A26915:465
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.
Nay more then this, so eager are they on their sin, that we are not able to entreat them to delay it. When the passionate man is but provoked, we cannot persuade him to delay his railing language, so long as to consider first of the issue. We cannot entreat the drunkard to put off his drunkenness but for one twelve-month, while he trieth another course: All the ministers in the Country cannot persuade the worldling to forbear his worldliness, and the proud persons their pride, and the ungodly person his ungodliness, for the space of one month, or week, or day. And yet when God hath a command, and a request to them, to Turn to him, and be saved, here they can Delay without our entreaty.
Nay more then this, so eager are they on their sinne, that we are not able to intreat them to delay it. When the passionate man is but provoked, we cannot perswade him to delay his rayling language, so long as to consider first of the issue. We cannot intreat the drunkard to put off his drunkenness but for one twelve-month, while he tryeth another course: All the ministers in the Country cannot perswade the worldling to forbear his worldliness, and the proud persons their pride, and the ungodly person his ungodliness, for the space of one moneth, or week, or day. And yet when God hath a command, and a request to them, to Turn to him, and be saved, here they can Delay without our intreaty.
36. Consider also that it is not possible for you to turn too soon; nor will you ever have cause to repent of your speediness. Delay may undo you: but speedy turning can do you no harm: I wonder what hurt you think it can do you, to be quickly reconciled to God. And why then should there be any Delay, where it is not possible to be too hasty. Do you think that there is ever a Saint in Heaven, yea or on Earth either, that is sorry that he stayed not longer unconverted? No: you shall never hear of such a repentance from the mouth of any that is indeed converted.
36. Consider also that it is not possible for you to turn too soon; nor will you ever have cause to repent of your speediness. Delay may undoe you: but speedy turning can do you no harm: I wonder what hurt you think it can do you, to be quickly reconciled to God. And why then should there be any Delay, where it is not possible to be too hasty. Do you think that there is ever a Saint in Heaven, yea or on Earth either, that is sorry that he stayed not longer unconverted? No: you shall never hear of such a repentance from the mouth of any that is indeed converted.