A32052:7
Saints memorials, or, Words fitly spoken, like apples of gold in pictures of silver…
Saints memorials, or, Words fitly spoken, like apples of gold in pictures of silver being a collection of divine sentences / written and delivered by those late reverend and eminent ministers of the gospel, Mr. Edmund Calamy, Mr. Joseph Caryl, Mr. Ralph Venning, Mr. James Janeway.
London : s.n., 1674
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.
To the Reader.
My Friends, many there are whose beginning is better than their latter end: but blessed are they who dye in the Lord, who have an Interest in the Everlasting Covenant, and in the sure mercies of David: though God may visit their Iniquities with a Rod, and their Transgressions with Stripes, yet he will never suffer his loving kindness to depart. Who would then, depart from that God, who sticks so close to his? If we leave him whither shall we go? surely to broken Cisterns that hold no water.
Oh then, as you love your precious and immortal Souls, endeavour close Union and strict Communion with him. As you are chosen by him, so let him be your choice: Since he first loved you, let it not be lost. He cast his eye upon us when we were in our Blood, and no eye pitied us; and he spread his Skirt over us, and then was the time of love. Ah then, if he loved us so unlovely, what estimation should we have of him, who is love it self? Consider what he hath ⟨image 3⟩done for you, in giving life, health, and above all, his beloved Son to dye for you a most ignominious death, that you through him might have everlasting life. That you may know how to value this transcendent love of God, weigh well the condition you were at that time in; lamentably helpless, Dead in Trespasses and Sins, without God, and without Christ in the world, strangers to the Commonwealth of Israel and to the Promises. This we were in the general: but what were we as to our best, our Righteousness? so bad, that nothing could be worse; no better than menstruous Clothes and filthy Rags.