A41649:431
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.
1. Be sure thou do not ground thy resolutions upon any confidence in thine own strength, but in the strength of Jesus Christ: without whose assistance thou canst do nothing, as our Saviour himself expresseth, Job. 15.1. But through Christ strengthening thee, thou wilt be enabled to do any thing. As David therefore when he was to encounter with Goliath, 1went not out in his own name, but in the name and strength of the Lord of Hosts. So must thou resolve to fight against thy lusts and corruptions, not in thine own name or strength, but in the name and strength of Jesus Christ. Otherwise thy lusts may reply to thee, as the Devil did to the Sons of Sheva, 2Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are ye? And know that the more sensible thou art of thine own weakness, and insufficiency, the more ready Christ is to help thee, and the more strength shalt thou receive from Christ. Which the Apostle Paul found true in his own experience, for saith he, when I am weak, then am I strong, that is, when I am weak,3 and insufficient in my self, in mine own apprehension, then do I most of all feel a gracious supply from Christ.
1. Be sure thou do not ground thy resolutions upon any confidence in thine own strength, but in the strength of Iesus Christ: without whose assistance thou canst do nothing, as our Saviour himself expresseth, Iob. 15.1. But through Christ strengthening thee, thou wilt be enabled to do any thing. As David therefore when he was to encounter with Goliah, 1went not out in his own name, but in the name and strength of the Lord of Hosts. So must thou resolve to fight against thy lusts and corruptions, not in thine own name or strength, but in the name and strength of Jesus Christ. Otherwise thy lusts may reply to thee, as the Devil did to the Sons of Sheva, 2