The Unbelievers Preparing for Christ, Treatise · Table 2
The Table.
IOHN 6.44.
No man can come unto me, except the Father which hath ſent me draw him.
Doctrine I. THat every man in his naturall condition is faſtened and ſetled in the ſtate of ſinne and corruption, Page 3. This appeareth in the dominion that ſinne and Sathan hath over the ſoule p. 4. And ſecondly, in the amity that the ſoule hath to ſinne. p. 6
Vſe I. Inſtruction to in…orme our mindes of the woefull ſervitude and daily ſlavery that all men are in by nature. p. 7
Vſe II. It is a word of Exhortation to all the Saints of God, to pittie poore naturall creatures. p. 11
Doctrine II. The Lord by a holy kinde of violence doth plucke the hearts of ſinners from ſinne unto himſelfe. p. 18
What is meant here by drawing. vid. p. 20
The meanes whereby God drawes the heart of a poore ſinner unto himſelfe are foure,
Meanes I. The Lord letteth in a light into the minde of a poore ſinner, and diſcovereth unto him that he is in a wrong way. p. 26
Meanes II. The Lord doth draw poore ſinners unto himſelfe with the cord of his mercy. p. 30
This cable rope of Gods mercy is made up of foure Cords.
The firſt Cord is this, The Lord reveales himſelfe to be ready to receive poore ſinners. p. 31
The ſecond Cord is this, The Lord doth call and command ſinners for to come. p. 32
The third Cord is this, The Lord intreates and beſeecheth poore ſinners to come to receive mercy. p. 34
The fourth Cord is this, The Lord doth wait and ſtay in long patience and ſuffring, to ſee if at any time a ſinner will turne unto him. p. 38
Meanes III. The Lord draweth poore ſinners unto himſelfe by the iron cords of conſcience. p. 40
Theſe iron cords of conſcience have three maine h…kes to pull ſinners to the Lord, that is, there are three great workes of conſcience, which God uſeth to worke upon men to draw them from ſinne to himſelfe. p. 41.
The firſt Hooke of conſcience is this, Conſcience is a warner to the ſoule, and admoniſheth it of ſinne, and to come from ſinne upon paine of damnation. p. 41
The ſecond Hooke is this, Conſcience accuſeth the creature before God, and witneſſeth againſt him. p. 47
The third Hooke is this, Conſcience at the laſt condemnes the ſoule. p. 13
Meanes IV. The Lord draweth poore ſinners unto himſelfe by the Cord of his Spirit. p. 61
The Reaſons why the Lord doth thus draw a ſinner from ſinne to himſelfe are three. p. 62.
Reaſon I. Becauſe the ſtrong man must firſt be cast out. p. 63
Reaſon II. Becauſe of that naturall union betweene the ſoule and corruption. p. 64
Reaſon III. Becauſ of that ſoveraigne kinde of power that ſinne hath over the ſoule, and prevaileth within the ſoule. p. 67.
Vſe I. It is a ground of Inſtruction to teach all people to admire the inconceiveable goodneſſe of the Lord to poore, miſerable, damned creatures. p. 70
Vſe II. It is a word of terrour to diſcover the woefull estate of all thoſe that doe ſet themſelves againſt the worke of preparation. p. 74
Vſe III. It is a uſe of comfort and conſ…lation to all poore ſoules that are oppreſſed with their ſinnes. p. 95
Vſe IV. It is a uſe of Exhortation to all Gods people to endeavour to pluche others from ſinne; this is the courſe God takes. p. 103
Vſe V. Of Examination to trie your ſelves, how you have beene drawne to God. p. 114
FINIS
End of the text · Thomas Hooker, The Unbelievers Preparing for Christ (1638)