A41649:833
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.
2. Neglect of Family-prayer exposeth the whole household to the wrath and fury of God, as the Prophet Jeremiah implieth,1 where he saith, Pour out thy fury upon the Heathen that know thee not, and upon the Families that call not upon thy name. Where by the fury of God, is meant his wrath in the highest degree, his anger boiled up to the height. Oh who can abide this scalding wrath? And by pouring out Gods fury, is meant Gods inflicting his fierce wrath in the greatest measure, in the highest degree. The words though they are set down in the form of a Prayer, yet they are a prediction (as well as a petition) of Gods dreadful wrath and fury, to be undoubtedly inflicted upon all Prayerless-families. For the Prophet put up this Prayer unto God, as foreseeing the certain ruin and destruction of such Families, as called not upon the name of the Lord: He knew that God would assuredly pour out his fury upon their Families, who did not pour out their souls unto him. Oh that all Masters and Governors would seriously think, and meditate on this fearful imprecation of the Prophet against all Prayerless-families; that so they might dread the omission of so necessary a duty, as much as the scorching wrath and fury of God; yea as the scorching fire of hell: for what is hell it self, but the feeling of this wrath and fury of God?
2. Neglect of Family-prayer expos•th the whole houshold to the wrath and fury of God, as the Prophet Ieremiah implyeth,1 where he saith, Pour out thy fury upon the Heathen that know thee not, and upon the Families that call not upon thy name. Where by the fury of God, is meant his wrath in the highest degree, his anger boyled up to the height. Oh who can abide this scalding wrath? And by pouring out Gods fury, is meant Gods inflicting his fierce wrath in the greatest measure, in the highest degree. The words though they are set down in the form of a Prayer, yet they are a prediction (as well as a petition) of Gods dreadfull wrath and fury, to be undoubtedly inflicted upon all Prayerless-families. For the Prophet put up this Prayer unto God, as foreseeing the certain ruin and destruction of such Families, as called not upon the name of the Lord: He knew that God would assuredly pour out his fury upon their Families, who did not pour out their souls unto him. Oh that all Masters and Governours would seriously think, and meditate on this fearfull imprecation of the Prophet against all Prayerless-families; that so they might dread the omission of so necessary a duty, as much as the scorching wrath and fury of God; yea as the scorching fire of hell: for what is hell it self, but the feeling of this wrath and fury of God?