Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1657 Excerpt: ...the boisterous stormes of discontent. Let us keep our faith, and it will keep our joy: It will keep it an even ever-flowing current, without ebbe and flow, clouds.and eclipses: let us increase our faith, it will increase our joy. But to what measure of joy may a grown Christian attain, if he be carefull to preserve and stir up his faith? It is a small thing for him to come to an ordinary pitch of chearfulnesse. Except his joy exceeds the mirth of a worldling in the quality and quantity of it, If his mirth be not a sweeter, and more ravishing mirth, of an higher kinde, of a more pure nature, of a more constant tenure, then any carnal mans what-ever, he disparages faith The Christians joy, is joy msfeakble and glorious, jeyittthe Holy j' host, another manner of joy, then ever enfred into the heart of a natural man. So is that Text to be construed, eye hath not seen, &c. not chiefly of the joyes of Heaven, which here the spiritual man himself cannot tell what they (hall be, but of the Gospels joy, of the wine To what mid-sure of joy a Christian may attain. and failings, already prepared, and now revealed tothe Eelievetby the Spirit; which if the carnall man fcorae and scone at, it is because he cannot comprehend it. It is a more pure and constant joy, which needs not the support of earthly delights: his-joy is within, he joyesin the favour of God, which is unchangeable. It beseemes not a Christian to be merrie in one estate, dumpish in another.as if their joy depended upon their outward condition. No, nojthe favour ef God alone is sufficient to uphold a good mans joy Tour joy na man takethfromyou. Weglory in tribulation also: And great reason, for if sin be pardoned, every thing causeth a progresse of salvation. Were it not odious to fee one professing ...