A41649:418
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. Be earnest with God in prayer that by his spirit he would convince thee of thy miserable condition by nature, and make thee truly and throughly sensible thereof. Consider that it is the office of the spirit of God to convince thee, and so to affect and afflict thy heart for sin. Joh. 16.8. He shall reprove or convince the World of sin. It's true his chief work is to convince of righteousness, whereby he becomes a Comforter as he is there called: and it's therefore said, ver. 14. He shall take of mine and show it unto you: he shall take of my blood, of my bowels, of my righteousness, of the pardons which I have procured, of the peace which I have purchased, he shall take of mine, and show it unto you. This is his great work, but his first work is, He shall take of your own, and show it unto you: he shall set your sins, and your guilt, and your miseries before you. Look thee here soul, see what thou art, what a vile thing, what an unclean thing, what a wretched thing thou art; what an hell thou hast within thee: what a Devil thou art become: what a treasure, what a portion thou hast laid up for thy self, even wrath, and fire, and brimstone, this must be the portion of thy cup. This sad and dismal sight the spirit of God presents to the soul, and therewith affrights and afflicts it.
2. Be earnest with God in prayer that by his spirit he would convince thee of thy miserable condition by nature, and make thee truly and throughly sensible thereof. Consider that it is the office of the spirit of God to convince thee, and so to affect and afflict thy heart for sin. Ioh. 16.8. He shall reprove or convince the World of sin. It's true his chief work is to convince of righteousness, whereby he becomes a Comforter as he is there called: and it's therefore said, ver. 14. He shall take of mine and shew it unto you: he shall take of my blood, of my bowels, of my righteousness, of the pardons which I have procured, of the peace which I have purchased, he shall take of mine, and shew it unto you. This is his great work, but his first work is, He shall take of your own, and shew it unto you: he shall set your sins, and your guilt, and your miseries before you. Look thee here soul, see what thou art, what a vile thing, what an unclean thing, what a wretched thing thou art; what an hell thou hast within thee: what a Devil thou art become: what a treasure, what a portion thou hast laid up for thy self, even wrath, and fire, and brimstone, this must be the portion of thy cup. This sad and dismal sight the spirit of God presents to the soul, and therewith affrights and afflicts it.