A41649:767
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.
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⟩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.
- 1Vitia corporis non sunt sinenda coalescere; sed in exordiis statim enecanda sunt. Hillar. Enarrat. in Psalm 36.
2. Our Mortification must be willing and voluntary, not forced and constrained. The Mariner in a storm, casteth away his goods, because he dares keep them no longer; yet still his heart goeth after them. And this is all the mortification of the most, they will cast off their transgressions because they dare do no other. Then only are we sincere in this work, when our hearts are the first in all that opposition we make against our sins: when we pray against them heartily; when we watch and wrestle, and strive, and resist them with all our hearts: when our very souls long to see the blood of our Lusts; and if it were possible we might with safety, yet our hatred against them would not suffer them to live. They are like to do something to purpose against sin, whose hearts do give the first charge upon them.