A26915:364
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 8
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.
And it is no wonder if there be abundance of these Opiniative believers in the world: For the Truths of God have very great Evidence, especially some of them; and men are yet men, and consequently reasonable Creatures; and therefore have some aptitude to discern the Evidence of Truth: Some Truths will compel Assent even from the unwilling: Many a thousand ungodly men, believe that to be True, which they would not have to be True, if they could help it; because they do not heartily take it to be Good in respect to themselves. Truth as Truth, is the Natural Object of the Understanding; though the same Truth as seeming Evil to them; may be hated by them that are forced to Assent to it. I know that sin hath much blinded mens Understandings, and that the natural man, Receiveth not the things of the Spirit, because they are foolishness to him, and must be spiritually discerned, 1 Cor. 2. 14. But though he ⟨p. 327⟩cannot Savingly receive them without the Special illumination of the Spirit, nor Opinionatively receive them without a common illumination of the Spirit, yet he may have this Opinionative conviction, and an answerable reformation, by the common Grace of the Spirit, without the Special Grace. An unsanctified man may have something more then Nature in him: And every unregenerate man, is not merely, or only Natural. Many are far convinced, that are far from being Savingly Converted. I can make you know that you shall die, that you must part with all your wealth, and fleshly pleasures, and divers such Truths, whether you will or not. And one of these Truths doth let in many more, that depend upon them. So that as dark as the minds of natural men are, they yet lie open to many wholesome Truths.
And it is no wonder if there be abundance of these Opiniative believers in the world: For the Truths of God have very great Evidence, especially some of them; and men are yet men, and consequently reasonable Creatures; and therefore have some aptitude to discern the Evidence of Truth: Some Truths will compel Assent even from the unwilling: Many a thousand ungodly men, believe that to be True, which they would not have to be True, if they could helpe it; because they do not heartily take it to be Good in respect to themselves. Truth as Truth, is the Natural Object of the Understanding; though the same Truth as seeming Evill to them; may be hated by them that are forced to Assent to it. I know that sinne hath much blinded mens Understandings, and that the natural man, Receiveth not the things of the Spirit, because they are foolishness to him, and must be spiritually discerned,