A01980:255
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.
8. Others also rejoiced at this Apostates conversion. There was music and dancing, ver. 25.
8. Others also rejoyced at this Apostates conversion. There was musick and dancing, ver. 25.
9. His Father testified better respect to him, then to the elder son who never fell into such exorbitant courses. This is evident by the eldest sons expostulation, ver. 29, 30.
9. His Father test•fied better respect to him, then to the elder sonne who never fell into such exorbitant courses. This is evident by the eldest sonnes expostulation, ver. 29, 30.
10. His Father accounts him as a new son raised from the dead: and thereupon will not suffer his entire affection to be alienated from him by the brothers displeasure against him, ver. 32.
10. His Father accounts him as a new sonne raised from the dead: and thereupon will not suffer his entire affection to be alienated from him by the brothers displeasure against him, ver. 32.
The fore-mentioned evidences do clearly demonstrate that the Apostate, of whom my Text speaketh, was received into the state of grace and salvation. Join therefore with the truth of the Prodigals penitency, the favours that followed thereupon, all comprised under this word FOUND, and it will appear that Penitency restores to salvation.
The fore-mentioned evidences doe clearely demonstrate that the Apostate, of whom my Text speaketh, was received into the state of grace and salvation. Joyne therefore with the truth of the Prodigalls penitency, the favours that followed thereupon, all comprised under this word FOVND, and it will appeare that Penitency restores to salvation.
Such as had implunged themselves by Apostasy ⟨p. 67⟩into the state of perdition, it brings into the state of salvation.
Such as had implunged themselves by Apostacy ⟨p. 67⟩into the state of perdition, it brings into the state of salvation.
In this doctrine ye are distinctly to observe, first the sure Ground-work or Foundation, Penitency: and then the fair structure of building reared thereupon, A restoring to Salvation.
In this doctrine ye are distinctly to observe, first the sure Ground-worke or Foundation, Penitency: and then the faire structure of building reared thereupon, A restoring to Salvation.
The former is taken pro concesso: as a point in no case to be questioned,1 but to be granted as an undeniable principle. For to proclaim pardon to an impenitent, or to put an Apostate into the state of salvation without true, sound, evident repentance, is to play the part of a foolish builder, that without a foundation builds an house on the earth: against which the stream did beat vehemently and immediately it fell and the rain of that house was great, Luk. 6.49. If the stream of temptation do in any kind vehemently beat against the conscience of such a deceitful convert, his vain hope of salvation is like to turn into a certain fearful looking for of judgement. By experience we find that a deep wound hastily skinned over before it be throughly searched and cleansed, is like to fester, and to prove incurable: So Apostasy or any other like scandalous and notorious sin, being soothed, and smoothed over with undue hope of mercy and pardon, before through humiliation of the soul, great contrition of the heart, free confession of the mouth, and due satisfaction to the Church, which are all branches of true penitency, may prove unpardonable.
The former is taken pro concesso: as a point in no case to be questioned,1 but to be granted as an undeniable principle. For to proclaime pardon to an impenitent, or to put an Apostate into the state of salvation without true, sound, evident repentance, is to play the part of a foolish builder, that without a foundation builds an house on the earth: against which the streame did beate vehemently and immediately it fell and the raine of that house was great, Luk. 6.49. If the streame of temptation doe in any kind vehemently beate against the conscience of such a deceitfull convert, his vaine hope of salvation is like to turne into a certaine fearefull looking for of judgement. By experience we find that a deepe wound hastely skinn'd over before it be throughly searched and clensed, is like to fester, and to proove incurable: So Apostacy or any other like scandalous and notorious sinne, being soothed, and smoothed over with undue hope of mercy and pardon, before thorow humiliation of the soule, great contrition of the heart, free confession of the mouth, and due satisfaction to the Church, which are all branches of true penitency, may proove unpardonable.
