A93085:72
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.
Reason 1. Reas. 1 In regard of the righteous Judgement of God. It's just and equal that he that will not be ruled by this blessed Lord Jesus, he should be ruled by his lusts; he that will not be in subjection to a merciful Christ, he should be in bondage to unmerciful men: this an humbled heart will acknowledge, as these do here, Verse 6. They acknowledged the Lord to be righteous: Man being fallen it had been righteous with God to have left all men as the Angels that fell in chains of darkness for ever. But among his church and people the Lord sends the Gospel to proclaim liberty, and with it sends Christ with his Spirit, to come to the prison-doors of poor sinners, to give repentance as well as remission of sins, and now if they will not come out of their bondage, accept of the Lords liberty, 'tis exceeding righteous to deal with them as we do with prisoners condemned to die; if the Prince comes to the prison-doors, and says, I am come to give thee thy life, nay and here is pardon, nay favour, and to pull off thy chains also, now if he says no, I had rather be in prison; every one will say it is just; and as it was in the year of Jubilee he that would not go free was to be a bondman for ever. 'Tis very righteous ⟨p. 17⟩to give men their own choice, 'tis no wrong to let them have their own will: If indeed the laws of Christ were Draco's laws, hard and heavy, there were something to object, but they are most sweet, and for which of all other blessings men have cause to bless him, Psal. 147. ult.
Reason 1. Reas. 1 Inregard of the righteous Judgement of God. It's just and equal that he that will not be ruled by this blessed Lord Jesus, he should be ruled by his lusts; he that will not be in subjection to a merciful Christ, he should be in bondage to unmerciful men: this an humbled heart will acknowledge, as these do here, Verse 6. They acknowledged the Lord to be righteous: Mam being fallen it had been righteous with God to have left all men as the Angels that fell in chains of darknesse for ever. But among his church and people the Lord sends the Gospel to proclaime liberty, and with it sends Christ with his Spirit, to come to the prison-doores of poor sinners, to give repentance as well as remission of sinnes, and now if they will not come out of their bondage, accept of the Lords liberty, 'tis exceeding righteous to deal with them as we do with prisoners condemned to die; if the Prince comes to the prison-doores, and saies, I am come to give thee thy life, nay and here is pardon, nay favour, and to pull off thy chaines also, now if he saies no, I had rather be in prison; every one will say it is just; and as it was in the yeare of Jubile he that would not go free was to be a bondman for ever. 'Tis very righteous