N04231:138
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.
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.
2. Secondly, And for a Man, because he hath not what he would, to be (therefore) off the Hinges so, as throw away all God's Kindness, and to deny the Grace that is given him: And this because he cannot be Conqueror as he desires; is not this Pride? That Measure of Mercy which God hath already showed to thy Soul, is incomprehensible, beyond Man's Reach; and yet because thou canst not have what thou wouldest, thou wilt have nothing at all. Just as if a Man that hath the Law on his Side, and his Estate settled on him, should, because his Evidences are not written in great golden Letters, nor in the largest royal Paper, throw all away. This is your Case: For so you, because you have not so much of Grace, or with such a Sweetness as you would, you deny you have any. But ⟨p. 69⟩have you no Humility, because none to your Mind, or not so much, or not in such a Manner as you require? Oh Pride; and Pride in the highest Degree!
2. Secondly, And for a Man, because he hath not what he would, to be (therefore) off the Hinges so, as throw away all God's Kindness, and to deny the Grace that is given him: And this because he cannot be Conqueror as he desires; is not this Pride? That Measure of Mercy which God hath already shewed to thy Soul, is incomprehensible, beyond Man's Reach; and yet because thou canst not have what thou wouldest, thou wilt have nothing at all. Just as if a Man that hath the Law on his Side, and his Estate settled on him, should, because his Evidences are not written in great golden Letters, nor in the largest royal Paper, throw all away. This is your Case: For so you, because you have not so much of Grace, or with such a Sweetness as you would, you deny you have any. But ⟨p. 69⟩have you no Humility, because none to your Mind, or not so much, or not in such a Manner as you require? Oh Pride; and Pride in the highest Degree!
These Things considered, labour to bring your Hearts more down in a holy Subjection to God's Measure and Time. And think it your Duty, as well to receive Comfort when God offers it upon good Terms, as to do any Duty commanded. And know that it is as truly a Sin (tho' of a higher size) to reject Mercy when God offers it, as to kill a Man, which God hath forbidden. I say, Not as much; for I know there is odds in the Degree. Therefore you (the Saints of God) that have been thus pestered, and thus possest to become your own Enemies, remember (when your Hearts thus begin to slide away) to take your Hearts unto you, and not to give them the Reins at such desperate Conclusions against God and Conscience. Deal better with your Souls, and say, Good Lord, this is the proud unyielding Distemper of this vile Heart of mine. For, what would I have? Is not God's Word clear in this Point, and my Conscience satisfied? Do not the Ministers of God affirm my State to be good? And shall I thus dishonour God, and slight them?