A26872:84
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.
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 ⟨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.
2. I suppose you will confess that the promise of an endless and unconceivable glory is not unsuitable to the wisdom of God, or the case of man. And why then should you not think so of the Threatening of an endless and unspeakable misery?