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…

and therefore the means, and Works of God, are to recover us to our Reason, and to make us men again. The very graces of his Spirit, are to make us to be more Reasonable.

and therefore the means, and Works of God, are to recover us to our Reason, and to make us men againe. The very graces of his Spirit, are to make us to be more Reasonable.

And now before I dismiss this Direction, I have a Question, and a Request, to make to thee, whoever thou art, that Readest these lines. My Question is this; Hast thou ever soberly Considered of thy ways, and laid th•se greatest matters to heart, or hast thou not? Dost thou ever use to retire into thy self, and spend any time in this needful work? If thou dost not, my Request to thee is, that ⟨p. 116⟩now at last thou wouldest do it without delay. Shall I beg this of thee; shall the Lord that made thee, that bought thee, that preserveth thee, Request this of thee; that thou wouldest sometimes betake thy self into some secret place, and set thy self purposely to this work of Consideration, and follow it earnestly, and close with thy heart, till thou hast made something of it, and brought it to a Resolution. Wilt thou then spend a little time, in reasoning the case with thy self, and calling thy heart to a strict account, and ask thy self, What is it that I was made for? And what business was I sent into the world about? And how have I dispatched it? How have I spent my time, my thoughts, my words; and how shall I answer for them? Am I ready to die, if it were this hour? Am I sure of my Salvation? Is my Soul Converted, and truly Sanctified by the Holy Ghost? If not, what Reason have I to delay? Why do I not set about it, and speedily resolve? Shall I linger till death come, and find me unconverted? O then what a sad appearance shall I make, before the Lord. And thus follow on the discourse with your hearts? What say you, Sirs? Will you ⟨p. 117⟩here promise me to bestow but some few hours, if it be but on the Lords Day, or when you are private on the way, or in your beds, or in your shops, in these Considerations? I beseech you, as ever you will do any thing at my Request, deny me not this Request. It is nothing that is unreasonable. If I desired one of you to spend an hour in talking with me, you would grant it; yea, or if it were to ride, or go for me: And will you not be entreated to spend now and then a little time in Thinking of the matters of your own Salvation? Deny not this much to your selves, deny it not to God, if you will deny it me. Should you not bethink you a few hours, of the place, and state that you must live in for ever? Men will build strong where they think to live long: But a tent, or a hut will serve a Soldier for a few nights.