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…

And as the Understanding is thus far open to Conviction, so the Will it self, which is the Heart of the old man, will far sooner yield to the changing of your Opinions then to the saving change of Heart, and life. It is not the bare Opinion, that your fleshly interest doth fight against, but the Power, and Practice of ⟨p. 328⟩Godliness is it; and Opinions as they lead to these. It's one thing to be of Opinion, that Conversion is necessary, that sin must be forsaken, and God preferred before all the world: And its another thing to be indeed Converted, and to forsake sin, and to prefer God before the world. It's a far easier matter to convince a worldling that he should not love the world, then to cure him of his worldly love: and to convince a drunkard that he should leave his drunkenness, and the whoremonger, that he should abhor his lusts, then to bring them to do these things, which they are convinced of. It will cost them deer (as the flesh accounts it) to deny themselves, and cast away the sin: but it costeth not so deer to take up the Opinion that these things should be done. It will cost them deer to be downright for God, and practically Religious: but they can take up an Opinion that Godliness is the best, and necessary course, at a cheaper rate. Strict Practices pinch the flesh, but strict Opinions may stand with its liberty. O what abundance of our poor neighbours would go to Heaven, that are now in the way to Hell, if an Opinion that Godliness ⟨p. 329⟩is the wisest course, would serve the turn. If instead of Conversion God would take up with an Opinion that they ought to turn; and if instead of a Holy, Heavenly life, God would accept of an Opinion that such are the happiest men, that live such a life; and if instead of temperance, and meekness, and self-denial, and forgiving wrongs, God would accept of an Opinion, and Confession, that they should be temperate, and meek, and self-denying, and should forbear others, and forgive them; then O what abundance would be saved, that are now in little hope of Salvation! If instead of a diligent life of Holiness, and good works, it would serve turn to lie still, and be of a good Opinion, that men should strive, and labour for Salvation, and lay out all they have for God, how happy then were our Towns, and Countries, in comparison of what they are.

And as the Understanding is thus farre open to Conviction, so the Will it self, which is the Heart of the old man, will farre sooner yield to the changing of your Opinions then to the saving chang of Heart, and life. It is not the bare Opinion, that your fleshly interest doth fight against, but the Power, and Practice of