A41649:685
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.
CHAP. XXIV. Of Heavenly-mindedness.
Another singular duty incumbent upon the Regenerate is, to be spiritually minded by a frequent contemplation of spiritual and Heavenly things. It is not some few, slitting, transient thoughts on God or Heaven, wherein this duty consists: but thoughts resting and fixing on some spiritual subject. The truth is, the thoughts of all men fly up and down like birds in the air, or chaff in the wind: and some of these may light sometimes on God, or Heaven: but they are soon off and fixed on some worldly matter, or some impertinences or other: and therefore cannot denominate a man to be spiritually-minded; which is another manner of business than many are aware of. It's a thinking with thought upon thought, a reiteration and multiplication of the thoughts of the mind upon God, and the things of God, and this in order to the affecting the heart deeply with them.
ANother singular duty incumbent upon the Regenerate is, to be spiritually minded by a frequent contemplation of spiritual and Heavenly things. It is not some few, slitting, transient thoughts on God or Heaven, wherein this duty consists: but thoughts resting and fixing on some spiritual subject. The truth is, the thoughts of all men fly up and down like birds in the aire, or chaff in the wind: and some of these may light sometimes on God, or Heaven: but they are soon off and fixed on some worldly matter, or some impertinencies or other: and therefore cannot denominate a man to be spiritually-minded; which is another manner of business than many are aware of. It's a thinking with thought upon thought, a reiteration and multiplication of the thoughts of the mind upon God, and the things of God, and this in order to the affecting the heart deeply with them.
It is not sufficient to think and think oft of the love and goodness of God, but we must labour to get our hearts inflamed with a love unto him again. It is not sufficient to think and think often of sin, and the misery it hath implunged as in; but we must so think thereof, as to work our hearts to an hatred of sin, and a fear of that wrath of God it hath exposed us, and made us liable to, and to a looking after Jesus Christ, who alone can free us from the guilt of our sins, and from the punishment due unto us for the same.