A26915:161
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.
This is the end of Humiliation, to make ready the heart for a fuller entertainment of the Lord that bought it: and to prepare the way before him, and fit the Soul to be the Temple of his Spirit. A humbled Soul would never have put him off with excuses from Oxen, and Farms, and Wives; As Luke 14. and Matth. 22. But the unhumbled will make light of him.
And 2. As Christ himself will be honourably received, or not at all, so must the Mercies, and Graces which he offereth: He will not apply his blood, and righteousness to them that care not for it: He will not pardon such a mass of ⟨p. 148⟩iniquity, and remove such mountains as lie upon the Soul; for them that feel not the Necessity of such a Mercy. He will not take men from the power of the Devil, and the drudgery of sin, and the suburbs of Hell, and make them his Members, and the Sons of God, and the Heirs of Heaven, that have not learned the value of these benefits, but set more by their very sin, and misery, and the trifles of the world. Christ doth not despise his Blood, his Spirit, his Covenant, his Pardon, nor his Heavenly Inheritance: and therefore he will give them to none that do despise them, till he teacheth them better to know their worth. Do you think it would stand with the Wisdom of Christ, to give such unspeakable blessings as these, to men that have not hearts to value them? Why, it is more to give a man Justification, and Adoption, then to give him all this visible world; the Sun, the Moon, the Firmament, and the Earth. And should these be given to one that cares not for them. Why by this means God should miss of his ends: He should not have the Love, the Honour, or the thanks, that he intended by his gift. ⟨p. 149⟩It is necessary therefore that the Soul be throughly humbled, that pardon may be received as pardon, and Grace as Grace, and not set light by.