A41649:44
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.
Part › Chapter 1: The Exposition and Observations arising out of the first and second verses.
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.
This God doth, as for the magnifying the riches of his grace, so for the encouraging great and notorious sinners to return from their sins, and to look up unto him for mercy. For are the greatest sinners ofttimes received to mercy? then there is hope of mercy for thee, how many and heinous soever thy sins are. St. Paul speaking of Gods mercy to him, who was not only an heinous sinner, but the chief of sinners, declareth how God showed mercy to him, that he might be a ground of hope, and encouragement unto other great and heinous sinners, For this cause, 1saith he, I obtained mercy, that in me first, Jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. Intimating, that one special end Christ aimed at, in showing mercy to such a sinner as himself, was to stir up and encourage other great and heinous sinners to go unto Christ, and that with hope of acceptance, casting themselves and the burden of their sins upon him. Yea questionless the conversion of so many notorious sinners is recorded in Scripture, not only as a memorial of what God hath done for others, but also as a sign and token what he is now ready and willing to do for the greatest sinners, upon their turning from their sins unto him by unfeigned repentance, and closing with Jesus Christ by a true and lively faith. Oh therefore let those admirable and stupendous patterns of mercy held forth in Scripture, be encouragements unto thee, to abandon thy sins, to turn over a new leaf, and ⟨p. 4⟩to close with Jesus Christ upon the terms of the Gospel.
This God doth, as for the magnifying the riches of his grace, so for the encouraging great and notorious sinners to return from their sins, and to look up unto him for mercy. For are the greatest sinners ofttimes received to mercy? then there is hope of mercy for thee, how many and heinous soever thy sins are. St. Paul speaking of Gods mercy to him, who was not only an heinous sinner, but the chief of sinners, declareth how God shewed mercy to him, that he might be a ground of hope, and encouragement unto other great and heinous sinners, For this cause, 1saith he, I obtained mercy, that in me first, Iesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. Intimating, that one special end Christ aimed at, in shewing mercy to such a sinner as himself, was to stir up and encourage other great and heinous sinners to go unto Christ, and that with hope of acceptance, casting themselves and the burden of their sins upon him. Yea questionless the conversion of so many notorious sinners is recorded in Scripture, not only as a memorial of what God hath done for others, but also as a sign and token what he is now ready and willing to do for the greatest sinners, upon their turning from their sins unto him by unfeigned repentance, and closing with Jesus Christ by a true and lively faith. Oh therefore let those admirable and supendious patterns of mercy held forth in Scripture, be encouragements unto thee, to abandon thy sins, to turn over a new leaf, and