A53702:5
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.
TO THE READER.
THE ensuing Discourse contains the Substance of sundry Sermons Preached in a private Congregation. Some, who heard them, considering the Subject-Matter Treated of, and the Design in them, with respect unto the present state of things in this Nation, did judge that it might be convenient and seasonable to make them more public, for the Use and Benefit of others. But ⟨image 3⟩knowing how remote I was for any such Intention in their first Composure, and how naked they were of all Ornaments that might render them meet for public view, I was unwilling for a season to comply with their Desires. Neither was it their Importunity (which as they did not use, so I should not in this Case have valued) but their Reasons that prevailed with me to consent, that they might be Published by any that had a mind thereunto, which is all my Concernment therein. For they said, that whereas the Land wherein we live, is filled with Sin, and various Indications of God's displeasure thereon, yet there is an unexemplified Neglect in calling the Inhabitants of it unto Repentance, for the diverting ⟨image 3⟩of Impendent Judgments. The very Heathen, they said, upon less Evidence of the Approaches of Divine Vengeance, than is now amongst us, did always solemnly apply themselves to their Deities, for the turning it away. Wherefore this Neglect amongst us, they supposed to be of such ill Abode, as that the weakest and meanest Endeavour for Relief under it, might be of some use; and of that nature I cannot but esteem this Discourse to be.
THE ensuing Discourse contains the Substance of sundry Sermons Preached in a private Congregation. Some, who heard them, considering the Subject-Matter Treated of, and the Design in them, with respect unto the present state of things in this Nation, did judge that it might be convenient and seasonable to make them more publick, for the Use and Benefit of others. But