A41649:624
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.
The Apostle therefore tells us,1 that they who marry, must be as if they married not: and they who buy, as if they bought not: and they who use this World, as not abusing it. There is a lawful using the comforts of this life, and an unlawful, an abusing of them. We lawfully use them, when we enjoy them with moderation, and with subordination to spiritual grace, and heavenly glory, when we use all we have for God. We abuse the comforts of this life, when we use them too much, even excessively ⟨p. 178⟩in respect of the measure, and inordinately in respect of the manner; when letting out our hearts too much upon them, the things which should lead us to God, withdraw us from him.
The Apostle therefore tells us,1 that they who marry, must be as if they marryed not: and they who buy, as if they bought not: and they who use this World, as not abusing it. There is a lawfull using the comforts of this life, and an unlawfull, an abusing of them. We lawfully use them, when we enjoy them with moderation, and with subordination to spiritual grace, and heavenly glory, when we use all we have for God. We abuse the comforts of this life, when we use them too much, even excessively ⟨p. 178⟩in respect of the measure, and inordinately in respect of the manner; when letting out our hearts too much upon them, the things which should lead us to God, withdraw us from him.
To spend some time in honest recreations, for the refreshing of our minds, and strengthening our bodies is lawful. But to waste too much of our precious time in sports and pastimes, making a vocation of our recreations: or to give up our hearts unto our pleasure, to use those delights for themselves and not for God: or to use them more for gain than for refreshment, they are thereby turned into sin.