A93085:352
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.
When a man hears things generally delivered, the blessed estate or the Saints, the cursed estate of the wicked, consolations to the one, curses to the other, exhortations to faith and obedience, to both, and a man sits by, and never thinks the Lord is now speaking, and means me. Or if it doth so, yet thinks he intends me no more then others, he hears not the Lord speaking; for when he speaks, he speaks particularly to ⟨p. 167⟩the very heart of a man: he doth so fit the word to him, whether it be the Word of the law to humble him, or of Gospel to comfort, or of command to guide, as if the Lord meant none but them.
When a man heares things generally delivered, the blessed estate or the Saints, the cursed estate of the wicked, consolations to the one, curses to the other, exhortations to faith and obedience, to both, and a man sits by, and never thinks the Lord is now speaking, and means me. Or if it doth so, yet thinks he intends me no more then others, he heares not the Lord speaking; for when he speaks, he speaks particularly to ⟨p. 167⟩the very heart of a man: he doth so fit the word to him, whether it be the Word of the law to humble him, or of Gospel to comfort, or of command to guide, as if the Lord meant none but them.
The word is like an exact picture, it looks every man in the face that looks on it, if God speaks in it, Heb. 4.12, 13. It searcheth the heart, verse 12. but verse 13. he speaks of God how comes that in? because God, the Majesty of God comes with it when God speaks it; With whom we have to do, why is that put in? because when the Lord speaks, a man thinks now I have to do with God, if I resist I oppose a God. Before this a man thinks he hath nothing to do with God, they are such strangers. Hence it is one man is wrought on in a Sermon, another not. God hath singled out one, not the other that day. Hence take a man unhumbled, he hears many things, and it may be understands not; if so, yet they concern not him; if they do, and conscience is stirred, yet they think man means them, and speaks by hap, and others are as bad as they, and his trouble is not much. At last he hears his secret thoughts and sins discovered, all his life is made known, and thinks 'tis the Lord verily that hath done this; now God speaks,