A62053:418
The sinners last sentence to eternal punishment, for sins of omission
The sinners last sentence to eternal punishment, for sins of omission wherein is discovered, the nature, causes, and cure of those sins / by Geo. Swinnock.
London: printed for Geo. Swinnock, 1675
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Chapter 33: A Caution against sins of Omission, in regard of the matter of Duties.
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.
Sure I am, these Mercies are of more value than thine Understanding can conceive; and therefore must deserve more Prayers, and Tears, and Groans for them than thou art capable of giving. Do not any day, upon any pretence, omit to offer up thy Morning and Evening Sacrifices. Remember, so often as thou neglectest Morning-Prayer, so often thou art all the day naked, destitute of thy spiritual Guard, and exposed to all manner of Evils and Enemies, and dost fore-speak thy self an evil Day; and so often as thou omittest Evening-Prayer, thou presumest upon sleep, and rest, and safety, without God's leave, and fore-speakest thy self an evil Night? What did Thomas lose by one Omission. Jesus appeared the first day of the week to his Disciples, but Thomas, saith the Text, was ⟨p. 285⟩not there, Joh. 20.24. But what is the issue of this Omission? truly, by his neglecting this opportunity of confirming his Faith, he falls into a desperate fit of Unbelief. When the Apostles told him, That they had seen the Lord, He presently answers, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the Nails, and put my finger into the print of the Nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe, Joh. 20.24, 25. Ah what had become of Thomas, if infinite Majesty had not stooped to recover him!
2. Take heed of internal Omissions. In the next place I advise thee to look seriously to the manner of thy performances, to be sure that thou worship God with thy Heart and Affections. This is the chief, and substance, and heart of thy Performances, according to which they shall be accepted or not. In all thy Addresses draw nigh to God with an humble Faith and Confidence, as to a Father, ready, able, and willing to supply all thy wants, and answer all thy Doubts, and to grant all thy Prayers and Desires; as also with a cheerful reverence and awfulness, as to a God infinite ⟨p. 286⟩