A41649:657
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.
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.
IV. Covetousness works the heart to a mean and low esteem of things spiritual and heavenly. From such as love the World, and the things thereof over-much, Christ to be sure hath love little enough. Their eyes are so blinded, that they see not his beauty: and their palate so distempered, that they taste not his sweetness. And therefore, with Esau, prefer a mess of pottage before a birth-right: and with the men of Shechem prefer the bramble before the Vine, the Olive, and the Fig-tree. Worldly men prefer these poor empty things, the Brambles of the World before Jesus Christ the true and living Vine; yea and above the blessed birth-right of Gods new-born Children.
IV. Covetousness works the heart to a mean and low esteem of things spiritual and heavenly. From such as love the World, and the things thereof over-much, Christ to be sure hath love little enough. Their eyes are so blinded, that they see not his beauty: and their pallat so distempered, that they taste not his sweetness. And therefore, with Esau, preferr a mess of pottage before a birth-right: and with the men of Shechem preferr the bramble before the Vine, the Olive, and the Figg-tree. Worldly men preferr these poor empty things, the Brambles of the World before Jesus Christ the true and living Vine; yea and above the blessed birth-right of Gods new-born Children.