A01980:217
A recovery from apostasy Set out in a sermon preached in Stepney Church near…A recovery from apostacy Set out in a sermon preached in Stepny Church neere…
A recovery from apostasy Set out in a sermon preached in Stepney Church near London at the receiving of a penitent renegado into the Church, Octob. 21. 1638. By William Gouge D.D. and min. in Black-Friars London Herein is the history of the surprisal and admirable escape of the said penitent.A recovery from apostacy Set out in a sermon preached in Stepny Church neere London at the receiving of a penitent renegado into the Church, Octob. 21. 1638. By William Gouge D.D. and min. in Black-Friers London Herein is the history of the surprizall and admirable escape of the said penitent.
London: printed by George Miller for Joshua Kirton, 1639London: printed by George Miller for Ioshua Kirton, 1639
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
1O that all who profess the Faith of Christ were like minded! It well becomes us all to be so minded. And if indeed we be so minded, God who knows the mind, heart, and spirit of a man will answerably account of him, and accept him, though he never be brought to the fiery trial, as if he had been brought to it, and endured it to the very uttermost: nThe virtues and graces of the mind sometimes are manifested in their deed or work: and sometimes lie hid in their habit, as the virtue of Martyrdom. Many may have the same prowess that Martyrs have, who are not brought to the same proof thereof. By trials, that which is in a man before God is brought forth before men: Not that it is then first begun, but that it is then first manifested. Before the Devil went about to sift Job, his soul was possessed with patience, which the Lord well knew, and whereunto he gave witness: But to men it was made known by the trial of tentation. Thus we see how we may be Martyrs in the most halcyon times that can be, even such as ours are: So as the ground and glory of Martyrdom is meet to be made known, and to ⟨p. 57⟩be meditated on in these our days; and the rather, because we cannot be sure of an everlasting continuance of our peace, or of the Gospel of peace among us. As it is therefore needful and useful in the prime and strength of our age, when we have best health to meditate on the sundry kinds of diseases, and manifold casualties whereunto we are subject, and on death, the end of all: so in the most flourishing times of the Church, meditation on the uttermost that may be endured even to the shedding of blood for fast-holding our profession of Christ, is a most meet meditation.
1O that all who professe the Faith of Christ were like minded! It well becomes us all to bee so minded. And if indeed wee be so minded, God who knowes the mind, heart, and spirit of a man will answerably account of him, and accept him, though he never bee brought to the fiery triall, as if he had beene brought to it, and indur'd it to the very uttermost: nThe virtues and graces of the mind sometimes are manifested in their deed or work: and sometimes lie hid in their habit, as the virtue of Martyrdome. Many may have the same prowesse that Martyrs have, who are not brought to the same proofe thereof. By trialls, that which is in a man before God is brought foorth before men: Not that it is then first begun, but that it is then first manifested. Before the Divell went about to sift Iob, his soule was possessed with patience, which the Lord well knew, and whereunto he gave witnesse: But to men it was made knowne by the tryall of tentation. Thus we see how we may bee Martyrs in the most halcyon times that can be, even such as ours are: So as the ground and glory of Martyrdome is meet to be made knowne, and to