A41644:30
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.
Can we pass by this Heavenly favour, without a pious inquiry into the gracious designs of our blessed God in bestowing of it? Hath this unexpected deliverance continued the choicest of blessings to us, and shall we dis-appoint the expectations of God, who is looking for signal requitals of it? Surely such a glorious work as this, wherein hath appeared the immediate hand of Almighty God, the most wonderful goodness of his sweetest nature, the highest testimonies ⟨p. 5⟩of his enduring patience, can never be over-looked by us; unless we design to affront his mercy, disdain his kindness, and dare his justice.
But oh miserable Nation! oh ungrateful people! Where are the tokens of thankful respects for unmerited favours? What notice is there taken that such a work hath been done amongst us? Who lays to heart the operations of his hands? Where are the lips that praise him, the lives that honour him for it? The Idolatrous Philistines could assemble and sacrifice to their Dagon, for delivering Sampson their Enemy into their hands, Judg. 16.23, 24. But when have we assembled to offer the sacrifice of praise to our God, for delivering us from the hands of our Enemies? Oh regardless people! if talking of Deliverance be recompense enough, we have paid it; if cursing our foes be sufficient reward, we have given it: but if repentance of disobedience be the only return, we have yet omitted it: if reformation can only be regarded as a suitable requital, we are without it. What have we seen but unchanged conversations in our changed condition? What have we given to the Lord, but a doubled ⟨p. 6⟩measure of Impieties, for his doubled mercies? What have we done, but endeavoured to revenge our selves on the mercy of God that hath spared us?
But oh miserable Nation! oh ungrateful people! Where are the tokens of thankful respects for unmerited favours? What notice is there taken that such a work hath been done amongst us? Who lays to heart the operations of his hands? Where are the lips that praise him, the lives that honour him for it? The Idolatrous Philistines could assemble and sacrifice to their Dagon, for delivering Sampson their Enemy into their hands,