A41649:1206
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.
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.
Q. What doth the peoples taking the Bread and Wine set out?
A. Their receiving Christs body and blood.
That is, a spiritual receiving of Christ made man, and made ⟨p. 26⟩a Sacrifice, to themselves, and that by faith. For faith is that instrument whereby we receive Christ, and all his benefits as they are offered to us in the Gospel, and sealed unto us in the Sacrament. Faith is to the soul, as the hand is to the body. That which is offered to a man for his good, the hand receives to be his own. Thus God offering his Son unto us, faith first persuades the heart of Gods good will to man, and of his true intent to bestow Christ upon him, and thereupon applies and takes Christ to himself, as his own. By faith the things signified are as truly received for the nourishment of the soul, as the signs are received f•r the nourishment of the body. Faith is not only our hand to take hold of Christ: but our mouth to take him in, to take him down into our hearts, whereby he becomes our nourishment and strength.
That is, a spiritual receiving of Christ made man, and made ⟨p. 26⟩a Sacrifice, to themselves, and that by faith. For faith is that instrument whereby we receive Christ, and all his benefits as they are offered to us in the Gospel, and sealed unto us in the Sacrament. Faith is to the soul, as the hand is to the body. That which is offered to a man for his good, the hand receives to be his own. Thus God offering his Son unto us, faith first perswades the heart of Gods good will to man, and of his true intent to bestow Christ upon him, and thereupon applyes and takes Christ to himself, as his own. By faith the things signified are as truly received for the nourishment of the soul, as the signs are received fr the nourishment of the body. Faith is not only our hand to take hold of Christ: but our mouth to take him in, to take him down into our hearts, whereby he becomes our nourishmnt and strengh.