A93085:236
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. Loose company, vain men, Prov. 25.3, 4. A Common-wealth is a refined vessel of use for God, and judgement is established; when these are taken away, your knots of loose company. Take a poor soldier alone, he is as other men, but when they are got into a knot together; now they grow ⟨p. 120⟩strong against all laws of God or men. So here, the knot of good fellowship hath been the bane of the flourishing Stale of England, meeting in Taverns and such places; and the cause of whoredom, and of all evil commonly in a Nation. For hence, 1. Much precious time is lost; which if spent in praying, as in sporting with them, many a young mans soul had been blessed: Hence, sometimes dicing, feasting, excessive drinking, merry tales, which take off all spiritual joy: Hence filthy songs, and lascivious speeches; by which hopeful young men are ensnared, and taught to do wickedly, and so knit to them; that it's death to part with them, and it's better to burn a whole town, then to poison one hopeful young man.
2. Loose company, vain men, Prov. 25.3, 4. A Common-wealth is a refined vessell of use for God, and judgement is established; when these are taken away, your knots of loose company. Take a poor souldier alone, he is as other men, but when they are got into a knot together; now they grow ⟨p. 120⟩strong against all lawes of God or men. So here, the knot of good fellowship hath been the bane of the flourishing Stale of England, meeting in Tavernes and such places; and the cause of whoredome, and of all evil commonly in a Nation. For hence, 1. Much precious time is lost; which if spent in praying, as in sporting with them, many a young mans soul had been blessed: Hence, sometimes dicing, feasting, excessive drinking, merry tales, which take off all spiritual joy: Hence filthy songs, and lascivious speeches; by which hopefull young men are insnared, and taught to do wickedly, and so knit to them; that it's death to part with them, and it's better to burne a whole town, then to poyson one hopefull young man.