A41649:932
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.
So that we are now grown old in sin, and overgrown with corruption. Though the time thou hast allotted us here to live is very little, even as a moment to Eternity; yet, alas, how little of this little have we lived to thee our God, or to the good of our own souls, having mis-spent the greatest part of our days in vanity and pleasure. We have continued ignorant of thee: how much means of knowledge have we had, and yet how little knowledge have we gotten? oh how little have we done for our souls, or the other World? We have not considered what is like to become of us hereafter. ⟨image 139⟩How little care and pains have we taken to make sure for Eternity? we have taken the course to undo our selves for ever. We have broken every one of thy most holy and righteous Laws ten thousand, thousand times. Yea we have sinned against thy Gospel in slighting the offers of grace. Though thou hast sent unto us Ambassador after Ambassador, to woo and beseech us to abandon our sins, and to receive Jesus Christ, yet alas, how have we slighted thy messengers, and turned a deaf ear to all thy gracious invitations. Though we are willing to take Christ for our Saviour, to preserve us from hell and damnation; yet, alas, how unwilling are we to take him for our Lord and King, to yield obedience and subjection unto him. Lord we cannot but acknowledge our great unthankfulness under those manifold favours and mercies thou hast in a plentiful measure conferred on us; as also our unprofitableness under thy Fatherly chastisements, laid upon us in love and for our good: our discontentedness at our present state and condition. And oh how careless and negligent have we been in the discharge of the duties of our places, callings, and relations! Oh the multitude of worldly and covetous thoughts, of proud and ambitious thoughts, of wicked and profane thoughts, of wanton and unclean thoughts, yea and of blasphemous and atheistical thoughts that lodge in the hearts of most of us, and there revel it day and night. And O Lord, we cannot but acknowledge the deadness of our hearts, the distractions of our minds in the performing holy duties. We are active and lively about our worldly businesses, ⟨image 140⟩but oh how dull and flat are we in our religious exercises! praying as if we prayed not, and hearing as if we heard not.
So that we are now grown old in sin, and overgrown with corruption. Though the time thou hast allotted us here to live is very little, even as a moment to Eternity; yet, alas, how little of this little have we lived to thee our God, or to the good of our own souls, having mis-spent the greatest part of our dayes in vanity and pleasure. We have continued ignorant of thee: how much means of knowledge have we had, and yet how little knowledge have we gotten? oh how little have we done for our souls, or the other World? We have not considered what is like to become of us hereafter.