A26915:187
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.
3. When you make many pauses in the work of your Conversion, and are sometime in a good mind, and then again at a stand, as if you were yet unresolved whether to turn or no; When you stick at Christ terms of denying your selves, and crucifying the flesh, and forsaking all, for the hopes of Glory; and think these sayings somewhat hard, and are considering of the matter whether you should yield to them or not; or are secretly Reserving somewhat to your selves; this certainly shows, that you are not yet sufficiently humbled, or else you would never stand trifling thus with God. He must yet set your sins in order before you, and hold you a while ⟨p. 169⟩over the fire of Hell, and ring your Consciences such a peal, as shall make you yield, and resolve your doubts, and •each you not to dally with your maker. If Pharaoh himself be off and on with God, and sometime he will let Israel go, and then again he will not; God will follow him with plague after plague, till he make him yield, and glad to drive, or hasten them away. And even where he deals in ways of Grace, he maketh so much use of sorrows, as to make men yield the sooner to his terms, and glad to have Mercy on such terms, if they were harder.
3. When you make many pawses in the work of your Conversion, and are sometime in a good mind, and then again at a stand, as if you were yet unresolved whether to turn or no; When you stick at Christ terms of denying your selves, and crucifying the flesh, and forsaking all, for the hopes of Glory; and think these sayings somewhat hard, and are considering of the matter whether you should yield to them or not; or are secretly Reserving somewhat to your selves; this certainly shews, that you are not yet sufficiently humbled, or else you would never stand trifling thus with God. He must yet set your sinnes in order before you, and hold you a while ⟨p. 169⟩over the fire of Hell, and ring your Consciences such a peal, as shall make you yield, and resolve your doubts, and •each you not to dally with your maker. If Pharaoh himself be off and on with God, and sometime he will let Israel goe, and then again he will not; God will follow him with plague after plague, till he make him yield, and glad to drive, or hasten them away. And even where he deals in waies of Grace, he maketh so much use of sorrows, as to make men yield the sooner to his terms, and glad to have Mercy on such terms, if they were harder.