A41649:490
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.
Q. Wilt thou say, thou art a greater sinner than any of these forementioned?
A. 1. This is scarce credible. But suppose thy sins do exceed the proportion of any one thou canst find pardoned ⟨p. 136⟩in Scripture! yet this were no just ground of despair: because the depth of Gods mercy was never yet fathomed; God never acted his mercy so far, but he is able to act it farther. Greater sinners, than ever yet were pardoned, may be pardoned. And therefore though thy sins were more and greater than the sins of others, yet there is hope of mercy for thee, unless by thine infidelity thou dost exclude thy self from the same.
2. Consider that there was no more in Manasseh, Mary Magdalen, Paul, nor any of the Saints now in Heaven to move God to have compassion on them, than there is in thee.1 The Apostle saith, that there is no difference, for all have sinned. The true cause of any mans Regeneration is the free grace, and love of God. For saith the Apostle,2 we were all by nature the Children of wrath, even as others. But God who is rich in mercy, for his great love, wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us. And immediately addeth, By grace ye are saved. Now seeing the free grace and love of God is the true cause of mans Regeneration and Salvation, why shouldst thou imagine there is less love in God for thee, than there was for them?
2. Consider that there was no more in Manasseh, Mary Magdalen, Paul, nor any of the Saints now in Heaven to move God to have compassion on them, than there is in thee.