A41649:429
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.
IV. Resolve to give a present bill of divorce to all thy sinful lusts and pleasures, utterly to renounce and forsake thine old sinful course of life, and to set upon a new course, to serve God in holiness and righteousness all the remaining part of thy life. Its vain for thee to lament and bewail thy past sins, if thou wilt not give over thy sinning trade. For as the Apostle adviseth, Thou must first put off the old man with▪ his corrupt-lusts, before thou put o• the new man. Thou therefore who hast accustomed thy self, to swearing and cursing, to whoring and drinking, to scoffing and railing against the people of God, resolve to swear and curse no more, to whore and drink no more, to scoff and rail no more; but cast them away with detestation, avoiding the places and occasions of these sins. For it is a vain thing to think thy self strong enough to abstain from any sin, when thou canst not withdraw thy self from the occasions thereof.
Ah sinner, if thou hast any regard to thy precious soul, it will be thy wisdom speedily to resolve to leave thine old course of life, and to turn over a new leaf. Think not of peace with God, whilst thou art at peace with sin. Think not that thine old scores are crossed, whilst thou art so freely scoring up a new. Deceive not thy self, thy divorce from sin, and thy marriage with Christ must be both on the same day. And count not thy self divorced, till thou and thy sins be parted. Resolve this day to have done with thy old ways for ever. At once give Christ his welcome, and thy lusts their farewell. There is no true humiliation for sin, where there is not a resolution against it. Say not thou art not humbled enough, how little soever thy sorrow be, if thou art sincerely resolved against iniquity. And say not thou art humble enough, how deep soever it hath been, if there follow not this resolution. Thy Furnace hath ⟨p. 118⟩not yet been hot enough, if thy sin be not too hot for thee. Resolve for Christ, resolve against the Devil, and all his works. And that thy resolution may hold, observe these following directions.