that thy wickedness thou art a dead man a lost man this will not be repealed thou must turn or die slight it not it is thy particular caveat as much as any is in the world S. 8 There is another such like place Ezek. 18. v. 20. to the end of the Chapter The summe is this Ezek. 18.20 that though God takes no pleasure at all that the wicked should die but that he should turn and live yet the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself and he that commits Iniquity and dyeth in them for the iniquity that he hath done shall he die but if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed and keep all my statutes and doe that which is lawfull and right he shall surely live Then the counsell is this v. 30. Repent and turn your selves from all your transgressions so Iniquity shall not be your ruine wherefore turn and live Can there be any more just and plain dealing then this Which is fitternow that thou shouldst turn from thy wicked ways or that God should abrogate this Law of his after all this warning given thee Consider this sinner and turn or expect to burn for ever S. 9 The next proof I bring out of the New Testament which shall not leave the least refuge of hope to any unreformed man that he may be saved and not converted I desire you be serious and consider them well and doe not turn them slightly over with an I hope I may be saved for all this for certainly as thou art alive thou must be reformed or thou canst not be saved Wilt thou believe what Christ hath said Mat. 18.3 Verily I say unto you Mat. 18.3 that except ye be converted ye shall not enter into the kingdome of Heaven Jo. 3.3 and John 3.3 Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdome of God What think you of this doe you believe this in good earnest can you evade it If you think that God of his grace may save you wirhout such a reformation then see what Gods saving grace teaches all that may hope to be saved Titus 2.11 Tit. 2.11 The grace of God which bringeth salvation hath appeared teaching that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world And when this is done in sincerity then the 13. verse bids us Look for that blessed hope of heaven But untill this Reformation be wrought a turning from evil all ungodliness and living holy there is no hope of salvation And if you hope Christ will pardon and he will save thee without all this adoe consider what he himself hath said that an unreformed man shall not be saved And Mat. 7.21 Not every one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdome of heaven but he and onely he that doth the will of my father which is in heaven And 't is the will of God thou shouldst reform and become holy just and good S. 10 And know further that Christ gave not himself for us that we might be saved without passing the strait gate of Reformation and conversion to heaven or to bring men per saltum immediately from their sinfull and ungodly practises to heaven without any more adoe No see Titus 2.14 Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works S. 11 See once more that Reformation which is a sorrow for and forsaking of all sinfull ways and a turning to God and holy living is absolutely necessary before God will pardon much less save any man * Acts 3.19 Repent and be converted that your sins may be blotted out No blotting out of sins no pardon without Repentance Esai 55.7 So Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return to the Lord i. e. by an hearty and practical Reformation and then see what follows and not till then he will have mercy he will abundantly pardon You may likewise find that * 2 Pet. 3.9 God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance which doth infallibly imply that he that cometh not to repentance and a reforming repentance too must perish S. 12 And we find men that are not in a conformity to the will of God in heart and life and will not be reformed nor by any means brought to their Creators will and doe that which is good carrying upon them the black mark of desperate wickedness and a son of perdition a reprobate †Psal 50.17 To the wicked God saith what hast thou to doe with my covenant to mention it as though it belongeth to thee for it doth not seeing thou hatest to be reformed thou hatest instruction untill Reformation be wrought no promise of salvation to thee * Pro. 24.30 31. Because I have called and ye refused and have set at nought all my counsells and would none of my reproof nor leave off your folly your wickedness therefore shall destruction and anguish come upon you and you will cry and call upon me but I will not then hear you you shall not find me but shall be Recompensed according to your wayes Pro. 29.1 He that being often reproved hardneth his neck shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy S. 13 Many more