A93085:171
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.
2. A low spirit, which makes a man to have low thoughts, and endeavours, I mean not an humble, but a narrow spirit, not enlarged to hold much, or to do much, hence it doth little. As take a plain countryman, he neither seeks or regards the affairs of the State in public, because his spirit and condition is low; but Princes do mind and attend to the affairs of the Kingdom, to advance it; because their condition is high, and they know it. Moses, he suffered reproach with the people of God, loss of all the honour and pleasure of Pharaohs Court; feared not Pharaoh, nor loss of life for their ⟨p. 93⟩sakes: For, he saw that God which is invisible; like Saul, when once a Kingdom comes to be in his eye, he leaves off to seek the Asses.
2. A low spirit, which makes a man to have low thoughts, and endeavours, I mean not an humble, but a narrow spirit, not inlarged to hold much, or to do much, hence it doth little. As take a plaine countreyman, he neither seeks or regards the affaires of the State in publick, because his spirit and condition is low; but Princes do minde and attend to the affaires of the Kingdome, to advance it; because their condition is high, and they know it. Moses, he suffered reproach with the people of God, losse of all the honour and pleasure of Pharaohs Court; feared not Pharaoh, nor losse of life for their ⟨p. 93⟩sakes: For, he saw that God which is invisible; like Saul, when once a Kingdome comes to be in his eye, he leaves off to seek the Asses.
3. Sloth. There are Thorns, Prov. 15.19. and Lions, Prov. 26.13. in a sluggards way: There be many difficulties, businesses, occasion, and objections; when as if once he were resolved to break thorough them, then the work would go on: Like a man, when he is in his warm bed, he is loth to rise; but when he is up, he would not be in his bed again, if he might be hired again to put off his clothes: I shall get no good, saith one, nor do none, saith another; and when these businesses are past, and occasions over; and at another time, I will seek God, and go about Gods work; and thus a slothful spirit hinders.