A11850:276
Christs counsel to his languishing church of SardisChrists counsell to his languishing church of Sardis
Christs counsel to his languishing church of Sardis. Or, The dying or decaying Christian, with the means and helps of his recovery and strengthening. By Obadiah Sedgwick, B. of D. late preacher to the inhabitants of S. Mildreds Bread Street, LondonChrists counsell to his languishing church of Sardis. Or, The dying or decaying Christian, with the meanes and helpes of his recovery and strengthening. By Obadiah Sedgwicke, B. of D. late preacher to the inhabitants of S. Mildreds Bredstreet, London
London: printed by Thomas for L. Fawne, 1640
CHRISTS COUNSEL to His languishing CHURCH.CHRISTS COVNSELL to His languishing CHURCH.
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.
If carelessness and slothfulness of spirit hath caused thy decayings, thou must (with the Church in the Canticles) stand no longer upon, how shall I rise and put on my coat? but rise thou must, and get out of thy ⟨p. 126⟩slothful bed, and thrust from thee a neglecting and negligent disposition.
If carelesnesse and slothfulnesse of spirit hath caused thy decayings, thou must (with the Church in the Canticles) stand no longer upon, how shall I rise and put on my coat? but rise thou must, and get out of thy ⟨p. 126⟩slothfull bed, and thrust from thee a neglecting and negligent disposition.
Or if the world hath caused thy decayings, either in the profits of it and gain, or in the honours of it and respects, or in the friendship of it and acquaintance, thou must resolve to bid them all farewell. Think on it O Christian, what gets he for profit, who loseth in his graces, or for honour, who abaseth himself in his graces, or for love, who loseth himself in the favour of his God? Ah poor soul, thou mayest curse the day that ever thou knewest what did belong to thy drudgings in the world, and unto thy great ⟨p. 127⟩friends in the world, and thy society with such and such persons: at first thou didst converse with them with a regretting spirit, then with a silent spirit, then with an yielding spirit; many, many a day hast thou come home with conscience accusing and smiting of thee, unto which hadst thou hearkened, thou hadst been much preserved: well, well, if ever thou wouldest recover thy spiritual strength, thou must peremptorily resolve on it to sever from wicked society, better far to be a poor man, and a rich Christian, then to thrive any way, and be decaying in grace.
Or if the world hath caused thy decayings, either in the profits of it and gaine, or in the honours of it and respects, or in the friendship of it and acquaintance, thou must resolve to bid them all farewell. Think on it O Christian, what gets he for profit, who loseth in his graces, or for honour, who abaseth himselfe in his graces, or for love, who loseth himselfe in the favour of his God? Ah poore soule, thou mayest curse the day that ever thou knewest what did belong to thy drudgings in the world, and unto thy great