A41649:86
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.
Come we now to the first general point whereof Christ ⟨p. 13⟩discourseth with Nicodemus, and that was the Doctrine of Regeneration, in these words, Verily, Verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. In which we may note, 1. The manner of propounding it. 2. The matter and substance of it.
For the manner it is propounded with a double asseveration, Verily, Verily, I say unto thee. In the Greek it is Amen, 1Amen, which in the Hebrew signifieth truth. The asseveration is doubled, to stir up attention in Nicodemus, who being yet in great measure ignorant of the fundamental principles of Religion, might happily have lightly esteemed this doctrine of Regeneration, and therefore to stir up his attention, Christ useth this double asseveration, verily, verily, I say unto thee. Which was a form of speech often used by our Saviour when he would solemnly avouch any weighty truth. He never used it but in matters of great moment. By it therefore our Saviour giveth us to understand, that the truth here delivered is a weighty truth, not lightly to be regarded, and slightly passed over. For he who gave this commandment,2 Let your communication be yea, yea, nay, nay, would never have added this double asseveration, if there had not been need thereof. Christ therefore having prefixed this preface to the following truths, doth thereby stir us up to give, as the more credit, so the more diligent heed thereto. Yea and thereby shows the doctrine of Regeneration to be a most important point; necessary to be known and learned of all.
For the manner it is propounded with a double asseveration, Verily, Verily, I say unto thee. In the Greek it is Amen, 1Amen, which in the Hebrew signifieth truth. The asseveration is doubled, to stir up attention in Nicodemus, who being yet in great measure ignorant of the fundamental principles of Religion, might happily have lightly esteemed this doctrine of Regeneration, and therefore to stir up his attention, Christ useth this double asseveration, verily, verily, I say unto thee. Which was a form of speech often used by our Saviour when he would solemnly avouch any weighty truth. He never used it but in matters of great moment. By it therefore our Saviour giveth us to understand, that the truth here delivered is a weighty truth, not lightly to be regarded, and slightly passed over. For he who gave this commandment,