A41649:766
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.
Why should we not be as wife for our souls, as we are for our bodies? who having fire cast into his bosom or house, will not presently cast it out, and quench it? Woe to those fools who let alone these hellish fires, and trifle so long, till it hath gotten the mastery. You whose Lusts are through your own neglects gotten up into a flame, fear le•t it be too late to quench them: fear lest these fires having been neglected so long, should now burn to the bottom of Hell.
Why should we not be as wife for our souls, as we are for our bodies? who having fire cast into his bosome or house, will not presently cast it out, and quench it? Woe to those fools who let alone these hellish fires, and trifle so long, till it hath gotten the mastery. You whose Lusts are through your own neglects gotten up into a flame, fear le•t it be too late to quench them: fear lest these fires having been neglected so long, should now burn to the bottom of Hell.
Vain, wicked, wanton thoughts are evil seeds sown in our hearts by our adversary the Devil, which if they be let alone, will insensibly grow up first into a blade, then to an ear, and so bring forth a dismal harvest of wickedness and wrath. And therefore our wisest ⟨p. 216⟩course must needs be, so soon as they are sown, speedily to weed, and pull them up by the roots. To which agreeth that of an ancient,1 We must not suffer those fleshly vices to grow and increase, but rather destroy them in their first beginnings.
Vain, wicked, wanton thoughts are evil seeds sown in our hearts by our adversary the Devil, which if they be let alone, will insensibly grow up first into a blade, then to an eare, and so bring forth a dismal harvest of wickedness and wrath. And therefore our wisest ⟨p. 216⟩