A41649:421
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.
Humiliation is as necessary to salvation, as faith: and you may as well think of being saved without faith▪ as without repentance and humiliation, which like John Baptist, prepareth the way for Christ, and therefore is the most immediate disposition that God usually worketh in the soul, before he worketh faith to close with Jesus Christ. For until thou beest truly humbled under a sense and apprehension of thy sins and misery, it is not possible thou shouldst heartily desire Christ, much less cordially embrace him, as thy Saviour and redeemer. Oh therefore labour, in the use of all means God hath sanctified, to get thine heart kindly humbled and broken for thy sins. To this end,
Humiliation is as necessary to salvation, as faith: and you may as well think of being saved without faith▪ as without repentance and humiliation, which like Iohn Baptist, prepareth the way for Christ, and therefore is the most immediate disposition that God usually worketh in the soul, before he worketh faith to close with Jesus Christ. For untill thou beest truly humbled under a sense and apprehension of thy sins and misery, it is not possible thou shouldst heartily desire Christ, much less cordially embrace him, as thy Saviour and redeemer. Oh therefore labour, in the use of all means God hath sanctified, to get thine heart kindly humbled and broken for thy sins. To this end,
1. Look back into thy life, and call to mind as many of thy sins as possibly thou canst; the sins of thy youth, as well as of thy riper years; thy sins of omission as well as thy sins of commission; yea the sins of thy holy services. Especially call to mind the greatest and grossest of thy sins, though they were committed long ago. Thus did the Prodigal begin his humiliation ⟨p. 115⟩and repentance, by a serious examination of his former course of life, calling to remembrance his departure from such a gracious Father, his own wanderings in the ways of wickedness, in which he had lost himself,