A41649:656
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.
Part › Chapter 22: Of the danger of Covetousness, as being the root of all evil.
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. It alienates the soul of man from attending upon God in his Ordinances. As you may see in the invited guests in the Parable,1 whose eager desire after the things of this World, kept them from coming to the wedding feast.
III. Covetousness makes a man unthankful for his present state and condition, though in it self an estate very full and comfortable. His mind is so much upon what he hath not, that he neither takes notice, nor tastes the sweetness of what he hath. His full vessel in his own apprehension is an empty bottle. Finding no contentment in what he hath, he is full of murmuring and repining, that he hath not what he would have. Many a gracious poor man, that hath little of this Worlds goods, hath oftentimes more satisfaction and contentment in his little, than he that hath the greatest earthly revenues, in all his abundance.
III. Covetousness makes a man unthankfull for his present state and condition, though in it self an estate very full and comfortable. His mind is so much upon what he hath not, that he neither takes notice, nor tastes the sweetness of what he hath. His full vessel in his own apprehension is an empty bottle. Finding no contentment in what he hath, he is full of murmuring and repining, that he hath not what he would have. Many a gracious poor man, that hath little of this Worlds goods, hath oftentimes more satisfaction and contentment in his little, than he that hath the greatest earthly revenews, in all his abundance.