N03999:174
Captives bound in chains, made free by Christ their surety
Captives bound in chains, made free by Christ their surety: or, The misery of graceless sinners, and their recovery by Christ their Saviour. By T. Doolittel [sic]. ; [Three lines from Isaiah]
Boston: printed by Rogers & Fowle for J. Edwards, 1742
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.
7. Another Chain with which some Captives are bound, is their resting in religious and holy duties; these go a step higher than the former, and yet are as fast bound as others be, and faster too; for when many gross sinners are delivered from captivity, and their bonds are broke, Hypocrites are fast entangled with chains of their own making. Publicans and Harlots enter into the Kingdom of God, when Hypocrites are shut out, Mat. 21.31 as Paul compared ⟨p. 142⟩himself with others 2 Cor. 11.22.23. Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. Are they Ministers of Christ?—I am more, in Labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. So hypocrites comparing themselves with those that are set at liberty by Christ in respect of all external duties, and common gifts conceiting that therefore they are free too, are the faster bound. Are God's free-men much in prayer? so am I, saith the Hypocrite. Are they frequent in hearing? so am I. Are they admitted to all Ordinances, and received into Church-fellowship by the godly, strict, and careful Ministers of Christ? so am I. Do they talk and discourse of God, and Christ, and Heaven? so do I, and more than many of them do. Do they suffer for Religion, and have been in bonds and prisons for Religious worshipping of God? So have I.
7. Another Chain with which some Captives are bound, is their resting in religious and holy duties; these go a step higher than the former, and yet are as fast bound as others be, and faster too; for when many gross sinners are delivered from captivity, and their bonds are broke, Hypocrites are fast intangled with chains of their own making. Publicans and Harlots enter into the Kingdom of God, when Hypocrites are shut out, Mat. 21.31 as Paul compared ⟨p. 142⟩himself with others 2 Cor. 11.22.23. Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. Are they Ministers of Christ?—I am more, in Labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. So hypocrites comparing themselves with those that are set at liberty by Christ in respect of all external duties, and common gifts conceiting that therefore they are free too, are the faster bound. Are God's free-men much in prayer? so am I, saith the Hypocrite. Are they frequent in hearing? so am I. Are they admitted to all Ordinances, and received into Church-fellowship by the godly, strict, and careful Ministers of Christ? so am I. Do they talk and discourse of God, and Christ, and Heaven? so do I, and more than many of them do. Do they suffer for Religion, and have been in bonds and prisons for Religious worshipping of God? So have I.