N04855:734
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.
Nov. 15. On my Bed in the Morning I tried my Heart, and asked, What would bear it out, if the Lord should call me to preach at the Lecture Season again? And I found three Things; (1) My End was to honour Christ Jesus, and leave his Truth behind me: (2) My Principle was Christ, in whom I trusted: For this comforted me against the Feeling of my Inability; I saw there was an unknown Fullness of the Spirit and Strength in Christ, and that I was not to go out in the Strength of my own Abilities though received from Christ, but in the Strength and Help of Christ himself: (3) Though what I should do thus from Christ, for Christ, was mean and poor; yet it should quiet me that it was the Measure the Lord saw most meet for me, and if I could do better, I would: (4) That if the Lord did not give Success to me, yet I would mourn for God's People and my own Unworthiness, and quiet my self, that I did my Duty.
Nov. 15. On my Bed in the Morning I tried my Heart, and asked, What would bear it out, if the Lord should call me to preach at the Lecture Season again? And I found three Things; (1) My End was to honour Christ Jesus, and leave his Truth behind me: (2) My Principle was Christ, in whom I trusted: For this comforted me against the Feeling of my Inability; I saw there was an unknown Fulness of the Spirit and Strength in Christ, and that I was not to go out in the Strength of my own Abilities though received from Christ, but in the Strength and Help of Christ himself: (3) Though what I should do thus from Christ, for Christ, was mean and poor; yet it should quiet me that it was the Measure the Lord saw most meet for me, and if I could do better, I would: (4) That if the Lord did not give Success to me, yet I would mourn for God's People and my own Unworthiness, and quiet my self, that I did my Duty.
Nov. 16. I felt my Heart very unsavoury, and I saw my Soul nothing but Sin and Sorrow, Death and Darkness, and in a Manner, as good as in Hell. And so I saw then, that nothing but free Grace could help me out; and there I did hang, and did prize this Grace therefore. But I did question, It may refuse to help because 'tis free. But I saw it is the Pleasure of God's Grace to help all that prayed for it and came for it to Grace. And I saw herein was Part of God's good Pleasure, to hear every Prayer, and I should look upon no other Secrets but this revealed Will of Christ: And so I purposed ever to lie here. And I saw, Dependence upon Grace for all, ever supposeth a deep Abasement of Soul under a Sense of Unworthiness.