A41649:565
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.
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.
What though God hath not abounded to thee in outward honours and estate; yet if he hath abounded to thee in grace, this alone will be matter of eternal praises. Luther hath a notable story which may be useful to this purpose, In the time of the Council of Constance, he tells us there were two Cardinals riding to the Council: and in their journey they saw a Shepherd in the field weeping. One of them pitying him, could not but ask him, why he wept? At first he seemed loth to tell him, but being urged, he told him, that upon the beholding that Toad, which was before him, he considered, that he had never praised God, as he ought, for making him such an excellent Creature as a man: that he had not made him such a deformed Creature as that Toad. Upon hearing whereof the Cardinal was much affected, considering how he had received greater mercies than this poor man, and yet had not returned unto God that praise which was due unto him. And will not this poor man rise up in judgement against many of us? yea have not the best of us cause to be greatly humbled before the Lord, who do not so affectionately remember the grace of God in making us Christians, as that poor Shepherd did, in making him a man. O friend prove thy self to be born again, and then go thy way rejoicing, leaping, and praising God.