N04231:139
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.
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?
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 pester'd, 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?
Object. But what saith the poor Soul to this? Must I eat my own Words? Must I say and unsay? Say I have Grace, when before I said, I had none?