N04855:638
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.
June 20. On the Sabbath-Day, in reading Beza on the 6th of Romans, I saw clearly two Things; (1) That the Saints receiving Christ by Faith have good Cause to be at perfect Peace in their own Conscience, there being by Christ no more Conscience of Sin; (2) That by this Faith they had by Christ's Death Abolishment of Sin. And I saw that this Faith was an ⟨p. 28⟩Adherence to Christ; and such a Kind of Adherence to him and Resting on him, as that the Soul by dear Esteem and Love clings so to him, as that it gets into him. It's so close an Adherence, even as the Branch gets into the Stock. And so I saw Faith doth not only cleave to Christ, but it sticks in Christ, and so sucks Life and Vigour from Christ by Esteem and Love; and this I prayed for. And by this I saw, how many fall short of true Faith, whose Faith never makes them stick close unto Christ Jesus.
June 27. On Sabbath, when I came Home, I saw the Hypocrisy of my Heart; that in my Ministry I sought to comfort others and quicken others, that the Glory might reflect on me, as well as on God. Hereupon I considered, how ill the Lord took this, and how averse he was from this Self-seeking. By the Sight of which I laboured to be averse from it my Self, and purposed to carry it in Mind as one strong Means to help against it for Time to come.
June 27. I was in Prayer, persuaded and stirred up to remember that by every Thing I should seek to grow humble, to pick somewhat out of all Providences for that End; because I saw my Heart grow light so quickly. And I farther considered, To pick Joy in God, and Loathing of my self in every Thing which I saw in him, or in his Providence, was the only Way to grow in Grace, and improve his Providences aright.
June 27. I was in Prayer, perswaded and stirred up to remember that by every Thing I should seek to grow humble, to pick somewhat out of all Providences for that End; because I saw my Heart grow light so quickly. And I farther considered, To pick Joy in God, and Loathing of my self in every Thing which I saw in him, or in his Providence, was the only Way to grow in Grace, and improve his Providences aright.