A93085:379
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.
3. Do not trust to the external word. It is a heaven on earth to hear the Word exalted, a glorious thing to hear the Word of God as Gods Word; but trust to the free grace of God in it, and the Spirit of God in Christ to set on that Word. When they brought the lame, and blind, and halt to Christ, they looked for the Word and the Power of it; Speak the Word, Lord, and thy servants shall be whole; so bring your blind, lame, and halt souls to Christ, and trust to the free grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Work of the Lord it shall prosper in his hand; so the Word of the Lord it shall prosper in his hand also.
3. Do not trust to the external word. It is a heaven on earth to hear the Word exalted, a glorious thing to hear the Word of God as Gods Word; but trust to the free grace of God in it, and the Spirit of God in Christ to set on that Word. When they brought the lame, and blinde, and halt to Christ, they looked for the Word and the Power of it; Speak the Word, Lord, and thy servants shall be whole; so bring your blinde, lame, and halt soules to Christ, and trust to the free grace of the Lord Iesus Christ. The Work of the Lord it shall prosper in his hand; so the Word of the Lord it shall prosper in his hand also.
Lastly, so seek the Lord, and so hear the Word, so seek the truth, and so hear the truth, as that you lay up your happiness in ⟨p. 191⟩this world, in closing with the truth and with the word. Brethren, what is a mans happiness in heaven, but to close with God and Christ? I cannot come to God now, the most that I can have of God now is in his word; if it be happiness in heaven to close with God in Christ, truly then it is a mans happiness to close with God in his word on earth; and if it be your happiness, lay up your happiness in it. My son, saith Solomon, if thou wilt hear my word, 1let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the middest of thy heart; place thy happiness in them. So shall they be life to thy soul.