Texts might be brought to confirm the point for the mind of God touching this very thing is so fully clearly and frequently revealed in Scripture of purpose to deterre and drive sinners from their evil courses and secure presumption and lest any excuse might be left to any wicked man why he doth not reform leave off to doe evil and learn to doe well seeing there is such a necessity for such a Reformation if a man meaneth to be saved S. 14 But I think I have sufficiently proved the duty and necessity of a sound Reformation by which you may perceive 't is not a trivall or indifferent thing I am perswading you to but weighty and of as much concerment to thee as thou valuest thy salvation for as it had been better never to have been then to be for ever miserable so assuredly as thou art a man or woman thou shalt never attain heaven nor escape eternall misery when thou diest except thou reform both in heart and life what is to be reformed while thou livest in this present world CHAP. V. Containing a catalogue of sins which are altogether inconsistent with the state of saving grace and doe most necessarily inferre and procure damnation to them that are guilty and will not be reformed S. 1 HAving shewn in the foregoing Chapters both the nature and necessity of reformation I come next and now to acquaint thee with some particular sins which to practice and continue in is death and every one if an actuall sinner in any of these doth not speedily repent of and reform and also if
THE SINNERS REMEMBRANCER OR A serious Warning to the Wicked To prevent his Destruction and hasten his Reformation By RICH. PARR D. D. Rector of Bermondsey in Southwark Whereunto is added Christ's gracious Intentions of Peace and Mercy towards Sinners Quest What must I do to be saved Acts 16.30 Answ Repent and be converted that thy sins may be blotted out when the time of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3.19 LONDON Printed by J. G. for Nath. Brook at the Angel in Cornhill 1663. To my Honoured Friend and Patron Sir EDMOND BOWYAR of Camerwell Knight And the Lady HESTER BOWYAR his vertuous Consort SIR MY obligations to you as my Patron from whom I received that Portion of subsistence here at Camerwell which Providence cast upon you to bestow and on me to receive for the support of the Ministry in this place together with that Relation I have to you and kidnesse for you as a friend and care of your soul as a Pastor have put me upon the dedication of these few serious thoughts about saving Reformation I cannot better express my Love and Respects to you then by wishing and labouring for you that you may be Eternally saved and no way can I find out otherwise to be effected then that you be a reall sincere convert I have observed for some years past that you make it much of your businesse to keep up communion with God both in publique and private which puts me in a great deal of hope you are in a fair way both to receive further counsell and to use all good means to bring about that in your soul and life which may fit you for that glory which is above in heaven I offer therefore these though but weak endeavours of mine in comparison of those many worthier labors of those Authors you have to converse withall to your serious consideration and if these adde any thing to you my mite will prove a mighty blessing The subject is weighty and if the arguments be so too then they claim your subjection for you must yield to Reason and you must follow the Directions or else you sin against the Reason of a man and the Rules of Religion and the happinesse of your own soul If you read what I have written without prejudice and prevarication and ponder without lightnesse and wavering if you put in practise every duty commanded and renounce every sin and forsake with invincible resolution in good earnest and without procrastination those sins be they many or few profitable or pleasurable open or secret which you your own self are tainted with and follow Christ fully and deny your self wholly and believe in the Lord Jesus and live Holily and continue so believing and so living to your dying day Then nothing in this present world can hinder your everlasting happinesse when you go hence But if you or any man follow their own in-bred naughtinesse and walk after the flesh and put off Reformation and live impenitent and die unconverted all the Angels in heaven nor men on earth nor treasures of riches nor all honours of this world nor greatnesse policie learning nor any thing nor all things can procure your justification pardon or salvation at last Nay if you live and die impenitent and in a state of unregeneracy and unconverted Christ himself will never own you nor will his precious blood be a propitiation for you This I suppose you know already and believe yet this I am