A41644:68
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.
PROPOSITION 3.
Sinning after Deliverance, is the most heinous sinning. It renders sin exceeding great, to commit it after great mercies. It is a great sin, to count any sin small, that is committed against a great God: yet sin hath its aggravations, and admits of degrees, according to the circumstances under which 'tis committed. There are two things which render a sin most abominable; when sin is committed against light, and against love. They are no little nor light sins, that are aggravated with convictions by light: nor are sins against love of an inferior nature; nothing more intolerable to Man or God, than to have ill will for good deeds. 'Tis sinful to render evil for evil to man, much more to render evil for good to God. What more provoking sight can be beheld, than a man impudent in evil under judgment, and barren in good under mercies? Affronts to love, are more unsufferable ⟨p. 33⟩than Rebellion under displays of wrath. The highest unkindness, is the highest sinfulness. The sin of David is aggravated by the recording Gods kindness to him, 2 Sam. 12.7, 8, 9. I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul, and I gave thee thy masters house—And if that had been too little, I would moreover have given thee such and such things. Wherefore then hast thou despised the command of the Lord, to do this evil in his sight? To sin in the face of God when smiling upon us with unmerited mercy, is one of the greatest contempts can be cast upon God. To manifest our sinfulness, when we enjoy the greatest testimonies of goodness, is the height of madness. To withdraw our necks from an uneasy galling yoke, to rebel under the severities of a cruel Tyrant, to cast off the service of an imperious Master, may admit some excuse; but to wax wanton under mercies, to despise the clemency of Heaven, to deny obedience to a loving Father, is an offence indefendible, a crime unpardonable. When God would lay a people under a conviction of the heinousness of their crimes, he repeats his gracious dealings to them. Jerem. 2.20