A41649:185
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.
1. To temporal judgements, as pains, sicknesses and diseases, losses, crosses, and the like. Haply for the ⟨p. 38⟩present thou mayest be without them, but thou canst not promise thy self freedom and exemption from the same, no not for one day: for they are continually hanging over thine head, ready every moment to seize upon thee: and they oftentimes come suddenly when they are least expected. It is expressly noted, that when the Lord rained Fire and Brimstone upon Sodom and Gomorrah, at that time the Sun was risen from the Earth. Little did the Sodomites expect so strange a shower after so fair a Morning. Believe it, this days ease, and rest and mirth may be turned into pangs and anguish, and groanings, and roarings before tomorrow.
1. To temporal judgements, as pains, sicknesses and diseases, losses, crosses, and the like. Haply for the ⟨p. 38⟩present thou maist be without them, but thou canst not promise thy self freedom and exemption from the same, no not for one day: for they are continually hanging over thine head, ready every moment to seize upon thee: and they oftentimes come suddenly when they are least expected. It is expresly noted, that when the Lord rained Fire and Brimstone upon Sodom and Gomorrah, at that time the Sun was risen from the Earth. Little did the Sodomites expect so strange a showr after so fair a Morning. Believe it, this dayes ease, and rest and mirth may be turned into pangs and anguish, and groanings, and roarings before tomorrow.
2. They are liable to spiritual judgements, as blindness of mind, hardness of heart, vileness of affections, horror of conscience, and the like. The Prophet Isaiah doth elegantly decipher the miserable condition of an unregenerate man in this respect, The wicked, saith he,1 are like the troubled Sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. The Sea is not only ofttimes outwardly tossed up and down with winds and tempests, but also inwardly disquieted, even with her own motions, casting up continually mire and dirt. Even so the heart of a carnal man is not only many times outwardly troubled with crosses and afflictions; but also inwardly disquieted with the impetuous violence of filthy lusts, and the restless terrors and torments of a guilty Conscience, which are far sorer than any outward afflictions, as seizing upon the tenderest part, namely the Soul and Spirit of a man.