The Application of Redemption — Thomas Hooker — Deadmen

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The Application of Redemption · Thomas Hooker

The Contents.

BOOK I. On 1 Pet. 1. 18. Ye were redeemed by the Blood of Christ.

Oct. Christ hath purchased all spiritual good for His.	5
For Explication, three things:
What this Spiritual good is.
All that we lost in Adam; all that we need, and … desire to make us happy.
How Christ hath purchased this, by laying down … sufficient price for it, viz. His Death and Obedience.
… two, hence.	8
1 Instruction: See how difficult it is to obtain the least spiritual good. Nothing to be had without this Purchase.
2 Reproof to two sorts:
1 To those that have interest in this Purchase, … improve it not
2 To those that catch at it, having no right … unto.
3 FOR HIS, here consider,	…
1 The special respect in which they come to have … in Christs merits.	… on
Sinners.	…
Elect.	…
But as the Seed of the Covenant, such as shall … leeve.
2 Christ hath purchased FOR THEM.
1 In their room.
2 For their good.
Reasons why Christ hath purchased only for His, … the Faithful, not for all.	…
…
1 The … of God is satisfied only for them.
2 Christ prayed only for them.
3 They only shall be saved.
4 They … have the means of Salvation made … … to them. Many have not so much as … means.
… sour, hence	…
1 … … … three things:
1 … … challenge any spiritual good to … … before he beleeve.	…
For
1 No man hath Christ but by Faith.
2 Beleevers … are in the Covenant of …
3 … are in the state of …
2 The Spirit of God deth not witness to any … interest in this spiritual good, before and … Faith. Because
1 It's a falshood, cross to the Covenant of …
2 An … is uncapable of knowing receiving such a witness.
Inferences hence	29
1 It's a delusion to say you may have Christ before Faith: this is the ground of Prophaneness and ….
2 There are no absolute Promises in the Covenant of Grace, but such as do either express or imply the condition of Faith. And yet it's a Covenant of free Grace.
3 The … of Christ never gives evidence to any man of his good Estate, without respect to a qualification, viz. Faith and Grace. Because	41
1 This work of Evidencing, is a work of Applicacion.
2 The Spirit never Evidenceth without tha Word.
3 The Spirit alwaies … by applying of a general Promise, wherein particular persons are included.
4 This would be to charge the Spirit with witnessing a falshood.
5 The Spirit ever witnesseth as the Covenant of Grace doth.
6 The Spirit witnesseth in the same respect as the Father intended, and Christ purchased.
7 The Evidence of spiritual Knowledge and Assurance of Faith, arise upon the same ground.
Hence see the excellency, and blessed condition of Beleevers.	54
Confutation: it dasheth the dream of universal Redemption	57
Objections Answered.
Exhortation, to provoke our hearts	66
1 To get Faith.
2 To have all at Christs Command, and lay out all for his praise.

BOOK II On Matth. 1. 21. He shall save his People from … sins.

