A42350:40
The Christians labour and reward, or, A sermon, part of which was preached at…
The Christians labour and reward, or, A sermon, part of which was preached at the funeral of the Right Honourable the Lady Mary Vere, relict of Sir Horace Vere, Baron of Tilbury, on the 10th of January, 1671, at Castle Heviningham in Essex by William Gurnall ...
London: printed by J.M. for Ralph Smith, 1672
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.
they build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity, yet will they lean upon the Lord,1 and say, is not the Lord amongst us, none evil can come upon us? Who knocks more boldly at Heaven Gate to be let in, than they whom Christ will reject as workers of iniquity? O what a delusion is this! Caligula never made himself more ridiculous, than when he would be honoured as a God, while he lived more like a Devil. Before you would have others take you for Christians, for Gods sake, prove your selves men, and not beasts, as you do by your brutish lives. Talk not of your hopes of Salvation, so long as the marks of Damnation are seen upon your flagitious lives. If the way to Heaven were ⟨p. 36⟩thus easy, I promise you the Saints in all Ages have been much over-seen, to take so great pains in mortifying their lusts, in denying to satisfy their sensual appetite, ad quid perditio haec, to what purpose did they make so much waste of their sweat in their zealous serving God? and of their tears, that they could serve him no better, if they might have gone to Heaven, as these men hope to do? That Friar was far more sound in his judgment, in this Point, who Preaching at Rome one Lent, when some Cardinals, and many other great ones were present, began his Sermon thus abruptly and Ironically. Saint Peter was a Fool, Saint Paul was a Fool, and all the Primitive Christians were Fools; for they thought the way to Heaven was by Prayers and Tears, Watchings and Fastings, severities of Mortification, and denying the pomp and glory of this World. Whereas you here in Rome, spend your time in Balls and Masks, live in Pomp and Pride, Lust and Luxury, and yet count your selves ⟨p. 37⟩good Christians, and hope to be saved: but at last you will prove the Fools, and they will be found to have been the Wise men. Did ever any man arrive at London by going from it? every sin is a step from God, and the more we sin, the further we depart from God. Doth not he then take a wise course to come at last to the full enjoyment of God in Heaven, who by a lend wicked life runs as far from him, as his legs can carry him?
they build up Sion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity, yet will they lean upon the Lord,1