The Saints Dignity and Duty, Title page – To the reader
THE SAINTS DIGNITIE, AND DUTIE. TOGETHER WITH The Danger of IGNORANCE and HARDNESSE.
Delivered in Severall SERMONS: By that Reverend Divine, THOMAS HOOKER, Late Preacher in New-England.
HEBR. 10.38.
Now the juſt ſhall live by Faith; but if any man draw back, my ſoul ſhall have no pleaſure in him.
LONDON, Printed by G. D. for Francis Eglesfield, and are to be ſold at the Sign of the Marigold in Pauls Church-yard, 1651.
To the Reader.
Reader,
THou haſt here ſet forth to thy view the laſt memoriall (for ought I know) in this kind, of that Reverend Divine Mr. Thomas Hooker, Rev. 14.13.who now reſts from his labours, being dead in the Lord. And though this preſent work be but ſmall in quantitie, yet it comprehends a great many divine Truths: For thou ſhalt in this, as in a glaſſe, ſee thine owne condition, be it what it will: If thou be indeed a child of God, thou ſhalt find him herein a Barnabas, a ſon of Conſolation to thee, in diſcovering what thy Priviledges are, and what thy practiſe is, or ſhould be. But if thou be yet in thy unregenerate eſtate, he will prove a Boanerges, a ſon of Thunder, in ſhewing the danger of Non-proficiencie under the means of grace and knowledge, and in wilfull hardneſs againſt admonition, and reproof. Theſe Sermons are upon ſeverall Texts of Scripture, which (I ſuppoſe) will prove the more delightfull for the variety, which is pleaſing to all. And though there bee no great dependance of theſe Sermons each upon other, yet the whole without forcing, may be reduced to theſe three Heads:
Dignitie.
Dutie.
Danger.
In the three former Sermons is ſet forth the dignitie or priviledges of true beleevers. The ineſtimable gift of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, for the redemption of his people, is ſweetly and fully explained in the Firſt Sermon. In the Second is ſhewed, that Chriſt hath not only given himſelf for believers, but to them, and that he is in them, with the bleſſed Effects of his Inhabitation. In the Third, thou ſhalt find the happie condition of the people of God, being now freed from the Law, and under Grace, the Priviledges whereof are inlarged in ſeverall Branches.
The duties of the Saints that injoy theſe dignities, and priviledges, are ſet forth in the two next Sermons. In the Fourth, That they ought only to attend to the voice of Chriſt, who is the wiſedome of the Father, and to be obedient to him. In the Fifth, is ſhewed what kind of obedience is required of them, even the obedience of Faith, which is ſet forth in the fruitfulneſs, and activitie of it, in their Imitation of Abraham the Father of the faithfull. And then in the two laſt Sermons is laid down the danger of neglecting theſe Priviledges and Duties, either by remiſsneſs and ignorance under the means of knowledge, and grace, which is the ſum of the Sixth Sermon; or elſe, which is worſe, by hardning the heart againſt inſtruction and reproof, which is the Subject of the laſt; that thoſe that will not ſweetly be drawn by the cords of love, ſhall bee violently ſurprized with the chains of wrath.
The Works of this worthy man already Extant, have proved (by Gods bleſsing) profitable, and comfortable to many, and I make no queſtion, but there is a bleſsing reſerved for this alſo: Therefore as the Wiſeman ſaith,Eccleſ. 11.6. In the morning ſow thy ſeed, and in the evening with-hold not thy hand, for thou knoweſt not whether will proſper this, or that, or whether they ſhall be alike good. In this confidence, it is commended to thy Prayers, and paines in peruſing it; and that it may prove a furtherance in thy progreſſe towards heaven, is the deſire of
Thy Chriſtian Friend, T. S.
THE GIFT OF GIFTS: OR, The END why CHRIST Gave Himſelf.
By that Reverend Divine, THOMAS HOOKER, Late Preacher in New England.
ROM. 5.15,
But not as the offence, ſo alſo is the free gift; for if through the offence of one, many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man Jeſus Chriſt, hath abounded unto many.
LONDON, Printed by G. D. for Francis Eglesfield, and are to be ſold at the Sign of the Marigold in Pauls Church-yard, 1651.
The Particular Titles, and Texts, of each SERMON.
SERM. I. The Gift of Gifts, on Tit. 2.14.
SERM. II. The Bleſſed Inhabitant, on Rom. 8.10.
SERM. III. Grace magnified, on Rom. 6.14.
SERM. IV. Wiſdomes Attendants, on Prov. 8.32.
SERM. V. The Activitie of Faith, on Rom. 4.12.
SERM. VI. Culpable Ignorance, on Iſai. 27.11.
SERM. VII. Wilfull Hardneſs, on Prov. 29.1.