A30585:661
Gospel-worship, or, The right manner of sanctifying the name of God in general and…
Gospel-worship, or, The right manner of sanctifying the name of God in general and particularly in these three great ordinances, viz. [brace] 1. hearing of the Word, 2. receiving the Lords Supper, 3. prayer / by Jeremiah Burroughs ; being the second of the seven volumes lately published by Thomas Goodwin ... [et al.]Gospel-worship, or, The right manner of sanctifying the name of God in general and particularly in these three great ordinances, viz. [brace] 1. hearing of the Word, 2. receiving the Lords Supper, 3. prayer / by Jeremiah Burroughs ; being the second of the seven volumns lately published by Thomas Goodwin ... [et al.]
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1653
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.
as your civil men, what's the reason that they bless themselves and think they are in a good condition, it's because their corruptions lie still in them and do not stir, they cannot believe what abundance of wickedness there is ⟨p. 286⟩in their hearts, if God should open the wickedness that there is in the hearts of men naturally, and so all unregenerate men they would think you spake strange riddles, whereas they bless themselves; they bless God, they know no such thing in their hearts, No? yes, there are such things, only they are not stirred, but they lie quiet; as mud in the bottom of a pond, there it is, yet you cannot see it till it be stirred: at first conversion (I say) the Lord suffers thy corruption thus to stir, that he may discover to thee what an evil heart thou hast, what abundance of sin there is in thy heart, and therefore your young converts, they look upon themselves as more loathsome and vile than ever they thought they had been.
as your civil men, what's the reason that they bless themselves and think they are in a good condition, it's because their corruptions lie still in them and do not stir, they cannot beleeve what abundance of wickedness there is ⟨p. 286⟩in their hearts, if God should open the wickedness that there is in the hearts of men naturally, and so all unregenerate men they would think you spake strange riddles, whereas they bless themselves; they bless God, they know no such thing in their hearts, No? yes, there are such things, only they are not stir'd, but they lie quiet; as mud in the bottom of a pond, there it is, yet you cannot see it till it be stir'd: at first conversion (I say) the Lord suffers thy corruption thus to stir, that he may discover to thee what an evil heart thou hast, what abundance of sin there is in thy heart, and therefore your yong converts, they look upon themselves as more loathsom and vile than ever they thought they had been.
And besides, The Devil sees it a vain thing to tempt a young Convert to any gross act of sin; when conscience hath life and power in it, he shall never prevail that way; but now he thinks he may prevail to disturb them with vain thoughts, and therefore he lays his strength most that way; therefore let not such be discouraged, that find their spirits annoyed and pestered with them, if they make them to be the burden of their souls; notwithstanding much vanity of thoughts, the Lord will accept of any desire that they have to sanctify his Name in holy Duties; And I shall give you these three or four Rules to help you against these wandering and vain thoughts in holy Duties, and especially in Prayer.