A41649:69
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 2: The Exposition and Observations arising out of verse 3.
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.
What encouragement should this be unto all poor believers, how weak soever their faith is, to go unto Christ, as for the strengthening their weak faith, so for the subduing their strong lusts, and for the reviving ⟨p. 9⟩their drooping souls? For your further encouragement, you have Christs gracious invitation, come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 1Hath he bid thee come, and will he reject thee when thou comest? Hath he called, come ye holy ones, come ye righteous ones, come ye strong ones, and you only shall have rest? Hath he not invited the weak, and the weary also, the drooping and fainting soul? Go poor weak soul, go unto Christ, behold he calleth thee, go unto him, and thou mayst expect thy cure. Questionless, one special reason why Christ showed himself so willing and ready to hearken unto the cry of those who came unto him for the cure of their bodily distempers, when he was upon the earth, and to heal the same, was to stir us up to go unto him for the healing of all our spiritual maladies and diseases. For Christ came not into the world to heal bodies, but souls. And therefore when the name Jesus was given him, the reason is said to be this, Because he shall save his people from their sins. 2Not their bodies from sicknesses, but their souls from sins.
What encouragement should this be unto all poor believers, how weak soever their faith is, to go unto Christ, as for the strengthning their weak faith, so for the subduing their strong lusts, and for the reviving ⟨p. 9⟩their drooping souls? For your further encouragement, you have Christs gracious invitation, come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 1Hath he bid thee come, and will he reject thee when thou comest? Hath he called, come ye holy ones, come ye righteous ones, come ye strong ones, and you only shall have rest? Hath he not invited the weak, and the weary also, the drooping and fainting soul? Go poor weak soul, go unto Christ, behold he calleth thee, go unto him, and thou mayst expect thy cure. Questionless, one special reason why Christ shewed himself so willing and ready to hearken unto the cry of those who came unto him for the cure of their bodily distempers, when he was upon the earth, and to heal the same, was to stir us up to go unto him for the healing of all our spiritual maladies and diseases. For Christ came not into the world to heal bodies, but souls. And therefore when the name Iesus was given him, the reason is said to be this, Because he shall save his people from their sins.