N04105:171
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.
The first is taken away in that which we call the Spirit of Sanctification, after Faith; the second is taken away not only in the Act of it, (as by Terrors it may be in Reprobates, Psal. 66.2.) but in some Measure in the inward Root and Disposition of it, only in the Elect) there being (as hath been said) no more Separation from sin, at this Time required, then so much as may make the Soul come to the Lord to take it away, or at least not unwilling, nor resisting the Lord, when he comes to do it himself.
3 Consi. Whether doth not the Work of Union unto Christ, go before our Communion with Christ? ⟨p. 76⟩I suppose 'tis undeniable, that Union must be before Communion; and that Union to Christ is a Work of Grace as peculiar to the Elect, as Communion with him.
Now Justification and Sanctification are two Parts of our Communion with him, and follow our Union, Rom. 8.1. Our Union therefore must be before these, of which there are two Parts, or rather two Things on our Part, necessarily required to it: