A41649:564
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. Consider how sad thy condition was before thy Regeneration, being a Child of wrath, a bondslave of Satan, and an heir to hell. And then compare it with thy present state. Behold of a child of wrath, thou art made a Son of God: of a slave of Satan, thou art become Christs freeman: of an heir of hell and damnation, an heir to Heaven, and salvation. And doth not this call for thankfulness?
3. Consider that this mercy is unspeakably greater than all other mercies in the World. This new birth makes a man an honourable person, one of the royal seed, a King and Priest to God. This makes him a rich man; the least degree of this grace is better than all the wealth in the World: this is the true riches, the durable riches, a treasure that faileth not, nor can it be valued. This makes him a joyful man: there's joy in Heaven at thy conversion, and a foundation of everlasting joy laid in thine own soul: thou mayest rejoice, its meet ⟨p. 158⟩that thou make merry, for this thy soul was dead, and is alive; was lost, and is found. Theodosius gave God greater thanks that he had made him a member of the Church, than head of the Empire. So bless God more for this mercy, that he hath made thee a member of Christ, than if he had made thee an heir of all the Earth.
3. Consider that this mercy is unspeakably greater than all other mercies in the World. This new birth makes a man an ho•ourable person, one of the royal seed, a King and Priest to God. This makes him a rich man; the least degree of this grace is better than all the wealth in the World: this is the true riches, the durable riches, a treasure that faileth not, nor can it be valued. This makes him a joyfull man: there's joy in Heaven at thy conversion, and a foundation of everlasting joy laid in thine own soul: thou maist rejoyce, its meet ⟨p. 158⟩that thou make merry, for this thy soul was dead, and is alive; was lost, and is found. Theodosius gave God greater thanks that he had made him a member of the Church, than head of the Empire. So bless God more for this mercy, that he hath made thee a member of Christ, than if he had made thee an heir of all the Earth.