A41649:218
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. As the Jailer at the Assizes brings forth the Prisoner out of Prison, and sets him before the Judge. So, Sinner, the Devil as thy Jailer brings forth thy soul out of the Prison of thy body, and sets it before the glorious presence of God; the sight of whom will strike thee with such hellish horror and astonishment, that thou wouldst be glad to have the greatest rock to fall on thee, and mightiest mountain to cover thee, 1and there to lye hid everlastingly from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne.
1. As the Iaylor at the Assizes brings forth the Prisoner out of Prison, and sets him before the Judge. So, Sinner, the Devil as thy Iaylor brings forth thy soul out of the Prison of thy body, and sets it before the glorious presence of God; the sight of whom will strike thee with such hellish horrour and astonishment, that thou wouldst be glad to have the greatest rock to fall on thee, and mightiest mountain to cover thee, 1and there to lye hid everlastingly from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne.
2. As when the Prisoner is come before the face of the judge, then his accusers bring in their evidence. So sinner, thou art no sooner set before the face of the Almighty Judge, but thy Conscience joining with the Devil brings in evidence against thee. And then all thy filthy thoughts and impure imaginations, all thy lies and oaths, with all thy rotten communications, and all the secret impurities and villainies of thy whole life will be set before thee, and charged upon thy soul. And how dismally will all thy mirth, and thy pleasures, the houses that thou hast built, the lands thou hast purchased, the money thou hast hoarded up by iniquity, how dreadfully will these look on thee in that day? Now thou boastest thy self in thy wealth, and blessest thy self in thy pleasures, and sportest thy self in thy sins, but in what a grim countenance will all these appear, when they meet thee before the throne of God? Ah sinner! What wilt thou then do? whither