A53702:12
An humble testimony unto the goodness and severity of God in his dealing with…
An humble testimony unto the goodness and severity of God in his dealing with sinful churches and nations, or, The only way to deliver a sinful nation from utter ruin by impendent judgments, in a discourse on the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, Luk. 13, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 / by John Owen.An humble testimony unto the goodness and severity of God in his dealing with sinful churches and nations, or, The only way to deliver a sinful nation from utter ruine by impendent judgments, in a discourse on the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, Luk. 13, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 / by John Owen.
London: printed for Nathanael Ponder, 1681
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.
It was hoped also by them, that some Intimation of their Duty, might be hereby given unto those, who having the Ministerial Oversight of the Generality of the People to Divert their Minds unto the Pet-Petty ⟨image 5⟩Differences and Contests, whilst the Fire of Gods Displeasure for Sin, is ready to devour their Habitations. And the Truth is, if they persist in their Negligence, if they give not a public Evidence at this Season, of their Zeal for Repentance and Reformation of Life, among all sorts of Persons, going before them in their Example and Endeavours, unto the Promotion of them, I understand not how they will give an Account of their Trust and Duty to God or Men.
It was hoped also by them, that some Intimation of their Duty, might be hereby given unto those, who having the Ministerial Oversight of the Generality of the People to Divert their Mindes unto the Pet-Petty ⟨image 5⟩Differences and Contests, whil'st the Fire of Gods Displeasure for Sin, is ready to devour their Habitations. And the Truth is, if they persist in their Negligence, if they give not a publick Evidence at this Season, of their Zeal for Repentance and Reformation of Life, among all sorts of Persons, going before them in their Example and Endeavours, unto the Promotion of them, I understand not how they will give an Account of their Trust and Duty to God or Men.
And therefore were I worthy to give Advice to any of my Brethren in the Ministry, who are in the same Condition with my self, as unto outward Circumstances, it should be this only; Namely, That ⟨image 5⟩whilst others do seek to obstruct them in the whole Discharge of their Duty, and to deprive the Church of the Benefit of their Labours, they would by their own Personal Example, by Peculiar Endeavours in their Congregations, among all that hear them, and on every Occasion, so press the present Calls of God unto Repentance, and so promote the Work of a visible Reformation, as eminently to help in saving of the Nation from approaching Judgments, and therein, of them also who design their Trouble; And I doubt not, but most of them are already engaged and forward herein.