A62050:485
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 indeed is a most free Agent, and can work when and how he pleaseth; but it hath pleased him to make the Gospel of Christ his own power unto salvation, Rom. 1.16. and it pleaseth him by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe, 1 Cor. 1.21. Abana and Pharpar, Rivers of Damascus, to the eye of sense, may seem better then all the waters of Israel; but Jordan can cleanse and heal when those cannot, because it hath a divine precept and promise annexed to it. Nay observe how God is pleased to dignify his Word, and to honour his own Ordinance. When he hath begun the work of conversion himself immediately, he will not perfect ⟨p. 203⟩it without the ministry of his Word. He sendeth Paul to Ananias, Acts 9.21. to learn what he should do; and biddeth Cornelius by an Angel (for an Angel must not do that work) to send for Peter, and from him to hear words whereby he and his house should be saved, Acts 10.5, 6. David who was wiser then the ancients, then his enemies, then his teachers, lieth many months asleep on the bed of security, in a most filthy pickle, till a Prophet is sent to call him up and awake him; then, and not till then, he mindeth cleansing, as appeareth plainly by the title and body of the 51. Psalm; So Davids heart smote him for numbering the people; but mark the means of it; For (saith the Text) when David was up in the morning, the word of the Lord came to Gad, and commanded him to go to David, 2 Sam. 24.10, 11, 12.
God indeed is a most free Agent, and can work when and how he pleaseth; but it hath pleased him to make the Gospel of Christ his own power unto salvation, Rom. 1.16. and it pleaseth him by the foolishnesse of preaching to save them that believe, 1 Cor. 1.21