A41649:618
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. Our exact walking consisteth in a careful avoiding all occasions of evil, and temptations thereunto. Having by sad experience found such and such things to have been snares, and occasions of sin unto us, it is our duty, and will be our wisdom carefully to shun and eschew the same. Especially considering that by running into temptations, we tempt the Lord, and provoke him to give us over to our weakness, and to the power of our corruptions; that so by our falls we may for the time to come be more wise and wary.
3. Our exact walking consisteth in a carefull avoiding all occasions of evil, and temptations thereunto. Having by sad experience found such and such things to have been snares, and occasions of sin unto us, it is our duty, and will be our wisdom carefully to shun and efchew the same. Especially considering that by running into temptations, we tempt the Lord, and provoke him to give us over to our weakness, and to the power of our corruptions; that so by our falls we may for the time to come be more wise and wary.
Every man by nature is like dry wood, which is apt to kindle so soon as fire is put to it. There needs not any Devils to tempt us. Dry stubble will take fire without any bellows to blow it. Let the least occasion that is be offered unto us, how easily doth it take? every spark will catch upon our tinder hearts. The first sin that proved so fatal to mankind came by temptation. The Devil prevailed with Eve to go and see the forbidden fruit, telling her, that though she might not eat it, yet she might lawfully look on it, and that became the occasion of her fall. For from sight and view she proceeded to touch and taste, to the taking in of that which proved the bane both of her and hers.
By the like means how sadly doth the Devil prevail upon souls daily? what windows doth he make our eyes and ears, to let in temptation first, and then iniquity? what snares doth he make of our voluptuous tables? our vain and loose companions? our gorgeous apparel? our vain and wanton fashions? even forming our hearts into the image of those vanities, and leading us out to all iniquity. As our Saviour therefore taught us to pray, that we enter not into temptation. So it will be our wisdom to see to it, that our practice be according to our prayers. What a mockery is it, this hour to pray against temptations, and the next hour to be running into them. Pray against temptations, and watch against them. Watch against all temptations, but especially such as are most taking with thee: and such as have a tendency to thy bosom and best beloved sins. For from them is most danger to be feared, they having most strength from our natures. The Devil knowing full well, which are our bosom and beloved sins, and most predominant lusts, unto them especially, and with greatest success doth he apply his temptations.