bound to acquaint you withall as my full perswasion and after this rate you can testifie I have always preached for all the space I have been your monitor in this place and oh that both you and I and all that desire to be saved eternally may reduce all the doctrinalls about this point of Reformation into our constant practise and espouse the thoughts of these things into our most retired and serious consideration which will prove the rarest pleasure in the world and give the fullest satisfaction to that soul which is preparing for heaven Sir I need not say much more to you but to intreat you to peruse at your leisure these short monitions being An earnest Swasion to a speedy Reformation and if they give any advantage or help toward your great work that one thing necessary give God the praise and thanks And Madam For an advantage to those many good wishes I have for you your nearnesse of blood to one that is dearest to me of any person in this world makes me attempt this little tender of my Counsell to you also hoping that by your serious perusall you may either resolve to attain to what is wanting to make your conversion compleat or take occasion hereby to blesse God that it is already begun in you and in some good degree wrought and so labour to goe on in a course toward greater perfection in order to the accomplishment of that ever to be sought after and mightily to be longed for happinesse in heaven at your departure hence which is the enjoyment of Christ and the compleatly full and filling joyes at Gods right hand in the kingdome of glory And this is all the harm I wish you and that this may be both your Lot that you may be heirs together of the same grace which may put you through Christ into the full possession of the same Glory is the earnest desire to you and for you both of him who is one that loves you upon the best account And Your friend and servant for the work of Christ RI PARR Camerwell Jun. 25. 1660. The Contents of the Chapters in this Treatise CHAP. I. The Introduction Perswading every Soul to heed his own Salvation and endeavour it as his chiefest concernment and to consider it speedily seriously and wisely pag. 1. CHAP. II. The hopefull sinners prayer p. 14. CHAP. III. Of Reformation in the notion of it as it is intended for practise p. 20. CHAP. IV. Of mans state before Reformation implying the necessity of amendment p. 23. CHAP. V. Containing a catalogue of sins which are altogether inconsistent with the state of saving grace and doe most necessarily inferre damnation to them that are guilty and will not be reformed p. 31. Sect. I. Wilfull gnorance p. 34. Sect. II. Infidelity p. 36. Sect. III. Unrighteousness pag. 38. Sect. IV Idolatry p. 40. Sect. V. Adultery with Fornication Effeminatenesse Buggery Beastiality p. 43. Sect. VI. Drunkeness p. 46. Sect. VII Gluttony p. 49. Sect. VIII Covetousnesse p. 52. Sect. IX Murder p. 56. Sect. X. False and vain swearing p. 61. Sect. XI Lying p. 66. Sect. XII Theft and Sacriledg p. 69. Sect. XIII Disobedience and Rebellion p. 72. Sect. XIV Pride and Vain-glory. p. 81. Sect. XV. Schism and Heresie p. 85. Sect. XVI Witchcraft p. 92. Sect. XVII Hypocrisie p. 95. Sect. XVIII Apostasie p. 103. Sect. XIX Making light of Gospel-mercies and neglecting them p. 111. Sect. XX. Unfruitfulnesse under gracious means p. 123. CHAP. VI. An
finall chastisement and eternal punishment S. 34 4ly For this I consider that the least sin that can be named be it but the sin of a vain word an irregular thought an impertinent and unprofitable action is able to undoe and overthrow millions of angels and a world of men if laid and charged on them and the reason is because of that poyson that is in it and 't is enough that it is sin and whatever hath the nature thereof is insupportable by any or all the concurrent strength of angels and men S. 35 Now if I have but the least exercise of my reason or religion how can I contentedly keep my sin how can I but I must forthwith renounce suppresse and cast quite away my sins be they great or small many or few For first when I shall seriously consider these following things 1. I consider that every sin is against God and every time I sin I fight against God and use it as my weapon with which I oppose resist offend contradict the GLORIOUS MAjESTIE of my gracious God that 't is a contrariety against him S. 36 1. To the holy nature of God sin is set forth in Scripture and that doth shew the maliciousness and exceeding desperateness of it where sin is termed a Rom. 8.7 enmity against God b Act. 7.51 resisting the holy Ghost c Act. 5.39 fighting against God and sinners are said while in their sins to walk d Levit. 