DOCT. Christ puts all his into possession of all … Good that he hath purchased.
Two Branches.
Branch 1. Redemption and Application are of … extent. For	…
1 The Spirit applies Redemption to all, and … such as the Father intended, and Christ … sed it.	…
2 Application was the end of purchasing.
3 If the Application were narrower than the … chase, then Christ should have died for many … should have no benefit by his death.
Uses three, hence.
1 Consutation of these false Opinions.
1 Christ died for all.
2 Christ died for all in point of Impetration, … not of Application.
3 That the Application of mercy depends upon liberty of mans will.
2 Instruction: See the Reason why the work of … cation prevails so powerfully, though sinners … it.
Christ having redeemed them, will and doth … that Redemption to them.
Direction to distressed sinners: Look to the purchase and blood of Christ.
… 2. The Manner bow this Application is wrought.
Three things implied in that.	81
No man can make Application of any spiritual good in Christ to himself.
1 Nor by power wrest it.
2 Nor by Justice claim it.
3 Nor able to receive it.
4 Nor willing to be made able.
Uses four, hence,
It dasheth the … of such as conceive they have power to take Christ and Grace when they will	92
It discovers two dangerous mistakes about the work of Application.
1 When a man catcheth at the general offer of mercy and Christ without getting a special title thereunto.
2 When a man takes hold of Christ from self-love, for self-ends.	93
See the folly and madness of men who are unwilling to be made happy.
See the Justice of God in the destruction of such as will not have Christ.
…. The manner and Order how this … good made ours.
The soul for whom Christ hath purchased,
1 Is made capable of it.
2 Hath a right unto it.	…
3 Is estated in it.	…
4 Hath liberty to use all as it's own.
Uses five, hence.
Admiration at the riches and freeness of Gods grace in Christ.	95
He works that in all his, which he requires of them.
2 Humiliation in the sight of our own vileness, …, unworthiness.	…
3 Encouragement … … the hearts of the … sinners sinking under … apprehension of their own
1 … not able to reach this work.
2 Crossness to it, and … against it.
4 Direction shewing the … way how to set … the work of Application.
1 Look at Christ first, all our good being laid up … him.
2 Look at all Graces, either as leading to Christ, … coming from him.
3 When we would have our Graces acted, … to them, but to Christ as the Author and … of all.	…
5 Exhortation to the Faithful.
1 Make sure, keep sure your Evidences for Christ.
2 Challenge and make use of all the good things … Christ.
3 Grow rich upon the revenues of the Gospel.
III. The Causes of Application.	…
1 The Principal Cause is … himself.
1 The … is satisfied by Christ.
2 Christ as Mediator and Head of the … Where that of Christ, from whence … issues, is the Resurrection of Christ	…
Use, Hence distressed sinners should look to the … surrection of Christ.
3. The Spirit sent from the Father and the … make this Application.
2 That Power by which the Spirit works in … tion, is an Almighty power.	…
Rea ons two	…
Because
1 Of that Hellish opposition in us against it.
2 That good that is to be communicated, is a … natural good.
The Instrumental Causes are those means which the Lord is pleased to appoint and …, viz. The Word in the Ministry of it.	133
1 The Power resideth in Christ and his ….
2 From thence it is in the Word.
3 From thence to the Administration thereof by the ….
… four, hence.
Information
1 The Work of Application is not wrought by moral ….
2 It is …	136
Tryal whether we have found the impression of Gods Power by the means.
Support unto sinners sinking in the thoughts of
1 The … between this work and them.
2 Their opposition against it.
Exhortation to attend upon God in his own means	138
1 Slight not any, but try every Ordinance.
2 Fear … we should fall short of Gods Power in an ….
3 When the Lord works by an Ordinance, take heed of withdrawing our … from under his working power.

BOOK III. On Luke, 1. 17. To make ready a People … for the Lord.

DOCT. 1. The soul must be fitted for Christ, before … can receive him.	144
1 What this Preparation is, in four things
1 Arenouncing the Authority of …	…
2 Of our own abilities	…
3 Of our own worthiness	…
4 A readiness to side with Christ	…
2 The manner of this ….
1 The soul is passive herein
2 It's an act of the Spirit dispossessing sin.
3 This being done, Faith certainly follows
4 The soul prepared, yields wholly to Christ	…
Reasons why there must be such a Preparation. … taken from
1 The testimony of several Scriptures.
2 Else the soul should be implanted into Christ … it is in a state of Nature.
3 The soul must be cut off from the root of old Adam before it can be … into Christ, the … Adam.
Uses five, hence.	…
1 Instruction: Christ cannot be united to the soul … in its …. For
1 Such a one cannot receive the Spirit.
2 He is in the state of Cendemnation.
3 He doth oppose Christ.
4 He is under the Covenant of Works.
5 He is under the Power of Sin.
2 It discovers the folly of carnal men, who conceit they may have Christ without any preparation for him.
3 Tryal whether we have come to Christ in the right way	166
The difference between restraining and preparing Grace	166
Gods ends in restraining men
1 To shew his Dominion over the worst of men
2 To provide for the Societies of men.
3 That he may put his Servants to a narrower search.
Gods end in preparing Grace is, That he may implant the soul into Christ.
This … Evidence against four sorts,
1 Such as … this Work: as	170
1 …, secure sinners.
2 Presumptuous Atheists.
2 Such as come to Christ, and yet renounce … their corruptions
3 Such as come to Christ, and renounce not their own abilities.
4 Such as renounce not their own worthiness.
4 Encouragement to distressed …, such are in way, of preparation, therefore in way to Christ.
5 Exhortation, to prepare for Christ
1 Consider how sinful and miserable we are … must prepare	200
2 Who it is we must prepare for.
Here consider,
1 The worthiness of Christs person.
2 The good he brings with him.
3 He beseeches you to receive him.
DOCT. 2. A plain and powerful Ministry, is the ordinary means to prepare the heart for Christ.	20;
1 Plain in
Words.	Matter.
2 Powerful, as delivered with
1 Evidence of Reason	212
2 Zealous …	213
Reasons two. …
1 Such a Ministry discovers the secrets of sin.
2 It over-powers Corruption, and sets an awe upon the spirits of men.
Uses three, hence	216
1 … may see the reason of the little success they find, viz. Want of plain and powerful preaching
2 See the fearful estate of such as have lived long under such a Ministry, and yet not prepared for Christ.
3 Exhortation. Attend upon the Word that the end of it may be attained, viz. Preparation for Christ.

