N04855:605
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.
April 29. I saw this Distemper (when I saw my sudden Anger) viz. That I was troubled at that which crossed me, not Christ, and pleased only with that which pleased my self, and not Christ Jesus. For [1] in all Wrongs and Crosses there is a double Cross. (1) That which crosseth me, (2) That which crosseth Christ: [2] In all good Things there is 1. Somewhat that pleaseth me. 2. Somewhat that pleaseth Christ. My Heart is pleased or troubled as Things please or trouble me without my having any due Regard to Christ; and that is my Sin.
April 30. I questioned, whether any Sin was a greater Evil than Unbelief? And I saw that Union to Christ was my greatest Good: Hence Unbelief is a greater Sin than any other Sin. And here I saw God's rich Grace that had not only made my Disunion from Christ by Unbelief a Misery, but also the greatest Sin, as being cross to his Command: And hereby ⟨p. 20⟩my Heart was affected. And I saw that whatever my Sin was, yet now there was no Sin like Disunion from Christ by Unbelief; and that I ought not to commit the greatest Sin in departing from Christ, because of less Sins against the Law. For it was an unspeakable Mercy to make my Union to Christ the greatest Good, my greatest Good. 1. Because I can never in this Life perfectly obey and cleave to the Will of Christ.
2. Because if that be Blessedness, then once blessed, always blessed: So once united ever united. So I saw the Gospel, in commanding me to believe, did command me to partake of the greatest Blessedness; and who would not be glad of that? Adam's Happiness was, to do God's Will; but ours to cleave to God in Christ.