A41649:251
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.
IV. After this follows a separation of the good from the bad, of the elect from the reprobate. For Christ at the first appearing of all before his JudgementS•at, to testify his gracious favour, and good respect to believers, separates them from others, and sets them on his right hand, as a flock of sheep, whom he intends to take for his own. And then will he set the wicked and unbelievers on his left hand, to testify as his rejecting them, so his purpose to pass a terrible doom upon them, as himself expresseth, Mat. 25.32, 33. Yea in Luke 17.34, 35. I tell you, saith he, in that night there shall be two in one bed, the one shall be taken and the other left, Two men shall be in the field, the one shall be taken and the other left. So that at the day of judgement there will be a separation of the nearest and dearest relations that may be: as between Husband and Wife, yea Father and Child. Oh! what a sad separation will that be? when the Husband shall be separated from the Wife, ⟨p. 58⟩and the Wife from the Husband: the Father from the Child, and the Child from the Father. You have often seen what a sorrowful parting it is, when the Wife buries her Husband, and layeth him in the cold grave. How she goeth home weeping and lamenting her sad loss; though she hath hope of meeting him again in Gods Kingdom. Oh, but what an heavy parting and separation will there be, when the one shall be set at the right hand of Christ, the other at his left? the one taken into Heaven, and the other cast down into Hell? Oh, that all Husbands and Wives, all Parents and Children, all Masters and Servants would seriously think of this dreadful separation; and be thereby stirred up, so to live together here in the fear of God, that they may not be separated at the day of judgement, when this sad and fearful separation shall be.
IV. After this follows a separation of the good from the bad, of the elect from the reprobate. For Christ at the first appearing of all before his JudgementS•at, to testifie his gracious favour, and good respect to believers, separates them from others, and sets them on his right hand, as a flock of sheep, whom he intends to take for his own. And then will he set the wicked and unbelievers on his left hand, to testifie as his rejecting them, so his purpose to pass a terrible doom upon them, as himself expresseth,