BOOK IV.

On 2 Cor. 6. 2. In an acceptable time have I heard thee, in the day of Salvation have I succored thee.	221
DOCT. 1. The VVork of God is altogether free.
1 In appointing
2 In revealing
3 In blessing the Means.	229
Reasons three. Because
1 … we have can purchase it.
2 Nothing we can do, can procure it.
3 There is no Promise made to a Natural man.
Uses three, hence. Matter of
1 Thanksgiving … the … of Grace.
2 … to … sinners in the sight of their sins and ….
3 Exhortation to such as want, and are seeking mercy to stay Gods time, and wait his pleasure.
DOCT. 2. VVhile this life lasts, and the Gospel is continued, that's the day of Salvation.
1. The time of this Life, the time of getting Grace.	241
Reason, Because after this Life
1 The Sentence past is irrevocable.
2 The condition of a man is unchangable.
2 While the … is ….	…
Reason, … … Gods …,
In regard
1 Of the Causes and means which are then afforded
2 Of the effect and work it self, which is then wrought.
3 Of the subject, the persons wrought upon.
Uses three, hence.
1 Learn, That long life is a great blessing.
2 Caution, To fortifie our selves against self-murder.
3 Exhortation, to improve the time of Salvation.
1 It is a Season	251
2 It is a short one, but a day.
3 A Season not of our, but of Gods acceptation.
4 It is a day of Salvation.

BOOK V.

On Matth. 20. 5, 6, 7. He went out about the sixth, ninth, and eleventh hour, and hired Laborers.
DOCT. God calls his Elect at any Age, but the most before old Age.	…
1 God calls his at any Age, some in yonger, some in elder yeers.
…
1 To shew the freeness of his Grace.
2 To shew … Power.
… God calls the most before old Age, viz. In their yonger or middle ….
Reasons, Because that's the fittest Age in regard of
1 The Subject. For
1 The Faculties are then most capable of being wrought upon
2 Corruptions are not so strongly rooted.
2 The End why Grace is given, viz. the Glory of God
Uses three, hence	271
1 Instruction: Be not rash in censuring the … Estate of any.
Though we may judg of their present state by their fruits.
2 Consolation to support aged sinners, though it's not ordinary, yet possible they may be converted then.	276
3 Exhortation to yonger men, take … present time, defer not till old Age: if you do
1 Either you will never attain it.
2 Or it will be uncomfortable if you do.
Motives to provoke such. Consider
1 What good you may do while you live
2 What Comfort you will have at your death.
3 What your Glory will be in Heaven.

BOOK VI.

On Revel. 3. 17. Thou sayest thou art rich, when thou art poor and miserable, &c.
DOCT. The soul is naturally setled in a sinful security	285
1 The sinner … … … in his Condition.
2 He … no … … … present.
3 He … none … … future.
4 Hence … puts his condition beyond question.
5 And therefore … scorns,
6 And openly … an alteration of his estate.
Reasons three, taken from	292
1 The … of sin
2 The … … the soul
3 …, and Self-ease.
Uses four, …	295
1 See the reason why sharp and soul-saving preaching … … little acceptance, Because it awakens men out of security.
2 It's the … plague for a man to be let alone in his sins.
3 … as never were … and awakened to … … of their … …, … yet in it.
4 … to … …: Such should
1 Suspect their ….
2 … about it.
3 Yield, that … the present their condition … ….

BOOK VII.

… … … … … … … the slesh is enmity against the Lord, and is not subject to his Law.
DOCT. The frame of the whol heart of a Natural man, is wholly unwilling to submit to the VVord that would sever him from his sins.	305
1 He seeks not after truth.
2 He is loth to meet with it.
3 He stops the passage of it.
4 He doth what he can to defeat the power and evidence of it.
5 He will professedly oppose it.
6 He will privily … the stirrings of the Truth in his Conscience.
Reasons four, taken from	315
1 The Corruption of the will
2 The Revenging Justice of God.
3 The power of Satan
4 The …, and neer alliance between the heart and sin.
Uses sive, hence
1 It's the heaviest plague for a Natural man to have his own corrupt will.
2 The will of a Natural man, is the worst part … him.
3 The … of a carnal man, … cross to sence and reason.
4 Tryal of our estates by our … or unwillingness to part with sin.
He that is willing	331
1 He is speedy and … in improving … …
2 He takes delight in those means that … and work most.
3 He is not content till his sin be removed.
4 He takes not up his stand till he come at God.
5 Exhortation: Labor for willingness to part with sin.	343
1 The greatest and hardest work lies with the wil.
2 Beleaguer the heart with the evidence of Truth.
3 Look up to God that he would work upon the heart.

