A93085:371
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. There is efficacy in the word when it hath begotten a man to nourish him up; and so the word it is food to him, that was seed to him to beget him, which food is eternal. How is it eternal? Is it in this, that now the sweetness, savour and remembrance of every thing that doth refresh him, shall last in it self? No, bu• in this respect it is eternal, in that it leaveth its secret virtue in the nourishing of that which is eternal. As now Adam when he was in innocency, and had an immortal body, his food it should have been an immortal food to him; but how should that have been? should he always have had the same strength, from the same diet, which he ate long before? No, ⟨p. 182⟩but in this respect it should have been an immortal food to him, in that it was to nourish that which was to be eternal: So it is here, the word of Gods grace it begets a man, it humbles a man, and draws the soul to Christ; but afterwards, there are many things that God speaks to the soul in the word, that hath an eternal virtue, in that it doth nourish up the new creature; the word hath a secret virtue in it for this end. I will show it you thus; Isa. 58.11. The Lord he professes to his People, Thy soul shall be at a watered garden: The Lord will make the souls of his people like watered gardens, in peace, and joy, and life. Now look as if so be trees by water or by some springs that run by it, and slide away, and ye cannot tell, which it is that makes them to grow; yet y• know this, there is in all of them joined together, a secret insensible virtue; that every one of them adds something to the flourishing of the tree: So it is here, the Saints of God, the word of God it comes to them, and passes by them; and ye cannot tell whether this part or that part of the word leave any virtue, but many times a man feels no virtue; yet it is manifest, here is a flourishing Christian, here is heart, and life; and peace that it hath with God, and the soul it remains flourishing; there is a secret virtue, all the words that run by and pass by the souls of Gods people, ⟨p. 183⟩they do leave a marvellous virtue, to make the souls of Gods people like watered gardens, and to increase in grace. Note it by the way you that live under the means of grace, your souls shall be like watered gardens;