N04855:698
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.
I saw on the Fast-Day also, that (1) every Way I looked, there was Matter of Sorrow, in me, about me, Sin against God in Heaven, nay against Christ, nay cross to his Will, his Love, nay his Life: Hence I should mourn. (2) I saw I had no Comforter to go to, when I had thus sinned against the Lord, no Creature.—
Sept. 13. In my Meditations at Night, I found my Heart desirous to live in this World and do Good here, and not to die. Hence I asked my Heart the Reason why I should not be desirous to die? And in musing on it I saw that Christ was ascended up to Heaven; that so not here, but there all his Elect might one Day behold his Glory and love him and glorify him for ever. And I saw that this was God's main Plot and the End of all, to make Christ very glorious, and so beloved in Heaven for ever, where that which I desired most in this World (viz. that Christ might not only be precious, but very dear and precious) should be perfectly accomplished: and hereupon I secretly desired this Mercy and desired it for my Child and Brethren and all the Churches; That, though we were blind here, and knew him not, loved him little, yet that this might ⟨p. 48⟩be our Portion at last. And I did feel my Desires stirred up after this out of secret Love to Christ Jesus. It would do me good, if he might be at last magnified thus. Then I enquired, what is the great Thing I should desire in this World? And I saw it was the Beginning of that which should be perfected in Heaven; viz. (1) To see and know CHRIST, though obscurely. (2) To take Christ and receive him, and possess him. (3) To love him. (4) To bless him in my Heart, with my Mouth, by my Life. And in this last Clause I saw, that I should study and stand for Discipline and all the Ways of Worship out of Love to Christ, viz. To show my Thankfulness. And so I saw, I was (1) to seek for to know Christ's Will out of Love (2) To entertain it in Love, when found out (3) To keep it in Love. And so I saw it was my Duty, and ought to be my Care, to keep this very Frame of Heart daily; and I saw it would be glorious.
Sept. 13. In my Meditations at Night, I found my Heart desirous to live in this World and do Good here, and not to die. Hence I asked my Heart the Reason why I should not be desirous to die? And in musing on it I saw that Christ was ascended up to Heaven; that so not here, but there all his Elect might one Day behold his Glory and love him and glorify him for ever. And I saw that this was God's main Plot and the End of all, to make Christ very glorious, and so beloved in Heaven for ever, where that which I desired most in this World (viz. that Christ might not only be precious, but very dear and precious) should be perfectly accomplished: and hereupon I secretly desired this Mercy and desired it for my Child and Brethren and all the Churches; That, though we were blind here, and knew him not, loved him little, yet that this might