Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

We see it often and often, the experience of too many years, of some Generations doth sadly prove how difficult a thing it is to bring about a Reformation▪ which, one would think, should commend it ⟨image 167⟩self to the Consciences of men that understand any thing of the mind and Will of God, nay to do any thing toward it, or to reconcile most Persons to the Naming thereof, to persuade them to break off from unwarrantable Customs, to put off old Rags which are rotten and defiling, and to throw away those things which have neither Marrow in them nor Flesh upon them, but are mere Bones of Contention, and to prevail with them to make a further remove from Rome, and advance toward Zion; I mean a Gospel-worship and Gospel-order. How difficult a thing is it to bring the debauched Person to a sober Life, or the sapless empty Formalist to the power of Godliness, and a real, hearty, thorough closure with the Lord Jesus Christ and his Laws?

We see it often and often, the experience of too many years, of some Generations doth sadly prove how difficult a thing it is to bring about a Reformation▪ which, one would think, should commend it ⟨image 167⟩self to the Consciences of men that understand any thing of the mind and Will of God, nay to do any thing toward it, or to reconcile most Persons to the Naming thereof, to perswade them to break off from unwarrantable Customs, to put off old Rags which are rotten and defiling, and to throw away those things which have neither Marrow in them nor Flesh upon them, but are meer Bones of Contention, and to prevail with them to make a further remove from Rome, and advance toward Sion; I mean a Gospel-worship and Gospel-order. How difficult a thing is it to bring the debauched Person to a sober Life, or the sapless empty Formalist to the power of Godliness, and a real, hearty, thorough closure with the Lord Jesus Christ and his Laws?