A01980:319
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.
15. Take heed of relapse. Christ himself saw this to be a needful caveat: and thereupon pressed it once and again on such as he had recovered from sin: as on the woman taken in the act of adultery (Joh. 8.11) thus, Go and sin no more: and on him that had been diseased 38. years he enforceth it with a commination (Joh. 5.14.) thus, Sin no more, lest a worse thing come to thee. For if, after we are freed from the misery of sin, we return to it again, sorer vengeance is like to befall us. Experience shows how dangerous a relapse is after a recovery from a bodily sickness. Much more dangerous is a spiritual relapse after repentance from an heinous sin. The heart of man by such a relapse will be much more hardened in sin; and the Devil in such a case will take with himself seven other spirits more wicked then himself, and they will enter in, and dwell there (Mat. 12.45.) Yea and God himself may be so incensed thereby, ⟨p. 88⟩as to afford no more grace to him that hath so ill employed his former grace, as to depart clean away from it. Thus the last state of that man is worse then the first. Look therefore narrowly to thy self, thou who art now restored: and make use of those directions which were before given to such as go down to the Sea, to make them constant in holding the faith.
15. Take heed of relapse. Christ himselfe saw this to be a needfull caveat: and thereupon prest it once and againe on such as he had recovered from sin: as on the woman taken in the act of adultery (Ioh. 8.11) thus, Goe and sinne no more: and on him that had beene deseased 38. yeares he enforceth it with a commination (Ioh. 5.14.) thus, Sin no more, lest a worse thing come to thee. For if, after we are freed from the misery of sin, we returne to it againe, soarer vengeance is like to befall us. Experience shewes how dangerous a relapse is after a recovery from a bodily sicknesse. Much more dangerous is a spirituall relapse after repentance from an heighnous sin. The heart of man by such a relapse will be much more hardned in sin; and the Divell in such a case will take with himselfe seven other spirits more wicked then himselfe, and they will enter in, and dwell there (