A41649:414
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.
2. Sense of our miserable condition by nature, will stir us up to seek after Jesus Christ for help and deliverance. As the man-slayer under the Law, being pursued by the avenger of blood, betook himself to a City of refuge for shelter and defence. So the poor sinner pursued ⟨p. 112⟩by the Hue and Cry of his sins, betakes himself unto Jesus Christ, who is a true City of refuge to all who fly unto him. Yea the more sensible any man is of his misery by sin, the more will he hasten after Jesus Christ. And certainly one special reason why Christ is so little sought after by many; and his gracious invitations so slighted and neglected, is because they are not sensible of the woeful plight and condition wherein they are by nature.
2. Sense of our miserable condition by nature, will stir us up to seek after Iesus Christ for help and deliverance. As the man-slayer under the Law, being pursued by the avenger of blood, betook himself to a City of r•fuge for shelter and defence. So the poor sinner pursued ⟨p. 112⟩by the Hue and Cry of his sins, betakes himself unto Jesus Christ, who is a true City of refuge to all who fly unto him. Yea the more sensible any man is of his misery by sin, the more will he hasten after Jesus Christ. And certainly one special reason why Christ is so little sought after by many; and his gracious invitations so slighted and neglected, is because they are not sensible of the wofull plight and condition wherein they are by nature.
3. Sense of our miserable condition will make us more highly to prize Jesus Christ, and to prefer him before all things in the World besides. The truth is, the more sensible any of us are of our unregenerate estate, the more highly shall we prize Jesus Christ. In what measure we can discern the height and depth, the breadth and length of our miserable condition by nature, in the same measure shall we discern the height and depth, the breadth and length of the worth and excellency of Jesus Christ, and accordingly shall we prize and value him.