A26915:105
Directions and persuasions to a sound conversion for prevention of that deceit and damnation…Directions and perswasions to a sound conversion for prevention of that deceit and damnation…
Directions and persuasions to a sound conversion for prevention of that deceit and damnation of souls, and of those scandals, heresies, and desperate apostasies that are the consequents of a counterfeit, or superficial change / by Richard Baxter.Directions and perswasions to a sound conversion for prevention of that deceit and damnation of souls, and of those scandals, heresies, and desperate apostasies that are the consequents of a counterfeit, or superficial change / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by A.M. for Nevil Simmons, 1658
Directions to Sinners that are purposed to Turn, and are under the… › Direction 3
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.
4. Moreover, what have you your Reason for, but to Consider. And wherein ⟨p. 90⟩do you differ from the beasts, so much as in your Reason? If you have Reason, and will not use it, you brutify your selves? You live like mad men: for what is Madness, but a loss of the use of Reason? And do you think it a small thing, to deface so noble a Creature as man, and to turn your selves into beasts, and mad-men? Do you think that God will not call you to account for your Reason, how you have used it? Doubtless he gave it you for a higher employment, then to enable you to plough, and sow, and follow your trades, and provide for your flesh. If this were all that a man did exceed a beast in, what a silly wretched wight were man? Yea so much more miserable then beasts, as his knowledge begets more care, and sorrow, and fear, then theirs. What matter is it for having Reason at all, if it be not that we may use it for the matters of God, and Eternal life?
4. Moreover, what have you your Reason for, but to Consider. And wherein ⟨p. 90⟩do you differ from the beasts, so much as in your Reason? If you have Reason, and will not use it, you bruitifie your selves? You live like mad men: for what is Madness, but a loss of the use of Reason? And do you think it a small thing, to deface so noble a Creature as man, and to turne your selves into beasts, and mad-men? Do you think that God will not call you to account for your Reason, how you have used it? Doubtless he gave it you for a higher employment, then to enable you to plow, and sow, and follow your trades, and provide for your flesh. If this were all that a man did exceed a beast in, what a silly wretched wight were man? Yea so much more miserable then beasts, as his knowledg begets more care, and sorrow, and fear, then theirs. What matter is it for having Reason at all, if it be not that we may use it for the matters of God, and Eternall life?
5. Moreover, your Soul is an Active Principle, which will be working one way or other: Your Thoughts will be going on one thing or other; And therefore the bare Consideration is no great labour to you. And if you must lay out