N04855:552
Some select cases resolved. Specially, tending to the right ordering of the heart, that…
Some select cases resolved. Specially, tending to the right ordering of the heart, that we may comfortably walk with God in our general and particular callings: &c. In a letter to a pious friend in England. / By Thomas Shepard, M.A. Formerly of Emmanuel-College in Cambridge in England: afterward Minister of Cambridge in New-England. ; Corrected by four several editions.
Boston: printed by Rogers and Fowle, 1747
MEDITATIONS AND Spiritual Experiences OF Mr. THOMAS SHEPARD.
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.
Feb. 14. When there was a Church Meeting to be resolved about our Going away [viz. to Matabeseck.] I looked on my self as poor, and as unable to resolve my Self, or to guide others, or my Self in any Action, as a Beast: And I saw my self, in Respect of Christ, as brutish, as a Brute is in Respect of Man: And hence, (1) I left my self on Christ's Wisdom. (2) I understood the Meaning of Prov. 30. That, tho' Agur knew he had Wisdom, yet in Respect of Christ he was brutish; and also in Respect of Man. As it is said, There is none Good but God; and when God is called only wise.
Feb. 14. When there was a Church Meeting to be resolved about our Going away [viz. to Matabeseck.] I looked on my self as poor, and as unable to resolve my Self, or to guide others, or my Self in any Action, as a Beast: And I saw my self, in Respect of Christ, as bruitish, as a Brute is in Respect of Man: And hence, (1) I left my self on Christ's Wisdom. (2) I understood the Meaning of Prov. 30. That, tho' Agur knew he had Wisdom, yet in Respect of Christ he was brutish; and also in Respect of Man. As it is said, There is none Good but God; and when God is called only wise.
Feb. 15. I was in Prayer, and in the Beginning of it, that Promise came in, Seek me and you shall live, Hag. 1.
Hereupon I saw, I had Cause to seek him only, alway; because there was nothing else good, and because he was alway good. And my Heart made choice of GOD alone, and he was a sweet Portion to me. And I began to see how well I could be without all other Things with him; and so learnt to live by Faith. Only it came in, Why did I not desire to live with him alone in Heaven? And I saw my Heart very apt to comfort it self in other Things besides him.