A26915:44
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
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.
Secondly, If you be but throughly Converted, you will have that within you which will be a a continual help against temptations: You have not only experience of the mischief of sinning, and the folly of those Reasons that are ⟨p. 27⟩brought for its defence; but you have also a new nature, which is against the temptation, as life is against poison; and as it is a great disadvantage to the Law of Christ, that it speaks against the nature of the ungodly; so is it a disadvantage to the temptations of the Devil, that they would draw a Christian against his new nature. You have that within you that will plead more effectually against sensuality, uncharitableness, pride, or worldliness, or any the like sin, then reason or learning alone can do. (As in the forecited Book I have further manifested.)
Secondly, If you be but throughly Converted, you will have that within you which will be a a continuall help against temptations: You have not only experience of the mischief of sinning, and the folly of those Reasons that are ⟨p. 27⟩brought for its defence; but you have also a new nature, which is against the temptation, as life is against poison; and as it is a great disadvantage to the Law of Christ, that it speaks against the nature of the ungodly; so is it a disadvantage to the temptations of the Devil, that they would draw a Christian against his new nature. You have that within you that will plead more effectually against sensuality, uncharitableness, pride, or worldliness, or any the like sinne, then reason or learning alone can do. (As in the forecited Book I have further manifested.)
Thirdly, If Conversion be throughly wrought, you will have within you a continual helper of your graces, and a Remembrancer to put you in mind of duty, and a spur to put you on to the performance, and a furtherer of your souls in the performance it self: It is out of this spark and principle within you that the Holy Ghost doth raise the acts of grace. This is it that the Word, and Prayer, and Conference, and Sacraments, and all the Means of Grace must work upon. If we see you do amiss, we have hopes that you will hear us: If we