A26915:153
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 4
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 a broken heart would change your minds. The healthful Plough-man saith, Give me that which I love: these Physicians would bring us all to their Rules, that they may get money by us: I never mean to follow their directions? But when sickness is upon him, and he hath tried all his own skill in vain, and pain giveth him no rest, then send for the Physician: and then he will do any thing, and take any thing whatever he will give him; so that he may but he eased, and recovered. So when your hearts are whole, and unhumbled, these Preachers, and Scriptures are too strict for you: You must have that which you love: self-conceited precise Ministers must have leave to talk; but you will never ⟨p. 139⟩believe that God is of their mind, or will damn men for taking that which they have a mind of. O but when these sins are as swords in your hearts, and you begin to feel what Ministers told you of, then you will be of another mind: Away then with this sin: There's nothing so odious, so hurtful, so intolerable. O that you could be rid of it, what ever it cost you! Then he will be your best Friend, that can tell you how to kill it, and be free from it; and he that would draw you to it, would be as Satan himself to you; Matth. 16. 22, 23. Gal. 1. 8, 9. Humiliation diggeth so deep, that it undermineth sin, and the fortress of the Devil; and when the foundation is rooted up, it will soon be over thrown. When the Murderers of Christ were pricked to the heart, they'll then cry out for counsel to the Apostles. Acts 2. 37. When a murderer of the Saints is stricken blindfold to the earth, and the Spirit withal doth humble his Soul, he will then cry out, Lord what wouldst thou have me to do? Acts 9. 6. When a cruel Jailer that scourged the Servants of Christ, is by an Earth-quake brought to a heart-quake, he will then cry out, What ⟨p. 140⟩shall I do to be saved? Acts 16. 30.