N04231:154
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.
Satan. But (saith the Devil) may not you be deceived in the Letter of the Word? The Word is true indeed; but how know you that you rightly apply it, and that the Word and your Heart suit together?
Sinner. Why (saith the Soul) I desire as earnestly to have my Sin purged, as I do to have it pardoned. I know my Heart by the Word, and to the Word I repair; and the Lord knows that I hate all Sin inwardly, and reform it outwardly, to my weak Power; and therefore I know I shall find Mercy. Show me a Place of Scripture that saith I do not rightly apply the Word, and I believe it; but I will not believe thee; for thou art, as thou wast from the Beginning, a Liar. Thus hold to the Word, and the Devil will be tired, weary, and leave thee; keep you here, for if he catch you a wandering after Sense and Feeling, you are gone. The Prophet saith; Psal. 119.98. Thou through thy Commandments hast made me wiser than my Enemies, for they are ever with me. Satan is wise by long Experience; and the Flesh, and carnal Reason, and the World are wise too: But blessed be our God that makes every poor ignorant Servant of his wiser than all these. But how? The Word must ever be in your Hands, and the Meditation of it in your Hearts: It must be always with you; and you must keep it with you daily: For that will make you not to know only what is amiss, but to get Ground against Corruption, and whatever else may hinder your Peace with God and with your selves.
Sinner. Why (saith the Soul) I desire as earnestly to have my Sin purged, as I do to have it pardoned. I know my Heart by the Word, and to the Word I repair; and the Lord knows that I hate all Sin inwardly, and reform it outwardly, to my weak Power; and therefore I know I shall find Mercy. Shew me a Place of Scripture that saith I do not rightly apply the Word, and I believe it; but I will not believe thee; for thou art, as thou wast from the Beginning, a Liar. Thus hold to the Word, and the Devil will be tired, weary, and leave thee; keep you here, for if he catch you a wandering after Sense and Feeling, you are gone. The Prophet saith;