A41649:174
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.
Oh the folly and madness of this sensual enslaved ⟨p. 35⟩World! Surely were there nothing in sin but the present slavery, it were enough to dissuade any ingenuous spirit. Who would be a slave? a slave to a lust? at the command of every unclean motion? at the beck of every brutish affection? But if the vileness of the work will not debtor thee, will not the dreadfulness of the wages neither? which is eternal death and condemnation. Oh consider this you who make so light a matter of sin, and take such pleasure in obeying the lusts thereof.
Oh the folly and madness of this sensual enslaved ⟨p. 35⟩World! Surely were there nothing in sin but the present slavery, it were enough to disswade any ingenuous spirit. Who would be a slave? a slave to a lust? at the command of every unclean motion? at the beck of every brutish affection? But if the vileness of the work will not deterr thee, will not the dreadfulness of the wages neither? which is eternal death and condemnation. Oh consider this you who make so light a matter of sin, and take such pleasure in obeying the lusts thereof.
II. All men in the state of unregeneracy are servants and slaves to the Devil. Which necessarily followeth upon the former, for such as are in subjection to their lusts, must needs be under the bondage and slavery of Satan, in that the chief power he hath over us, is, by lust to allure us unto sin. I know all men are apt to say, that they hate and defy the Devil, and abhor to be his slave or servant: but yet in the mean time, they obey his sinful commands, and thereby declare themselves to be his servants, for as the Apostle speaketh, Know ye not, 1that to whom ye yield your selves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey. And saith the beloved Disciple,2