A26872:83
A Call to the Unconverted
A call to the unconverted to turn and live and accept of mercy while mercy may be had as ever they would find mercy in the day of their extremity from the living God / by his unworthy servant, Richard Baxter ; to be read in families where any are unconverted.
London: printed by R.W. for Nevil Simmons, 1658
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.
But let us hear what reason you have, why you will not believe this word of God, which tells us that the wicked must be Converted or condemned? I know your reason; it is because that you judge it unlikely that God should be so unmerciful: you think it cruelty ⟨p. 15⟩to damn men everlastingly for so small a thing as a sinful life. And this leads us up to the second thing, which is to justify the Equity of God in his Laws and Judgements.
But let us hear what reason you have, why you will not believe this word of God, which tells us that the wicked must be Converted or condemned? I know your reason; it is because that you judge it unlikely that God should be so unmerciful: you think it cruelty ⟨p. 15⟩to damn men everlastingly for so small a thing as a sinful life. And this leads us up to the second thing, which is to justifie the Equity of God in his Laws and Judgements.
And first I think you will not deny but that it is most suitable to an immortal soul, to be ruled by Laws that promise an immortal reward, and threaten an endless punishment. Otherwise the Law should not be suited to the nature of •he subject; who will not be fully ruled by any lower means, then the Hopes or Fears of everlasting things: As it is in case of temporal punishment; if a Law were now made that the most heinous crimes shall be punished with an hundred years captivity, this might be of some efficacy, as being equal to our lives. But if there had been no other penalties before the flood, when men lived eight ⟨p. 16⟩or nine hundred years, it would not have been sufficient, because men would know that they might have so many hundred years impunity afterward. So is it in our present case.
And first I think you will not deny but that it is most sutable to an immortal soul, to be ruled by Laws that promise an immortal reward, and threaten an endless punishment. Otherwise the Law should not be suited to the nature of he subject; who will not be fully ruled by any lower means, then the Hopes or Fears of everlasting things: As it is in case of temporal punishment; if a Law were now made that the most hainous crimes shall be punished with an hundred years captivity, this might be of some efficacy, as being equal to our lives. But if there had been no other penalties before the flood, when men lived eight