A64836:67
A warning to back-sliders, or, A discovery for the recovery of fallen ones delivered…
A warning to back-sliders, or, A discovery for the recovery of fallen ones delivered in a sermon at Pauls, before the Right Honourable, the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the city of London / Ralph Venning.
London: printed by T.R. & E.M. for John Rothwel, 1654
A WARNING TO BACKSLIDERS, OR A Discovery for the Recovery of Fallen… › The first is this,
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.
Now after this expostulation, when a man reflecting upon himself, shall look back upon, and read over his ways, and then find I had no reason to break the holy, just and good commandments of my God; I can give God no account why I should return to folly, why I should walk after vanity, lying vanities, why I should forsake my first love; What follows hereupon, but shame and blushing? so that for very shame, the man repents and returns to do his first works.
Now after this expostulation, when a man reflecting upon himself, shall look back upon, and read over his wayes, and then finde I had no reason to break the holy, just and good commandments of my God; I can give God no account why I should returne to folly, why I should walk after vanity, lying vanities, why I should forsake my first love; What follows hereupon, but shame and blushing? so that for very shame, the man repents and returnes to do his first works.
2. Remembering from whence we are fallen, works upon us by ⟨p. 21⟩way of fear. There is in man a fear when he hath committed evil; fear falls upon him, and the man is afraid, lest the iniquity of his heels should overtake him. You know, that no sooner had Adam sinned, but the man was afraid, and hid himself for fear. No sooner had Cain sinned, but Cain was afraid, and presently his countenance fell. When men fall, their countenance and their courage falls. When once men remember from whence they are fallen, they fear lest threatenings should take hold of them, and are afraid lest God should reward them according to their iniquities.
2. Remembring from whence we are fallen, works upon us by ⟨p. 21⟩way of fear. There is in man a fear when he hath committed evil; fear falls upon him, and the man is afraid, lest the iniquitie of his heels should overtake him. You know, that no sooner had Adam sinned, but the man was afraid, and hid himself for fear. No sooner had Cain sinned, but Cain was afraid, and presently his countenance fell. When men fall, their countenance and their courage falls. When once men remember from whence they are fallen, they feare lest threatnings should take hold of them, and are afraid lest God should reward them according to their iniquities.