A41649:328
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.
What heart can think of these things without horror and amazement? Suppose that for some high treason against the Kings-person, thou wert condemned to be cast into a fiery flaming Furnace, or Caldron of boiling lead, and there to continue a thousand years, how sad would thy condition be? yet this were a mercy to hell-torments. For after thou hast lain ten thousand, thousand years in a Furnace of fire, kept up in the highest flame by the breath of Gods wrath, there is full as much behind, as there was on thy first-day.
What heart can think of these things without horrour and amazement? Suppose that for some hightreason against the Kings-person, thou wert condemned to be cast into a fiery flaming Furnace, or Caldron of boyling lead, and there to continue a thousand years, how sad would thy condition be? yet this were a mercy to hell-torments. For after thou hast layn ten thousand, thousand years in a Furnace of fire, kept up in the highest flame by the breath of Gods wrath, there is full as much behind, as there was on thy first-day.
Thou sinnedst in thine eternity, and therefore must suffer in Gods eternity. Thou sinnedst against an infinite God, despising his infinite grace and mercy, and the infinite merits of Christ, and wouldst have drawn out thy sin to the length of eternity; and therefore must suffer an infinite, eternal punishment. Thou never heartily repentedst of thy sins, and therefore God will never repent him of thy sufferings. This is the day of Gods-long-suffering, and that will be the day of thy long-suffering, when thou shalt suffer long for thine abusing the long-suffering of God.
Ah sinner sinner, what stupidity hath seized on thee that thou shouldst be liable to eternal torments in hell, and yet live as carelessly and profanely, as if it did no way at all concern thee? Know for certain, that though thou dost not as yet feel these torments, yet thou art every moment subject, and hasting thereunto. A cloud of fire and brimstone hangeth over thine head, and the Lord knoweth, how suddenly it may fall upon thee. It is certainly decreed in Heaven, that if thou turn not here from thy sins unto God, by true and unfeigned repentance, and turn over a new leaf, leading a new course of life, thou shalt lye in a lake of brimstone to all eternity; and thou knowest not how soon God may seal the warrant for thine execution.