N04105:122
The sound believer. A treatise of evangelical conversion. Discovering the work of Christ's spirit,…
The sound believer. A treatise of evangelical conversion. Discovering the work of Christ's spirit, in reconciling of a sinner to God. / By Thomas Shepard, sometime of Emanuel-College in Cambridge, since preacher of God's word in New-England. ; [One line from Matthew]
Boston: printed by Green for D. Henchman, 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.
4. Because it is such a sorrow, as nothing but that that hath wounded the Soul can heal it. Let Men have the greatest outward Troubles, outward Things can cure them; or else they will wear away. As if a Man be sick, or in debt, Physic and Money can cure these; but this Wound, neither can, or ever shall be healed but by the Hand that wounded it, Hos. 6.1, 2, 3. And hence a Man can take no Comfort in Meat, Drink, Sleep, Friends, Mirth, nor Pastime, while this Wound, this Sorrow lasts; for if any Thing else can heal it, it is not the right Wound or Sorrow the Lord breeds in his Elect. An adulterous Heart indeed may be quieted with other Lovers; Cain can build away his Sorrow: Nay, I'll say more, this wounded Soul cannot comfort it self by any Promises, till the Lord come: David had a Promise of Pardon from Nathan, yet he cries out to the Lord to make him hear the Voice of Joy and Gladness, that his broken Bones might rejoice, Psal. 51.8. Did not the Lord make him hear the Voice of Joy by Nathan: Yes, outwardly; but the Lord that had broke his Bones, must make him hear inwardly. Nay, when the Lord comes himself to comfort, much ado the Lord hath to make him hear it; as the Israelites that hearkened not unto Moses's Voice because of their hard Bondage, that unless the Lord did invincibly Comfort, it would lie bleeding to Death, and never live. It must needs therefore be great Sorrow, which all the World, Men nor Angels can remove.
4. Because it is such a sorrow, as nothing but that that hath wounded the Soul can heal it. Let Men have the greatest outward Troubles, outward Things can cure them; or else they will wear away. As if a Man be sick, or in debt, Physick and Money can cure these; but this Wound, neither can, or ever shall be healed but by the Hand that wounded it, Hos. 6.1, 2, 3. And hence a Man can take no Comfort in Meat, Drink, Sleep, Friends, Mirth, nor Pastime, while this Wound, this Sorrow lasts; for if any Thing else can heal it, it is not the right Wound or Sorrow the Lord breeds in his Elect. An adulterous Heart indeed may be quieted with other Lovers; Cain can build away his Sorrow: Nay, I'll say more, this wounded Soul cannot comfort it self by any Promises, till the Lord come: David had a Promise of Pardon from Nathan, yet he cries out to the Lord to make him hear the Voice of Joy and Gladness, that his broken Bones might rejoice,