A93085:144
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 5th Degree of casting off the supreme ⟨p. 75⟩power of Christ in his Ordinances; many times when the soul cannot come to Christ, the Lord comes to it: Now then the supreme power of Christ is cast off, when the soul is unwilling or careless, to receive the stroke of the Eternal power of the life of Jesus into his heart; but contents himself with some beginnings, some sips and tastes, and doth not lye under the stroke of the eternal Spirit of the life of Christ.
The 5th Degree of casting off the supreme ⟨p. 75⟩power of Christ in his Ordinances; many times when the soul cannot come to Christ, the Lord comes to it: Now then the supreme power of Christ is cast off, when the soul is unwilling or carelesse, to receive the stroke of the Eternall power of the life of Jesus into his heart; but contents himself with some beginnings, some sips and tastes, and doth not lye under the stroke of the eternal Spirit of the life of Christ.
Look as it is with a company of Subjects, they are in some great Town, that stands it out against a Prince; If the Prince send to them, and they parley with him , and they are thankful for his gifts, and glad of his parley; but yet notwithstanding, they are unwilling to receive the Prince, with all his power to come into the Town; if they be unwilling to do that, and are loath to join sides against the other party, they cast him off from being King: So it is here, when men come to the Lord in Ordinances, the Lord he parlies with them, the Lord he sends promises, and they are marvellous precious things; and they have some taste of what the Lord do's send, and it is sweet to them; But now, because they have lusts in their hearts; the Lord saith, make war against thy lust, and open the gates that I may come in: If so be, a man now out of secret love to his sin, he content himself with the promises of Christ; but the life of Christ, he ⟨p. 76⟩