A62050:443
Ouranos kai tartaros= heaven and hell epitomized. The true Christian characterized. As also an…
Ouranos kai tartaros= heaven and hell epitomized. The true Christian characterized. As also an exhortation with motives, means and directions to be speedy and serious about the work of conversion. By George Swinnocke M.A. sometime fellow of Balliol College in Oxford, and now preacher of the Gospel at Rickmersworth in Hertfordshire.Ouranos kai tartaros= heaven and hell epitomized. The true Christian characterized. As also an exhortation with motives, means and directions to be speedy and serious about the work of conversion. By George Swinnocke M.A. sometime fellow of Baliol Colledge in Oxford, and now preacher of the Gospel at Rickmersworth in Hertfordshire.
London: printed by E.M. for Tho. Parkhurst, 1659
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.
God is necessitated to lance mens wounds, and put them to pain, because otherwise they cannot be cured. When the metal is thus melted, God may cast it into what mould he pleaseth. O thrice happy is that heart which hath been deeply and truly humbled; it shall hold out in those tempests, wherein many others shall make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience.
God is necessitated to launce mens wounds, and put them to pain, because otherwise they cannot be cured. When the metal is thus melted, God may cast it into what mold he pleaseth. O thrice happy is that heart which hath been deeply and truly humbled; it shall hold out in those tempests, wherein many others shall make shipwrack of faith and a good conscience.
Thirdly,1 if thou hast been faithful in following my former advice, to get thy mind enlightened to see, and thy heart throughly humbled for thy sin and misery: thy next work is to rest and rely upon the Lord Jesus Christ for pardon, grace and salvation. To look upon him, as one appointed by the father, given by himself, sanctified by the spirit, and revealed in the word of truth, the Gospel, to be the only and all-sufficient Saviour of lost souls. It is now the proper time for thee to cast thy soul, thy sins, thine eternal estate, upon the infinite meritoriousness of the blessed Redeemer. Experience showeth, that it is very easy for an unbroken sinner to presume; but surely it is very hard for an humbled sinner that hath had all his vileness and unworthiness ⟨p. 172⟩displayed before his eye, and the infinite wrath of God like a mountain of lead oppressing his conscience, to believe, and therefore I have prepared some choice cordials for such fainting spirits, which I shall give thee anon. But my work now is to beseech thee, broken heart, that thou take heed of thinking to lick, thy self whole. I know the Devil and thy heart will be both busy and diligent to get thee to make a Christ of thy contrition, and a Saviour of thy humiliation: O how unwilling is man when he hath shipwrecked his soul, to commit himself naked to the sea of Christs blood? how earnest is he to have the chains and jewels of his earthly affections along with him,