A41649:325
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.
Men in misery comfort themselves with hope of an end. The Prisoner with hope of Goal-delivery: the Apprentice with hope of a freedom and liberty: the Galley-slave with hope of a ransom: only ⟨p. 83⟩the poor wretches in hell have no hope of freedom and liberty at all: they are as far from an end of their torments, as at their first beginning and entrance thereinto.
Men in misery comfort themselves with hope of an end. The Prisoner with hope of Goal-delivery: the Apprentice with hope of a freedom and liberty: the Gally-slave with hope of a ransome: only ⟨p. 83⟩the poor wretches in hell have no hope of freedom and liberty at all: they are as far from an end of their torments, as at their first beginning and entrance thereinto.
If there might be any end of their torments, though it should be after so many millions of years, as there are Sands on the Sea-shore, or Stars in the Firmament, it would be some comfort to those who endure them. But Eternity is the very hell of hells, and that which most of all breaks the very hearts of the damned. The present sense of pain being not so grievous to the damned, as it is to think that after thousands, yea thousand thousands of years, they shall be as far either from end or from ease, as they were the first hour of their falling into it. Surely if to a man tormented with the gout, stone, or colic, one night seemeth exceeding long; Oh how long do you think eternity (that night which shall never know morning) will seem to those who shall lye tormented and roaring in a bed of flame, with wicked fiends, and Devils about them, daily and hourly adding to their torment? If one short nights pain be so tedious and grievous, what will that eternal night be?
If there might be any end of their torments, though it should be after so many millions of years, as there are Sands on the Sea-shore, or Stars in the Firmament, it would be some comfort to those who endure them. But Eternity is the very hell of hells, and that which most of all breaks the very hearts of the damned. The present sense of pain being not so grievous to the damned, as it is to think that after thousands, yea thousand thousands of years, they shall be as far either from end or from ease, as they were the first hour of their falling into it. Surely if to a man tormented with the gout, stone, or collick, one night seemeth exceeding long; Oh how long do you think eternity (that night which shall never know morning) will seem to those who shall lye tormented and roaring in a bed of flame, with wicked fiends, and Devils about them, daily and hourly adding to their torment? If one short nights pain be so tedious and grievous, what will that eternal night be?