdue; and because, they cannot ease themselves of them, therefore they give way to them. When men keep these sins with unsensible hearts of them, ye do resist the holy Ghost, ye feel not your need of the Lord; therefore ye keep your sins, and your woes you shall have for them.
But now when men have found the Lord in an Ordinance, subduing some particular sin: there are other sins remaining in their hearts, and they stand unremoveable in their hearts; and hence, are the strongest and dearest of all the rest: Now, I say, when men having these sins, and knowing these sins in their hearts and spirits; when as, because I cannot subdue these sins; and they have attended on the Lord in the use of means, and the Lord helps them not; and because, they hope to be saved at last for all these: Hence they come to a truce with their sin, and never go mourning to the Lord; nor say, the Lord hath begun to subdue some of these lusts: Now Lord, go on, but the soul is at truce with his sinnes. Beloved, if there be any pollution of the Ordinances of the Lord, here it is; that men come with unbroken hearts to the Ordinances of the Lord; that never feel your need of them, and wounds and sores that are in your hearts, that men do stand with those very sins, that they think they cannot subdue; and because, they cannot ease themselves of them, therefore they give way to them. When men keep these sins with unsensible hearts of them, ye do resist the holy Ghost, ye feel not your need of the Lord; therefore ye keep your sins, and your woes you shall have for them.