A41649:528
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.
5. It may be he is of a melancholy constitution, and then it cannot be expected he should walk joyfully. For joy hath no greater enemy than melancholy. And know, that though the disposition of the soul is changed by the new birth, yet not the constitution of the body.
6. It may be God hath hid his face, and favour from him, withdrawn himself in respect of the manifestation of his love to his soul, so that he doth not enjoy that comfort which he was wont to have in God; and if so, no marvel if he walk heavily and uncomfortably. For what Christian can rejoice when God deprives him of all sense and feeling of his loving favour? and shuts up those sweet streams of refreshment which were wont to flow into his soul?
Surely the chief work of a Christian in such a case is heartily to bewail his present sad condition, and to be earnest with God in prayer, that he would lift up the light of his countenance, and shine in comfortably upon his soul, that the bones which he hath broken may rejoice.
Now for any to argue, because some godly men have ofttimes occasion of sorrow and mourning, therefore the lives of all the godly are full of sorrow and sadness, is a very absurd and false kind of reasoning; and yet this is the reasoning of many carnal men and women in the World. Whereas we may more rationally argue, the lives of all carnal and profane men to be uncomfortable, because all the causes of uncomfortableness are found on them as guilt of sin, death in sin, enmity against God, alienation from Christ, and therefore lyableness to all judgements and plagues here, and to eternal death and condemnation hereafter. Surely if carnal men understood themselves throughly, they would find all both within and without them, like Ezekiels roll, nothing but lamentation, mourning and woe.