All the Prophets before Christ, his immediate Fore-runner, Christ himself, his Apostles, and other faithful Ministers after them, have laid the Foundation of Repentance from dead works, to erect assurance of mercy thereupon. Whoso confesseth and forsaketh his sins, shall have mercy. Pro. 28.13. Wash you, make you clean, put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes, cease to do evil, learn to do well, and come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord: Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be made white as snow, though they be made red like crimson, they shall be as wool, Isaiah 1.16, 17, 18. Return ye Backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings, saith the Lord, Jer. 3.22. Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways, for why will ye die. Ezek. 33.11. I will go, and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence and seek my face, saith the Lord. Hos. 5.15. By these particulars we are given to understand what was the constant doctrine of the Prophets. To like purpose John the Baptist, Math. 3.2. Repent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. The very same did Christ preach, Math. 4.1•. and his Apostles, Mark. 6.12. To this question, what shall we do? St. Peter returns this answer, Repent, and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, Act. 2.37, 38. S. Paul expressly saith (Act. 26.20.) that he showed that men should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. It is an advice given to the back-sliding Churches of ⟨p. 69⟩
By this manner of raising, restoring, and receiving such as are fallen,
1. A concurrence of Mercy and Purity in God is manifested.1 Of Mercy in receiving such as ran from him. Of Purity in receiving them upon their repentance.
2. A mixture of Merit and Virtue in Christs Sacrifice is evidenced. Of Merit in procuring pardon for such as denied him. Of Virtue, in altering their mind and disposition.
3. The extent of the operation of the Holy Ghost is made known: and that by healing the wounds of the soul by repentance, as well as by easing the anguish thereof by assurance of pardon.
3. The extent of the operation of the Holy Ghost is made knowne: and that by healing the wounds of the soule by repentance, as well as by easing the anguish therof by assurance of pardon.
4. The Gospel, which publisheth Gods free grace and rich mercy, is freed from the unjust imputation of a doctrine of looseness and licentiousness, in that it calleth such sinners to repentance, as it offereth grace unto.
4. The Gospell, which publisheth Gods free grace and rich mercy, is freed from the unjust imputation of a doctrine of loosenesse and licentiousnesse, in that it calleth such sinners to repentance, as it offereth grace unto.
5. Faith which justifieth a sinner without works, is proved to be justified by works, in that the sinner who with the heart believeth unto righteousness, with the mouth maketh confession unto salvation.
5. Faith which justifieth a sinner without workes, is prooved to bee justified by workes, in that the sinner who with the heart beleeveth unto righteousnesse, with the mouth maketh confession unto salvation.
6. The Church which admitteth none but penitents, is thereby declared to be an holy Church, and a communion of Saints.
Thus we see what good ground there is to lay down this ground-work of Penitency as a qualification for such as are restored to the state of salvation: so as all that shall be further spoken of restoring Apostates, must be understood to to be spoken of Penitents. For Christ hath once and again as an irreversible doom denounced, that except men repent they shall perish, Luke 13.3, 5.
Thus we see what good ground there is to lay downe this ground-worke of Penitency as a qualification for such as are restored to the state of salvation: so as all that shall be further spoken of restoring Apostates, must be understood to to be spoken of Penitents. For Christ hath once and againe as an irreversible doome denounced, that except men repent they shall perish, Luke 13.3, 5.
All the Prophets before Christ, his immediate Fore-runner, Christ himselfe, his Apostles, and other faithfull Ministers after them, have laid the Foundation of Repentance from dead works, to erect assurance of mercy thereupon. Whoso confesseth and forsaketh his sinnes, shall have mercy. Pro. 28.13. Wash you, make you cleane, put away the evill of your doings from before mine eyes, cease to doe evill, learne to doe well, and come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord: Though your sinnes be as scarlet, they shall be made white as snow, though they be made red like crimson, they shall be as woole, Isaiah 1.16, 17, 18. Returne ye Backsliding children, and I will heale your backslidings, saith the Lord, Ier. 3.22. Turne yee, turne ye from your evill waies, for why will yee die. Ezek. 33.11. I will goe, and returne to my place, till they acknowledge their offence and seeke my face, saith the Lord. Hos. 5.15. By these particulars we are given to understand what was the constant doctrine of the Prophets. To like purpose Iohn the Baptist, Math. 3.2. Repent ye, for the Kingdome of Heaven is at hand. The very same did Christ preach, Math. 4.1•. and his Apostles, Mark. 6.12. To this question, what shall we doe? St. Peter returnes this answer, Repent, and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Iesus Christ for the remission of sins, Act. 2.37, 38. S. Paul expressely saith (Act. 26.20.) that he shewed that men should repent and turne to God, and doe workes meet for repentance. It is an advice given to the back-sliding Churches of ⟨p. 69⟩Asia, to repent: as to Ephesus, to Pergamus, to Thyatira, to Sardis, and to Laodicea, Rev. 2.5, 16, 22, & 3.3, 19. J might further fill volums with testimonies of Fathers, and later Divines tending to the same purpose. For other good and sure foundation can no man lay.
