A41649:102
A word to sinners, and a word to saints The former tending to the…
A word to sinners, and a word to saints The former tending to the awakening the consciences of secure sinners, unto a lively sense and apprehension of the dreadful condition they are in, so long as they live in their natural and unregenerate estate. The latter tending to the directing and persuading of the godly and regenerate unto several singular duties. As also a word to householders stirring them up to the good old way of serving God in and with their families, from Joshua's resolution, Josh. 24. 15. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Set forth especially for the use and benefit of the inhabitants of St. Sepulchres Parish, London by Tho. Gouge, late pastor thereof.A word to sinners, and a word to saints The former tending to the awakening the consciences of secure sinners, unto a lively sense and apprehension of the dreadfull condition they are in, so long as they live in their natural and unregenerate estate. The latter tending to the directing and perswading of the godly and regenerate unto several singular duties. As also a word to housholders stirring them up to the good old way of serving God in and with their families, from Joshuah's resolution, Josh. 24. 15. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Set forth especially for the use and benefit of the inhabitants of St. Sepulchres Parish, London by Tho. Gouge, late pastor thereof.
London: printed for George Sawbridge, 1668
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Part › Chapter 3: Of the Nature of Regeneration, What it is.
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.
1The notation of the Greek and Latin words imports as much. Not unfitly called regeneration, because by it we are restored to that image of God, wherein we were at first created.
1The notation of the Greek and Latine words imports as much. Not unfitly called regeneration, because by it we are restored to that image of God, wherein we were at first created.
- 1[Greek or Hebrew], Regeneratio.〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Regeneratio.
Now this regeneration, or new birth cannot be meant of a birth after the flesh, 1for no natural or carnal thing is to be conceited in regeneration. But regeneration is a spiritual birth, a birth of the spirit, as is evident by those words,2 that which is born of the spirit is spirit. So as by the work of Regeneration flesh is turned into spirit, that is, the carnal, corrupt disposition of man, is changed and altered into a renewed and sanctified disposition; whereby it appears that Regeneration is as it were a new creation, and a regenerate man is called a new-creature, ⟨p. 17⟩being renewed throughout, both through his soul with all the powers and faculties thereof; and through his body, with all the parts and members thereof. So that the blind understanding is in some measure enlightened with the knowledge of God, and the knowledge of Jesus Christ. The stubborn and contumacious will is in some measure obedient and conformable to the will of God. The seared and benumbed conscience is now quickened and awakened. The hard heart softened, the unruly affections crucified: And the body with all the parts and members thereof are made ready instruments to put in execution the good intentions of the mind. Thus by Regeneration men are wrought upon throughout, being wonderfully altered and changed from what they were before: in relation to which alteration they are said to be born again. Which may inform us of the wonderful depravation of our nature, which was such, as mending and repairing would not serve the turn, but God must new make, and new create us, we must be born again, made new creatures.