A41649:700
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.
5. […] thy heart and affections more and more from worldly, cares and pleasures, which clog the soul that it cannot mount aloft. As a Bird whose wings are Limed, is not able to take her flight on high. So the man whose heart is entangled with the cares of this life and the pleasures of sin, will not be able to get above ground: the wings of holy meditation will not raise it on high. Yea such a carnal and earthly mind is altogether unfit for Heavenly meditation, and very backward and unwilling to it. What better reason can be given why many think so little of God, his Word and Works, or of any good thing, but because their hearts are so full of the World, and their affections set so much upon the same: where their treasure is, there will their hearts also be.
5. 〈…〉 thy heart and affections more and more from worldly, cares and pleasures, which clog the soul that it cannot mount aloft. As a Bird whose wings are Limed, is not able to take her flight on high. So the man whose heart is intangled with the cares of this life and the pleasures of sin, will not be able to get above ground: the wings of holy meditation will not raise it on high. Yea such a carnal and earthly mind is altogether unfit for Heavenly meditation, and very backward and unwilling to it. What better reason can be given why many think so little of God, his Word and Works, or of any good thing, but because their hearts are so full of the World, and their affections set so much upon the same: where their treasure is, there will their hearts also be.
6. Be often lifting up thine heart to Heaven in some spiritual ejaculations, especially in the morning. Such as ⟨p. 198⟩find themselves subject to wind in their stomachs through emptiness, use before they go forth, to take a mornings draught. And as great need is there for such as are subject to vain, wanton, worldly thoughts, every morning to prepossess their hearts with the thoughts of God, of his glorious Majesty, his omnipresence, and omniscience, his purity, justice, and the like. And not only mornings, but throughout the day when ever thou findest vain or wicked thoughts to arise at any time within thee, meet them presently with a Prayer; lift up thine heart in some short ejaculatory request unto God, for power and strength to keep down and suppress the same.