A41649:253
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.
Touching the conviction of the wicked, two things are to be considered; 1. The matter of their conviction, or what they shall be convinced of. 2. The means of their conviction, or what they shall be convinced by.
I. The matter of their conviction shall be twofold, they shall be convinced,
1. Of their state. That enquiry shall be made after this is evident, Rom. 14.12. Every one of us shall give an account of himself to God, that is, what he is, ⟨p. 59⟩whether a sheep or a goat; whether a believer, or an unbeliever; regenerate or unregenerate; in Christ or out of Christ; under the power of corrupt nature, or sanctified by the grace of God. Here in this world, if carnal men make any enquiry after themselves at all, it's only after their outward ways and actions, not asking themselves, What am I? whose am I? Am I of God or the Devil? Am I in Christ, or in my sins? But for the most part enquiring only, What have I done? What life have I lived? What course have I run? 'Twere well if there were more such enquiries as this now in this day. Oh how seldom do we hear carnal men asking,1 What have I done? But in that day the great enquiry will be, What art thou? A Saint or a sinner? A believer or unbeliever? What charge hath been made upon thy nature? Hath there been a work of grace wrought upon thee? And as this will be the grand inquiry, so this will be the great matter of conviction in that day. Now men easily take themselves to be converts, to be believers; but then shall they be convinced of their mistakes, and shall be made to acknowledge, that they are still in their sins, have rejected Christ, and are strangers from the life of God.