A41649:415
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.
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.
3. Sense of our miserable condition will make us more highly to prize Iesus Christ, and to preferr 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 heighth and depth, the beadth and length of our miserable condition by nature, in the same measure shall we discern the heighth and depth, the breadth and length of the worth and excellency of Jesus Christ, and accordingly shall we prize and value him.
Q. If any shall ask, how may I get my heart deeply affected with a sense of my miserable condition by nature?
A. 1. Steep thy thoughts frequently in a serious meditation of thy sad and deplorable condition, so long as thou continuest in thine unregenerate estate. How thou art no better than a servant to sin, and slave to thy lusts, under the bondage and command of Satan, doing his drudgery: yea and under the curse of God, and guilt of all thy sins; and liable to all sorts of Judgements, both temporal, spiritual and eternal. Consider likewise the miseries which will accompany thee at thy death, and after thy death, even at the day of Judgement, and after the day of Judgement; when thou shalt not only be deprived of all happiness, but exposed to such miseries, as neither the tongue of man can express, nor the heart of man conceive, and that to all Eternity, if thou dyest in thine unregenerate estate. Ah sinner, if thou wouldst but