A41649:508
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.
2. Though every Regenerate man ought to renounce all sinful pleasures, and delights, yet he may in some measure enjoy any lawful pleasures, which the Creature affords. Yea none doth or can enjoy the sweetness of the Creature more, than the new creature. For he hath not only a fleshly palate like other men, whereby he relisheth the carnal pleasure which the Creature affordeth; but he hath likewise a spiritual ⟨p. 140⟩palate whereby he tasteth the sweetness and goodness of God in the Creature. So that this Objection is a mere slander, which the Devil and his Agents have raised to fright men from looking after grace.
2. Though every Regenerate man ought to renounce all sinfull pleasures, and delights, yet he may in some measure enjoy any lawfull pleasures, which the Creature affords. Yea none doth or can enjoy the sweetness of the Creature more, than the new creature. For he hath not only a fleshly palate like other men, whereby he relisheth the carnal pleasure which the Creature affordeth; but he hath likewise a spiritual ⟨p. 140⟩palate whereby he tasteth the sweetness and goodness of God in the Creature. So that this Objection is a meer slander, which the Devil and his Agents have raised to fright men from looking after grace.
3. The work of Regeneration is so far from depriving a man of all delights and pleasures, that there are unspeakable delights peculiar to the Regenerate: they have dainties which their spirits feed upon, that the World knows not of;1 a stranger doth not intermeddle with their joy. As they have higher, and more noble principles than other men: so they feed upon higher and more noble comforts. Their comforts are spiritual, administered unto their souls by a special work of the Holy Ghost; who is designed by the Father and the Son to be the Comforter, to cheer and revive the spirits of his servants. And certainly the comforts and delights which he conveys into the souls of the Regenerate, must needs be soul-satisfying, and soul-ravishing consolations. What Blasphemy is it to affirm, that the joys of the World are better than the joys of God?