A93085:145
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.
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⟩cares not for that, he uses not ail means that he may find that, the supreme power of the Lord Jesus is now cast off, and I know no difference between such a people and Capernaum; they did enjoy the Gospel of God, but now to entertain the Lord Jesus in his spiritual power, this they were loath to come to; therefore, saith the Lord, Woe to thee Capernaum; the mighty work of Jesus Christ in their hearts, this, they never cared for. Saith the Apostle, 2 Cor. 10.5. The weapons of our warfare, they are mighty through God. As poor things as you think the Ordinances of the Lord to be, they are mighty through the Lord: When Christians shall not be willing to receive this mighty power of the Lord Jesus Christ truly, now the Kingdom of Christ is cast off. John 6.49. Your fathers are Manna in the Wilderness, and are dead, that was outward Manna; but he that eateth me, shall live for ever.
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 parlie with him , and they are thankfuil for his gifts, and glad of his parlie; 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 joyn 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 warre 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