A90296:122
A vision of unchangeable free mercy, in sending the means of grace to undeserved…A vision of vnchangeable free mercy, in sending the means of grace to undeserved…
A vision of unchangeable free mercy, in sending the means of grace to undeserved sinners: wherein Gods uncontrollable eternal purpose, in sending, and continuing the gospel unto this nation, in the middest of oppositions and contingencies, is discovered: his distinguishing mercy, in this great work, exalted, asserted, against opposers, repiners: in a sermon preached before the Honourable House of Commons, April. 29. being the day of public humiliation. Whereunto is annexed, a short defensative about church-government, (with a country essay for the practice of church-government there) toleration and petitions about these things. / By John Owen, minister of the gospel at Coggeshall in Essex.A vision of vnchangeable free mercy, in sending the means of grace to undeserved sinners: wherein Gods uncontrollable eternall purpose, in sending, and continuing the gospel unto this nation, in the middest of oppositions and contingencies, is discovered: his distinguishing mercy, in this great work, exalted, asserted, against opposers, repiners: in a sermon preached before the Honourable House of Commons, April. 29. being the day of publike humiliation. Whereunto is annexed, a short defensative about church-government, (with a countrey essay for the practice of church-government there) toleration and petitions about these things. / By Iohn Owen, minister of the gospel at Coggeshall in Essex.
London: printed by G.M. for Philemon Stephens, 1646
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.
From the beginning of these troubles, right honourable, you have held forth Religion and the Gospel, as whose preservation and restoration was principally in the aims, and I presume malice it self is not able to discover any insincerity in this, the fruits we behold proclaim to all the conformity of your words and hearts. Now the God of Heaven grant that the same mind be in you still, in every particular member ⟨p. 35⟩of this Honourable Assembly, in the whole Nation, especially in the Magistracy and Ministry of it, that we be not like the boatmen, look one way, and row another; cry Gospel, and mean the other thing; Lord Lord, and advance our own ends, that the Lord may not stir up the staff of his anger, and the rod of his indignation against us as an hypocritical people.
From the beginning of these troubles, right honourable, you have held forth Religion and the Gospel, as whose preservation and restauration was principally in the aims, and I presume malice it self is not able to discover any insincerity in this, the fruits we behold proclaim to all the conformity of your words and hearts. Now the God of Heaven grant that the same minde be in you still, in every particular member ⟨p. 35⟩of this Honourable Assembly, in the whole Nation, especially in the Magistracy and Ministery of it, that we be not like the boatmen, look one way, and rowe another; cry Gospel, and mean the other thing; Lord Lord, and advance our own ends, that the Lord may not stir up the staffe of his anger, and the rod of his indignation against us as an hypocriticall people.
Secondly, Take heed of resting upon, and trusting to the §2privilege, how ever excellent and glorious, of the outward enjoyment of the Gospel. When the Jews cried, The Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, the time was at hand that they should be destroyed. Look only upon the grace that did bestow, and the mercy that doth continue it; God will have none of his blessings rob him of his glory, and if we will rest at the Cistern, he will stop at the fountain.