N04231:118
The poor doubting Christian drawn to Christ. Wherein the main hindrances, which keep men…
The poor doubting Christian drawn to Christ. Wherein the main hindrances, which keep men from coming to Christ, are discovered. : With special helps to recover God's favour. / By Thomas Hooker. ; With an abstract of the author's life. ; [Four lines from Isaiah]
Boston: printed by Green for D. Henchman, 1743
Title page typeset from the transcription.
THE Poor doubting Christian Drawn to CHRIST. › Chapter 2 › How to see Sin aright.
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.
And now, when all carnal Reasonings, and high soaring Imaginations (as Paul calls them) have raised up strong Holds against Mercy and Comfort; when the Word cannot for the present settle Peace in the unquiet Soul; God is made at last to command his loving Kindness, and send it with a Commission from Heaven; and to say unto it, I charge you break open the Doors of such a reluctant Sinner, rend off that Veil of Ignorance that is ⟨p. 54⟩before his Eyes; silence all his Doubts and Fears: And when this is done, I charge you go home to that broken Soul, and to cheer and refresh it with the Sense of my sweet Favour; and with the Assurance of my Love to fill it.
And now, when all carnal Reasonings, and high soaring Imaginations (as Paul calls them) have raised up strong Holds against Mercy and Comfort; when the Word cannot for the present settle Peace in the unquiet Soul; God is made at last to command his loving Kindness, and send it with a Commission from Heaven; and to say unto it, I charge you break open the Doors of such a reluctant Sinner, rend off that Veil of Ignorance that is ⟨p. 54⟩before his Eyes; silence all his Doubts and Fears: And when this is done, I charge you go home to that broken Soul, and to chear and refresh it with the Sense of my sweet Favour; and with the Assurance of my Love to fill it.
While we were Enemies, saith the Apostle, Christ died for us, Rom. 5.8. And here the Lord sends from Heaven to a poor miserable Creature, and saith, Commend my Love, commend my Mercy to such a distressed Soul, and tell it, Tho' it hath been an Enemy to me, yet I am a Friend to it. Tell it, Tho' it hath been a Traitor to me, I have been a good King to it. And tell it, that tho' it hath been a Rebel to me, I have yet been a loving God to it. Tell the Man (whose Heart that is) that his Sins are pardoned, his Person accepted, and that his Soul shall be saved. Tell him his Sighs and Groans are not lost, and that his Prayers are heard in Heaven. Let him know that the Lord Jesus died for Sinners when they were Sinners. Make all this good to his Soul, I charge you before you come back. So much for the third Help.