A41649:425
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.
4. Beg this great Mercy of an humbled heart from God. For it is he who must strike our stony hearts, these hard Rocks of ours, before they can yield any water of true repentance: it is he who must pour out of the spirit of grace upon our hard hearts, before we can pour out any penitent tears, or lament as we ⟨p. 116⟩ought for our sins. It is he that must thaw our frozen hearts, before they can dissolve into kindly sorrow. To him therefore alone thou must go for this great work of humiliation. And that thy prayers may be the more prevalent,
1. Confess unto God the hardness of thine heart, how it is grown to such an adamantine hardness, that neither the thunderings, nor threatenings of the Law, nor the sweet showers, the promises of the Gospel can make it relent, or dissolve. Confess unto God, that Though thou hast broken his holy and righteous Laws ten thousand thousand times, yet the consideration thereof hath not broken thine heart. Oh this rock, this rock, when shall it be pierced? Oh this hard heart, I cannot break it. I would melt, I would mourn, but cannot. I can mourn for a lost friend, for a lost estate, but I cannot mourn for a lost soul. Oh what groanings and sighings, and lamentations will afflictions press out of me: but my sins, my sins, how little do they move me? The pains of my body I can feel and roar under, but O what a stock am I under, the plague of my heart? Lord smite this rock. My plaints are before thee: mine eyes are towards thee. I cannot weep, but I can cry for a broken heart, Lord hear me.
1. Confess unto God the hardness of thine heart, how it is grown to such an adamantine hardness, that neither the thundrings, nor threatnings of the Law, nor the sweet showers, the promises of the Gospel can make it relent, or dissolve. Confess unto God, that Though thou hast broken his holy and righteous Laws ten thousand thousand times, yet the consideration thereof hath not broken thine heart. Oh this rock, this rock, when shall it be pierced? Oh this hard heart, I cannot break it. I would melt, I would mourn, but cannot. I can mourn for a lost friend, for a lost estate, but I cannot mourn for a lost soul. Oh what groanings and sighings, and lamentations will afflictions press out of me: but my sins, my sins, how little do they move me? The pains of my body I can feel and roar under, but O what a stock am I under, the plague of my heart? Lord smite this rock. My plaints are before thee: mine eyes are towards thee. I cannot weep, but I can cry for a broken heart, Lord hear me.