N04231:236
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. › Conclusion: The Conclusion.
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.
The Conclusion.
NOW that which I conclude withal is this: You see how far the Lord hath brought us; how the Soul hath been prepared, and cut off from Sin and Itself, if fitted for the Lord Jesus, by Contrition and Humiliation; and that the Soul comes to see that there is no Hope in the Creatures, nor any Succour in Heaven, but in the Lord Jesus Christ; and so at last the Sinner comes, and lies at the Foot of the Lord Jesus, and knows that either he must be another Man, or a damned Man. Now when he sees that Prayer and all other Means will not profit, and the Power of the Means yet prevails not, and the Power of his Corruptions is not yet mastered; then he looks up to Christ, and is contented that he should do what he will with him. Now when the Lord Jesus sees him lie wearied thus with his Corruptions, then the Lord gives special Notice to his Soul that it is his Purpose to do him good, and that there is Mercy for that broken Heart of his. With that Hope is stirred; and Faith cries out, Is it possible? Is it credible? Shall this ⟨p. 139⟩Wretchedness of mine be pardoned? Oh, my Desire is kindled within me, and I long for that Day: O that I might once see the Funeral of all my Sins! Mark now how Love and Joy are cheered to entertain this Mercy; and Oh how is the Soul bound and engaged to GOD, that offers free and undeserved Grace to a stubborn and rebellious Sinner! At last the Will saith Amen to the Promise; and further saith, O that Mercy I will have! And thus the Soul is come home to GOD by Vocation. Now the Prodigal is come home to his Father; and the Father's Heart leaps within his Breast, when he sees him lie at the Door. And as the Father rejoiceth, so the Angels in Heaven rejoice; and all the Faithful shall rejoice, and say, Oh my Husband, Oh my Father. Oh my Child, and Oh my Wife, that was a sinful Woman, is come home again to her first and best Husband. You that have found it thus in your selves, be comforted: You that know it in others, rejoice.
NOW that which I conclude withal is this: You see how far the Lord hath brought us; how the Soul hath been prepared, and cut off from Sin and Itself, if fitted for the Lord Jesus, by Contrition and Humiliation; and that the Soul comes to see that there is no Hope in the Creatures, nor any Succour in Heaven, but in the Lord Jesus Christ; and so at last the Sinner comes, and lies at the Foot of the Lord Jesus, and knows that either he must be another Man, or a damned Man. Now when he sees that Prayer and all other Means will not profit, and the Power of the Means yet prevails not, and the Power of his Corruptions is not yet mastered; then he looks up to Christ, and is contented that he should do what he will with him. Now when the Lord Jesus sees him lie wearied thus with his Corruptions, then the Lord gives special Notice to his Soul that it is his Purpose to do him good, and that there is Mercy for that broken Heart of his. With that Hope is stirred; and Faith cries out, Is it possible? Is it credible? Shall this