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…

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 ⟨p. 312⟩Gods Creatures, you must remember they are not your own. If the Devil would entice you to sin against God, either for the Getting, or Keeping of any Creature, it would easily repel the temptations, were you but rightly sensible, that nothing is your own: For God hath no need that you should sin, to get Riches, or Honours, for him. If you are called to let go your houses, or lands, or friends, or lives, or to deliver up you bodies, to the flames, did you but rightly take them as none of your own, how easy would it be. You can be content that another man give his goods, or life it self to God, when ever God requireth it: but your own you cannot be content to part with; and that because it is your own, But if you had rightly resigned all to God, and took not your selves, or any thing for your own, but looked upon your selves, and all as Gods, the greatest works of obedience, or suffering, would be much more easy to you; and you would have little difficulty, or hindrance in your way. Self denial is but Sanctification it self; denominated from the wrong End, and Principle, which we forsake. And where self is denied, ⟨p. 313⟩and dead, what is there left to draw us from God, or stand up against him, in any part of our lives. So much interest as self hath in you, so much the world, and the Devil hath in you. And nothing is more proper to a miserable Hypocrite, then deep Reserves of life, or worldly things to themselves, while they seem to give up all to God.

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 tryals. 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 sinfull shifts for my own preservation. If I have nothing of my own, what need I to sinne, 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 sinne, 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