A41649:628
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 best of Gods Children are apt to use the lawful things of this World unlawfully, and to abuse them by their excess therein. Did not our Saviour warn his Disciples that they should take heed of abusing as their meat and drink unto surfeiting and drunkenness, ⟨p. 179⟩so their callings to worldliness and covetousness?1 Take heed to your selves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life. Who would not have thought the Disciples of Christ far enough from these sins? yet they must take heed to themselves therein. If the green Tree may so easily take fire, what will not the dry do?
The best of Gods Children are apt to use the lawfull things of this World unlawfully, and to abuse them by their excess therein. Did not our Saviour warn his Disciples that they should take heed of abusing as their meat and drink unto surfetting and drunkenness, ⟨p. 179⟩so their callings to worldliness and covetousness?1 Take heed to your selves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfetting and drunkenness, and cares of this life. Who would not have thought the Disciples of Christ far enough from these sins? yet they must take heed to themselves therein. If the green Tree may so easily take fire, what will not the dry do?
Oh then how doth it concern us to set bounds to our selves in all lawful things! not to exceed either in our recreations, or in our vocations, or in our eating, drinking and the like: but to observe the golden mean: the rather because the Devil in nothing more prevaileth with Gods people than in their immoderate and inordinate usage of things lawful. Knowing full well that the Godly will not easily be drawn to the committing of such things as carry wickedness in their foreheads, he therefore layeth his snares for them in the use of things lawful; as their meat and drink, their apparel and recreation, their trading and traffic with the like. Wherein his snares being not so visible, he oftentimes prevaileth with them. The Apostle declaring what a cruel, crafty, and malicious adversary the Devil is, whom he setteth forth to be as a roaring Lyon,