A57143:339
Israels prayer in time of trouble with Gods gracious answer thereunto, or, An explication…
Israels prayer in time of trouble with Gods gracious answer thereunto, or, An explication of the 14th chapter of the Prophet Hosea in seven sermons preached upon so many days of solemn humiliation / by Edward Reynolds ...
London: printed by Thomas Newcomb for Robert Bostock, 1649
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.
First, that we should beware above all other sins, of this, of falling in soul as old Eli did in body, backward, and so hazarding our salvation; if once we have shaken hands with sin, never take acquaintance with it any more, but say as Israel here, What have I to do any more with Idols? The Church should be like Mount Zion, that cannot be moved. It is a sad and sick temper of a Church to toss from one side to another, and then especially when she should be healed, to be carried about with every wind.
First, that we should beware above all other sins, of this, of falling in soul as old Eli did in body, backward, and so hazarding our salvation; if once we have shaken hands with sin, never take acquaintance with it any more, but say as Israel here, What have I to do any more with Idols? The Church should be like Mount Sion, that cannot be moved. It is a sad and sick temper of a Church to tosse from one side to another, and then especially when she should be healed, to be carried about with every winde.
Secondly, We should not be so terrified by any sin, which our soul mourns and labours under, and our heart turneth from, as thereby to be withheld from going to the Physician for pardon and healing. Had he not great power and mercy, did he not love freely, without respect of persons, and pardon freely without respect of sins, we might then be afraid of going to him: but when he extendeth forgiveness to all kinds, iniquity, transgression, sin, Exod. 34.6. and hath actually pardoned the greatest sinners, Manasseh, Mary Magdalen, Paul, Publicans, harlots, backsliders; we should though not presume hereupon to turn Gods mercy into poison, and his grace into wantonness (for ⟨p. 94⟩mercy it self will not save those sinners that hold fast sin, and will not forsake it) yet take heed of despairing, or entertaining low thoughts of the love and mercy of God; for such examples as these are set forth for the encouragement of all that shall ever believe unto eternal life,