A26915:434
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 11
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.
6. Moreover, Your Delaying giveth great advantage to the Tempter. If you would presently turn and forsake your sins, and enter a faithful Covenant with God, the Devil would be almost out of hope, and the very heart of his temptations would be broken: He would see that now it is too late: there's no getting you out of the arms of Christ. But as long as you delay, you keep him still in heart and hope: He hath time to strengthen his prison and fetters; and to renew his snares; and if one temptation serve not, he hath time to try another, and another: As if you would stand as a mark for Satan to shoot at, as long as he please. What likelihood is there that ever so foolish a sinner should be recovered and saved from his sin?
6. Moreover, Your Delaying giveth great advantage to the Tempter. If you would presently turn and forsake your sinnes, and enter a faithfull Covenant with God, the Devil would be almost out of hope, and the very heart of his temptations would be broken: He would see that now it is too late: there's no getting you out of the arms of Christ. But as long as you delay, you keep him still in heart and hope: He hath time to strengthen his prison and fetters; and to renew his snares; and if one temptation serve not, he hath time to try another, and another: As if you would stand as a mark for Satan to shoot at, as long as he please. What likelihood is there that ever so foolish a sinner should be recovered and saved from his sinne?
7. Moreover, Your Delaying is a vile abuse of Christ, and the holy Ghost, and may so far provoke him as to leave you to your self; and then you are past help. If you delight so to trample on your crucified Lord, and will so long put him to it by your refusing his Grace, and grieving his Spirit; What can you expect but that he should turn away in wrath, and ⟨p. 390⟩utterly forsake you, and say, [Let him keep his sin, seeing he had rather have it then my Grace: Let him continue ungodly, seeing he is so loath to be sanctified: let him take his own course, and die in his sin, and repent in Hell, seeing he would not repent on Earth?] You provoke Christ thus to give you up.