A26915:348
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 7
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.
O what abundance be there, that in word, and confident profession, do give up themselves, and all to God, and yet in the Use of themselves, and all, do plainly show that it's no such matter; but they dissembled with God, and yet never knew so much by themselves. How little do they use for God, when they have with seeming devotion resigned all to him? If a Lord, or ⟨p. 311⟩Knight, or Gentleman, of 4000l, or 3000l a year, or 400l, or 300l a year, were to show the accounts of all his expenses, how much of all this should you find expended for God, when they have acknowledged that all is his? One would think by their lives, that they look to be saved by robbing God, and confessing the robbery; by saying that all is Gods, while they allow him next to nothing.
O what abundance be there, that in word, and confident profession, do give up themselves, and all to God, and yet in the Use of themselves, and all, do plainly shew that it's no such matter; but they dissembled with God, and yet never knew so much by themselves. How little do they use for God, when they have with seeming devotion resigned all to him? If a Lord, or ⟨p. 311⟩Knight, or Gentleman, of 4000l, or 3000l a year, or 400l, or 300l a year, were to shew the accomts of all his expences, how much of all this should you find expended for God, when they have acknowledged that all is his? One would think by their lives, that they look to be saved by robbing God, and confessing the robbery; by saying that all is Gods, while they allow him next to nothing.
The devoted, resigned, Sanctified Soul, hath the true principle of all obedience, and that which will do much to repel all temptations, and carry him through the greatest straits and trials. If I am not my own, I need not be over solicitous for my self, but may expect that he that oweth me should care for me: Nor do I need to use any sinful shifts for my own preservation. If I have nothing of my own, what need I to sin, for the saving of any thing? What need I to venture upon unwarrantable means, to preserve either credit, or goods, or life? It is Self, and Own, that are the root of all sin, the heart of the old man, and the seed of Hell: Nothing else is pleaded against God, and our Salvation. If the flesh would have you abuse