26.21 28. contrary to God and e Isai 45.9 striving against God yea rising up in f Micah 2.8 rebellion against God And all these are expressions which demonstrate the nature of sin in the root and every branch and spring of the tree is of the same venomous quality in its measure and proportion and can any man think well of that which sets him against the glorious God and renders me an enemy to God and provoketh Gods displeasure against me Wo unto that soul that striveth with his maker Isai 45.9 how can the pot-sheard prevail against his maker how can chaffe stand before the wind how can a bramble withstand the fire S. 37 2. Sin is against the holy and righteous laws of God and by my sin I go about to evacuate and null the just and holy laws of God made to rule us by and when I sin I do in effect say I will not be ruled by those laws of God nor obey the will of God but I will resist his will and break his commands and will not have God for my God to reign over me but follow my own will the will of the flesh and obey the devill and his commands will I follow whatever the issue may be and what a damnable resolution is this yea what a desperate conclusion what wofull and dreadfull consequences will my sinning bring upon my soul if thus I set my self act against the commands of God which one day will be justified against me vile sinner S. 38 3. My continuance in sin in any sin is contrary to that most gracious design and purpose of God by which he willeth my freedome from the dominion filth and guilt of my sin and to put me in a state of holiness and happiness 1. God sent Christ his dear Son into the world on this design and on this errand he came and for this he spent his precious blood and laid down his life to redeeme me from my sins to be a sacrifice for me to destroy the work of the devil in me to wit my sin to slay that enmity in my cursed nature to abolish sin to rid me of my sin to make me a new creature to purge out the old leaven to separate me and my sin he gave himself for me to redeem me from all iniquity Tit. 2.12 14. and to purifie me and make me holy to teach me this lesson by his holy life and holy doctrine to avoid sin to resist temptations to live spotless in the world to renounce all ungodliness to call me to repentance for all my sins past and to lead a sober righteous and godly life in this present world and by his meritorious life and death hath procured this grace for me that through him I might be able to crucifie all my corruptions overcome all my sins and free me from every damning practise and so reconciling me to God and to turn my enmity against God to a harred of every false unholy disobedient way and practise and to be at peace with God And doe I not by my continuing in my sin frustrate this mercifull design and render my blessed Saviour undertaking and his great expence of no such great effect to me do not I while I keep my sin and act my shame and misery put a scorn upon Christs undertakings and trample his precious blood one drop of it being more worth then mountains of gold and precious stones 1 Pet. 1.19 Heb. 10.27 under foot as an unholy thing as a thing not effectual to redeem me from my vain conversation do I not by my continuance after all this in my sin render my self in such a state in which there is nothing can be expected less then a certain fearfull looking for of judgment see it plain Heb. 10.26 If we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth there remaines no more sacrifice for sins but a certain fearfull looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversary c. S. 39 2. My continuance in my sin is contrary to the gracious design of the Gospel and ministry of it which is appointed of mercy to my soul and to this end published to thee Act. 26.20 that it might be the happy instrument of thy conversion and to work thee off from thy sin and to perswade thee to let thy sins go Act. 20.21 and to build thee up in a most holy faith and life to turn me from sin to God from darkness to light from the power of Satan to God S. 40 And what are all those calls intreaties invitations wooings complainings menaces promises in the Gospel-administrations and all the labours watchings prayings and preachings and studies and teares and admonitions and warnings and to what end are sermons and sabbaths and sacraments for me why doth God rebuke and correct and inflict punishments upon sinners what are all these from the gracious God to me but so many varieties of arguments and so many importunities and instruments for this very end that I might leave off and cease to doe evil and learn to doe well to what purpose is all this cost but to bring my soul my life and sin asunder what is it for but this to cause me to leave and forsake that which God hates perfectly and that will undoe me certainly if â—â—ept 't is to perswade me to yeild to do no more any such act as God hates O doe not the thing that I hate saith God by all these his