A41649:411
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.
As Rachel cried, Give me Children, or else I dye. So do thou cry out and say, Give me this new birth, let me be born again by the spirit, or else I shall dye, not only the first, but likewise the second death, and be undone for ever. And know for thy comfort, if thou canst find any such longing desire in thy soul, thou art not far from this new birth, from the work of Regeneration in thy soul. For this longing desire after this new birth, will put thee upon the use of all ordinances and means God hath sanctified for the attaining thereof.
As Rachel cryed, Give me Children, or else I dye. So do thou cry out and say, Give me this new birth, let me be born again by the spirit, or else I shall dye, not only the first, but likewise the second death, and be undone for ever. And know for thy comfort, if thou canst find any such longing desire in thy soul, thou art not far from this new birth, from the work of Regeneration in thy soul. For this longing desire after this new birth, will put thee upon the use of all ordinances and means God hath sanctified for the attaining thereof.
II. Labour to get thine heart deeply and throughly affected ⟨p. 111⟩with a sense of thy miserable condition by nature. It is not sufficient to know thy condition to be sad and deplorable so long as thou continuest in thine unregenerate estate: but thy care and endeavour must be to get thine heart throughly affected therewith. If you look into the Scriptures you shall find this qualification required in the persons whom Christ came to save, and whom he invites to come unto him. Our blessed Saviour speaking to Zacheus saith, The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which is lost. 1Where by the lost, whom Christ came to save, are not meant every sinner, who indeed are lost men, but such as have a spiritual feeling of the woeful plight and condition wherein they are by reason of their sins. And again saith our Saviour, I am not come to call the righteous,