B02840:300
The unsearchable riches of Christ, and of grace and glory in and through [sic]…The unsearchable riches of Christ, and of grace and glory in and thorow [sic]…
The unsearchable riches of Christ, and of grace and glory in and through [sic] him. Diligently searched into, clearly unfolded, and comfortably holden forth, in fourteen rich gospel sermons preached on several texts, at communions, in Glasgow. / By the late pious & powerful gospel-preacher in that city, Mr. James Durham.The unsearchable riches of Christ, and of grace and glory in and thorow [sic] him. Diligently searched into, clearly unfolded, and comfortably holden forth, in fourteen rich gospel sermons preached on several texts, at communions, in Glasgow. / By the late pious & powerful gospel-preacher in that city, Mr. James Durham.
Glasgow: printed by Robert Sanders, 1685
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.
men have naturally a sort of Gospel of their own that they cannot go by, till someway they be constrained: and when God puts them to it, they are at a stand: as for instance, there is this Prejudice in some, that they think none can go and warrantably take hold of Gods Covenant till they be so and so humbled: that they cannot go with Convictions & Challenges, till they get some more deep heart-work, or be in a better and more tender frame, Hence Peter saith to Christ, Luke 5. very unreasonably, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord; whereas David reasoned otherwise and much more Pertinently, Psal. 25. when he saith, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great: and hence the question ariseth, what shall we do? and when they are bidden believe: they Object, Ah! we are sinners, and have evil and hard hearts, and are unhumbled: look what Passed betwixt Peter and his heaters, Acts. 2. He layeth out before them their horrid guilt in crucifying Christ: they are Pricked in their hearts, and cry, what shall we do? He bids them Repent and be Baptized, which takes in Faith, and vers. 41. It's said, that such as were kindly touched, Gladly received the Word; Now I pray, what if they had objected can we that have even now, or a very li•le since, had our wicked hands imbrued in the precious blood ⟨p. 218⟩of Christ Believe on him? Come away (saith he on the matter) for there is no other way to Pardon and Peace with God: there was much of this in the Primitive times amongst the Christian Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, and Hebrews, many Prejudices at and wrong conceptions of the Gospel and Covenant of Grace: and therefore they would have patched up a Gospel of Grace & of works: they would have brought in the Ceremonies of the Law and established a self-righteousness: and this in particular is one great Prejudice that the devil Laboureth deeply to possess the minds of wakened sinners with, even to make them think that it's Presumption for them, though they would fain do it, to come to Christ and by Faith to close with him, unless they be so and so qualified: as long as they are secure, he makes them take their Presumption for Faith: but the next day when they are wakened and exhorted to betake themselves to Christ by Faith, he calls that also Presumption: and indeed, as it is Satan's manner to drive Sinners on extremes, So it is our way to run into extremes: