N04855:687
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.
Aug. 17. I saw my Neglect of my self, Family and others. And I saw the Reason of it was, because the Lord did me Good without Prayer and blessed all Things to me without it. Hence I saw how just and righteous it was for the Lord to take every outward ordinary Blessing from me, because I might then be obliged to get them and keep them by Prayer; And that the Lord should continually exercise me with great Affliction, that I might hereby pray. And I saw that it was Wisdom for me to pray for all I had, as all Things were taken from me; and to pray for them out of Duty, willingly and not of Necessity to bring God's Purposes to pass by Prayer.
Aug. 17. I saw my Neglect of my self, Family and others. And I saw the Reason of it was, because the Lord did me Good without Prayer and bless'd all Things to me without it. Hence I saw how just and righteous it was for the Lord to take every outward ordinary Blessing from me, because I might then be obliged to get them and keep them by Prayer; And that the Lord should continually exercise me with great Affliction, that I might hereby pray. And I saw that it was Wisdom for me to pray for all I had, as all Things were taken from me; and to pray for them out of Duty, willingly and not of Necessity to bring God's Purposes to pass by Prayer.
Aug. 21. On Saturday at Even I was praying, and the Lord made himself very precious to me, because I might come to him, have Access in Prayer (1) At any Time, (2) might lay open all my Wants with Pleasing to him, (3) with Certainty of speeding. And when I saw that my great Sin did lie in not keeping ⟨p. 44⟩the Savour (at least) of the Lord and his Ways, I did thereupon see, (1) that the Remembrance of this Truth would be one Means to maintain it, as it gave it; (2) I saw there is no Wrath like this to be governed by my own Lusts for my own Ends.