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 what pity is it that so much should be lost? Alas, to see many of our hearers touched at a Sermon, and come to a Minister and bewail their sin, and seem to be humbled, and promise to be new men, and yet all this to be lost; How sad a case is this to think of? ⟨p. 23⟩To see them leave their company and former course of life, and come among the professors of holiness, and all men take them for real Converts; and yet all this to be lost, and their souls lost after all: How sad a case is this? If you grow up to the greatest parts for outward duty, and be able to discourse, or pray, or preach, even to the admiration of the hea•ers; yet if you do not ground this on a through Conversion, all is but lost, as to your own salvation. If you keep up the highest strain of profession, and get the highest esteem in the Church, so that others depend upon you as Oracles; yea, if the Pope with all his infallibility should canonize you for Saints; it were all but loss. If you should keep up the most confident persuasions of your salvation, and hope to go to Heaven to the last hour of your lives; it were all but lost if you build not all on a through Conversion. Yea, if you should be taken by persecutors for one of the party to which you join, and should suffer for the cause of Religion among them; all were but lost, without a sound Conversion, 1 Cor. 13▪ 1, 2, 3.

And what pitty is it that so much should be lost? Alas, to see many of our hearers toucht at a Sermon, and come to a Minister and bewail their sinne, and seem to be humbled, and promise to be new men, and yet all this to be lost; How sad a case is this to think of? ⟨p. 23⟩To see them leave their company and former course of life, and come among the professors of holiness, and all men take them for reall Converts; and yet all this to be lost, and their souls lost after all: How sad a case is this? If you grow up to the greatest parts for outward duty, and be able to discourse, or pray, or preach, even to the admiration of the hea•ers; yet if you do not ground this on a through Conversion, all is but lost, as to your own salvation. If you keep up the highest strain of profession, and get the highest esteem in the Church, so that others depend upon you as Oracles; yea, if the Pope with all his infallibility should cannonize you for Saints; it were all but loss. If you should keep up the most confident perswasions of your salvation, and hope to go to Heaven to the last hour of your lives; it were all but lost if you build not all on a through Conversion. Yea, if you should be taken by persecutors for one of the party to which you joyn, and should suffer for the cause of Religion among them; all were but lost, without a sound Conversion,