BOOK VIII.

On John, 6. 44. None can come to me, but whom the Father draws.
DOCT. God the Father by a holy kind of … plucks his out of their corruptions, and draws them to beleeve in Christ.	349
This work of Attraction is a transient work; … both these,
1 Plucking from sin
2 And drawing to Christ are handled together
For Explication, six Particulars,
The sorts of drawing two
1 By moral Suasion
2 By Physical (or internal) operation.
This latter is meant here	353
The proper Nature of this drawing, it's the motion or impression of the Spirit upon the Soul, not any habit in it, or act put forth by it, to … with the Spirit.	355
The means how God works, and by wich he draws.
These are four	355
1 By a hook of Instruction, shewing a man that he is out of the way to Heaven.
2 By the Cords of Love, shewing that Christ and Mercy are,
1 Able to … him
2 Willing to save him
3 Are freely offered for that end
4 The Lord waits to see when the sinner will come
3 By the Iron Chains of Conscience
1 Warning.
2 Accusing.
3 Condemning.
4 By the hand of the Spirit himself.
How the holy violence in drawing the Soul from sin to Christ, may be discerned, in four Conclusions:	373
1 The will of man (as such) is a subject capable of sin and Grace successively.
2 The faculty of the will, cannot actually will a Spiritual good without a spiritual power
3 The corruption of the will, utterly indisposeth it to receive a spiritual power.
4 Though no force is offered to the faculty of the will, yet the corruption of the will must be removed by a holy violence: that so it may … a spiritual power, and so put forth a spiritual act.	377
Reasons of this are four. Because
1 The corruption of the will, will not go away of it self.
2 The Spirit of Grace that works upon the soul, drives out corruption as its contrary.
3 By Converting Grace, the Dominion of sin is subdued. The unwilling will is made a willing will: The true meaning of that	388
4 By it also Satan is cast out of the soul, he will not go away by intreaty
5 How the plucking of the soul from sin, and drawing it to Christ, is accomplished.	…
1 Satans Commission is now called in by Christ.
2 Satans right and claim to the soul is taken from him.
3 He is also put out of that possession he had in the soul.
4 The soul is now acted no longer by sin and Satan as formerly, but the bent of the heart is under the hand of the Spirit.
6 Why this work of Attraction is ascribed to the ….	…
1 This work is common to all the three Persons.
2 Yet it's chiefly attributed to the Father.
Reasons two. Because
1 The manifestation of his displeasure is most suitable here to drive the sinner from his sins to Christ.
2 The Father hath sent Christ: that is,
1 He hath appointed him to,
2 Fitted him for, And
3 Accepted him in the work of Redemption.
Uses three, hence.
1 Instruction, in six Particulars.	408
1 Conversion proceeds from God as the alone cause of it. For
1 It is not in him that wills or runs, but in God that shews mercy.
2 Grace gives power to act, … must … before any concurring act.
3 As in Natural Generation and Corruption of the soul from Adam, it's wholly passive; so in Regeneration.
2 Conversion depends not upon, is not resolved into the Liberty of mans Will.
For if it did, then	412
1 A man made himself to differ.
2 The will of man is … above the Grace of God
3 God should be deprived of the praise of his mercy.
3 Conversion depends not upon, nor issues not from the congruity of means
For,
1 Then it might lastly be resolved into a Natural cause.
2 Some that have been suited with most means, have continued most opposite
3 All means in themselves are unable to draw the sinner to Christ.
4 The power of Grace in Conversion, is irresistable, i. e. it takes away the power of …, so as it shall … frustrate the Grace of God.
5 When there is …, there is … … Grace. Because	427
1 When there is sufficiency of Grace, there are all the Causes working.
2 There also the power of resistance is removed.
6 All men have not sufficient help of preventing Grace.	…
1 Sense and Experience give evidence of it.
2 None come to Christ, but whom the … draws.
3 All are not given to Christ.
2 Consolation	435
1 To support the hearts of unconverted … against the
1 Temptations of Satan
2 Snares of the world
3 Corruptions of their hearts.
2 To the Faithful who have found this … God will go on in it.
3 Exhortation	…
1 To the Converted, Labor to draw others from their sins to Christ.
1 Do what you can your self.
2 Bring them to Christ in the use of means.
2 To the …, Come and lie under … drawing hand.
1 Present thy self before God in the use of means.
2 Leave not the Ordinances till you find … Power of God therein.