A93085:366
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.
goes home and thinks within himself, Happy they that are in this condition: Blessed are they that can walk thus with God; But I cannot, saith the soul. I say it may find it thus, when he cannot find the real efficacy of the word as he would do; he may receive the benefit of that word, if the Lord do but only give him a heart to desire it. Oh that the Lord would but thus manifest himself to me; the soul may go away poor and hungry from the word, and the Lord may yet reserve a spirit of thirsting after that good which a man desires to find; and there is the efficacy of the word there.
goes home and thinks within himself, Happy they that are in this condition: Blessed are they that can walk thus with God; But I cannot, saith the soul. I say it may finde it thus, when he cannot finde the reall efficacy of the word as he would do; he may receive the benefit of that word, if the Lord do but only give him a heart to desire it. Oh that the Lord would but thus manifest himself to me; the soul may go away poor and hungry from the word, and the Lord may yet reserve a spirit of thirsting after that good which a man desires to finde; and there is the efficacy of the word there.
As now there are two golden vessels; one a man fills, and it is everyday dropping, and he preserves it; another vessel he do's not fill, but with something that he hath, he is every day widening of it. So some Christians, ⟨p. 179⟩the Lord he's a filling of them; others, the Lord he do's not fill them with such peace and joy; ay, but though the Lord is not filling of them, he is a widening of them: there is such a virtue that the lord do's enlarge the heart; with secret desires and longings after more of Gods grace, and Christs: The Lord he saith, I intend to make this man a vessel of glory; and I intend he shall have a great deal of glory and peace at the last. The lord he leaves such an impression of the word upon him, as that thereby he enlargeth the heart; Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.