N04231:223
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.
1. First: Thou seest what GOD is in the Promise, and thou expectest no more than GOD is there: Then, eye that particular Good in the Promise which thou standest in need of; eye that Good in Christ and in the Promise, and then set God's Power and Faithfulness awork to bring that Good, and his Wisdom to continue it. As for Instance: I am in Persecution, ⟨p. 125⟩and either I would have Deliverance and Safety, that I might not be imprisoned; or else Comfort and Refreshment, if the Lord carry me thither; and therefore I would see all this in the Promise, still reserving the Conditions before-mentioned. If thou art in Prison, eye Liberty and Preservation in Christ; he that is the great Deliverer of his People, and carrieth his People in his own Hands: And then set God's Power and Faithfulness a-work, that can do it; and his Wisdom, that can continue it for thy Good. That which thou seest and needest in the Promise, that the Power and Wisdom of God may communicate to thy Soul. This is the Meaning of that Place, Psal. 37.5. Commit thy Ways unto the Lord, trust in him, and he shall bring it to pass. Roll thy self, and lay all thy Occasions upon the Lord: Therefore the Apostle saith, 1 Pet. 5.7. Cast your Care upon the Lord, for he careth for you. It is God's proper Office and Work: He careth for thy Soul, therefore lay it all upon him, and put over all thy Care into his Hands, and set his Power and Faithfulness a-work: Only this is here a little to be scanned. I speak not […], that […] should take no Care at all, but I say, Hang all the Weight and Burden upon the Lord. The Brewer, he tumbles the Barrel of Beer, and he rolls it, but it's the Earth that bears it: So whatever Trouble is in thine Eye, or Ear, or ⟨p. 126⟩Heart, roll it upon the Lord. That is thus: The Weight of a Man lies especially in three Things, which a Man must hurl off himself and lay upon the Lord. Either First, A Man shall not be able to know what he shall do, or what he is commanded: Or else, Secondly, He shall not be able to do what God commands, and he knows: Or else, Thirdly, He shall not find Success in what he doth. It is not a Trouble to do what we can, or to employ our selves as we are able: But this is the Trouble, when the Heart saith, I know not what the Mind of God is; or, I shall not do what I know; or, It will not succeed; or, No, it is not in my Power.