N04105:219
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.
THE Sound Believer. › Chapter 1 › Section 4: The third Act of Christ's Power, which is Humiliation.
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.
3. By what Means doth the Lord work this?
Answ. In general, by the Spirit immediately acting upon the Soul; but after a Christian is in Christ he hath, by the Habit of Humility, and the Virtue of Faith, some Power to humble himself: But now […] Spirit of Christ doth it immediately by its own omnipotent Hand; else the proud Heart would never ⟨p. 97⟩down: For we are first Created in Christ (which is by God's Omnipotent immediate Act) unto Good Works, before we do from ourselves, or by the Power of Faith, put forth Good Works, Eph. 2.10. These Acts of Self-confidence may not be stirring in all Christians; but in all Men there is this Frame of Spirit, never to come to Christ, if they can make any thing else serve to heal them or save them; and therefore the Spirit cuts off this sinful Frame in part in all the Elect; he hews the Roughness and Pride of Spirit off, that it may lie still upon the Foundation it is now prepared for. Now tho' the Spirit works this, yet 'tis not without the Word; the Word it works chiefly by, is the Law, Gal 3.19. I through' the Law am dead to it, (i. e. from seeking any Life or Help from it) that I might live unto God.
Answ. In general, by the Spirit immediately acting upon the Soul; but after a Christian is in Christ he hath, by the Habit of Humility, and the Virtue of Faith, some Power to humble himself: But now 〈…〉 Spirit of Christ doth it immediately by its own omnipotent Hand; else the proud Heart would never ⟨p. 97⟩down: For we are first Created in Christ (which is by God's Omnipotent immediate Act) unto Good Works, before we do from ourselves, or by the Power of Faith, put forth Good Works, Eph. 2.10. These Acts of Self-confidence may not be stirring in all Christians; but in all Men there is this Frame of Spirit, never to come to Christ, if they can make any thing else serve to heal them or save them; and therefore the Spirit cuts off this sinful Frame in part in all the Elect; he hews the Roughness and Pride of Spirit off, that it may lie still upon the Foundation it is now prepared for. Now tho' the Spirit works this, yet 'tis not without the Word; the Word it works chiefly by, is the Law, Gal 3.19. I thro' the Law am dead to it, (i. e. from seeking any Life or Help from it) that I might live unto God.