A93085:86
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.
Use 4. Use 4 Hence see the reason why many men are delivered up to the bondage of their own lusts, the most sad bondage and power of Satan, who have seemed to be delivered from it; truly they have cast off the government of the Lord. Men wonder why in this country men are more vile then ever they were, men that gave great hopes; the reason is this, they have seemed to be under Christs government, but secretly cast it off: And hence filthy and vile lusts are their Apparitors and Pursuivants, &c.
Ʋse 4. Ʋse 4 Hence see the reason why many men are delivered up to the bondage of their own lusts, the most sad bondage and power of Satan, who have seemed to be delivered from it; truely they have cast off the government of the Lord. Men wonder why in this countrey men are more vile then ever they were, men that gave great hopes; the reason is this, they have seemed to be under Christs government, but secretly cast it off: And hence filthy and vile lusts are their Apparitors and Pursevants, &c.
Objection. Object. The Saints feel a bondage, how shall one know the difference?
Answer. The first and greatest enthralment is, Answ. 1 when Satan and sin so rule as that they know them not, this is lamentable, that like those, John 8.33. when Christ told them, if they continued in the truth it should make them free, they would not believe that ever they were in bondage: so here a man thinks himself free when he is a slave, thus Psalm 81.13. God gave them up to their own hearts lusts, and they were led by their own Counsels. The Saints may be much carried away by the power of Satan's temptations, but never so far as to think their bondage is their freedom, and to have reasons and arguments prevailing against the good ways of Gods grace, and to have reasons to maintain their sinful courses, and that is in such as have wit, and parts, and knowledge, which through the righteous judgement of God are left so far to abuse it, as to make use of it to maintain their sin-full lusts.