N04105:550
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.
5. In suffering and enduring any Evil for his Sake. I confess it is not every Degree of Love that will carry a Man hither; yet where there is great and singular ⟨p. 255⟩Love, for a good Man one may be willing to die, Rom. 5.7. assured if there be any Love to Christ, it will in Time increase to this Measure; it will think ten thousand Lives too little to lay down for Christ's Sake, that laid down his precious Life for him: What tell you me, saith Paul, of Bonds and Imprisonments? I am ready not only to be bound, but to die for the Sake of Christ at Jerusalem; my Life is not dear to me, no more than a Rush at my Foot, that I may finish my Course with Joy. For thy Sake we are killed all the Day long, Rom. 8.36. I tell you the Love of Christ will make you fall down upon your Knees, & bless the Lord that he will accept of such a poor Sacrifice as thy Body is, tho' it be burnt to Ashes; and thou wilt bless him again and again, that whereas he might have left thee in thy Sins to have trodden him and his Glory & Grace under Foot, as he hath done Thousands in the World; yet that he should call thee to share in this Honour, not only to do, but to suffer for his Sake.
Now the good Lord persuade all our Hearts unto this fruitful Obedience and Life of Love. Oh you young Men, you have a fair Time before you to do much for Christ in; how pleasing will it be to him to see such young Trees hang full of Fruit! You aged Men have now one Foot in your Grave, and you have forgotten the Lord Jesus most of your Time, and your Time which now remains is very little, and then your Lamp is out, your Sun is almost set, and all your Work is yet to be done for Christ, O therefore awaken now at last before you awake when it is too late; you rich Men have Abilities, and wherewithal to set forward Christ's Kingdom in the Towns and Villages where you live; you poor Men may do much by ardent and instant Prayers Day and Night, for the Advancement of the Lord Jesus. You Husbands, Wives, Masters,