A01975:1275
A guide to go to GodA guide to goe to God
A guide to go to God: or, An explanation of the perfect pattern of prayer, the Lords prayer. By William Gouge, B. in D. and minister of Gods Word in Black-Friars LondonA guide to goe to God: or, An explanation of the perfect patterne of prayer, the Lords prayer. By William Gouge, B. in D. and minister of Gods Word in Black-Friers London
London: printed by G. Miller for Edward Brewster, 1626
Petition 5 › Section 133: §. 133. Of the comfort that ariseth from Gods free and full discharge.
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.
A due consideration of our many heinous sins cannot but ⟨p. 160⟩astonish us, and make us ashamed to appear in the presence of God for pardon of them: but knowledge of the free grace of God, (who of himself, for himself, for his own names sake pardoneth sin) and faith therein, emboldeneth poor sinners to draw near to the Throne of Grace, and to cast themselves down before Gods mercy-seat for pardon,1 and to say, We do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.
A due consideration of our many hainous sinnes cannot but ⟨p. 160⟩astonish vs, and make vs ashamed to appeare in the presence of God for pardon of them: but knowledge of the free grace of God, (who of himselfe, for himselfe, for his owne names sake pardoneth sinne) and faith therein, emboldeneth poore sinners to draw neare to the Throne of Grace, and to cast themselues downe before Gods mercie-seate for pardon,1 and to say, We do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.
Again, knowledge of the desert of sin, how the least sin deserveth the wrath of God, and the least degree of Gods wrath is an unsupportable burden, cannot but affright the soul of a sinner through the apprehension of any vindictive punishment to be endured for sin. What then can remain to satisfy the poor sinner, but faith in Gods full discharge? The promises of God being the ground of our faith, good ground we have to believe that according to the forenamed promises, our sins, which we have humbly and penitently confessed, and for which we have craved pardon, are freely and fully discharged. If upon our own true humiliation, and hearty supplication we did believe this, what comfort, what peace might be brought to our souls thereby? Let us the efore oft meditate on the fore-named grounds of faith, that our faith thereby may be the more established, and our consciences the more quieted.