A41644:179
God's call to England, for thankfulness after gracious deliverances
God's call to England, for thankfulness after gracious deliverances wherein is showed, that our deliverances, not answered with reformation, will be followed with sorest destruction / by Thomas Gouge.God's call to England, for thankfulness after gracious deliverances wherein is shewed, that our deliverances, not answered with reformation, will be followed with sorest destruction / by Thomas Gouge.
London: printed for John Hancock, 1680
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.
3. Will this persistence in sin hasten such certain and miserable ruin! Then see what reason there is to shake off our pleasing but hurtful security, admitting some fearful thoughts, and affecting our hearts with apprehensions of our eminent danger. Unwilling we are to admit of such Truths near our decoying hearts, which may affect us with fear or grief: But 'tis far from the nature of wisdom to flatter our selves into ruin; or to fancy our selves secure in a glorious Paradise, till we be miserable in a desolate wilderness. ⟨p. 137⟩Three things, says Luther, will undo a Nation; Oblivion of Mercies, Politic contrivances, and Carnal Security. Well will it be, if these prove not our ruin at last.
3. Will this persistence in sin hasten such certain and miserable ruine! Then see what reason there is to shake off our pleasing but hurtful security, admitting some fearful thoughts, and affecting our hearts with apprehensions of our eminent danger. Unwilling we are to admit of such Truths near our decoying hearts, which may affect us with fear or grief: But 'tis far from the nature of wisdom to flatter our selves into ruine; or to fancy our selves secure in a glorious Paradise, till we be miserable in a desolate wilderness. ⟨p. 137⟩Three things, says Luther, will undo a Nation; Oblivion of Mercies, Politick contrivances, and Carnal Security. Well will it be, if these prove not our ruine at last.
Oh what a fearless Age do we live in? we sleep on pillows stuffed with the fire of divine vengeance: We cry, Peace, Peace, and destruction is coming. How do we stupefy our Senses, fear our Consciences, lock up our Understandings, to keep out all fears in the midst of most dreadful dangers? What stupefying Opiums hath the Devil persuaded us to swallow, that makes us so mindless of approaching miseries? How do we fortify our selves with most fond presumptions against the threats of vengeance denounced from Heaven? Can fancied safety deliver our Nation from Enemies, when we have nothing else to secure us? Can empty boastings of conceited ability to defend our selves, prevent the assaults of Enemies, or deliver our Land from the ruin designed? Will security in sin be sufficient guard to preserve us from all Conspiracies? can neither God nor man do us any harm, whilst we imagine our selves out of danger? Oh nos miserrimos! Oh miserable