A26915:484
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.
And besides, your Souls are Spirits, of an excellent active nature; that will not be kept idle: and therefore Delay is unsuitable to their excellency. The best and noblest creatures are most active: The basest are most dull, and unfit for action: The earth will stand still: You may easily keep clods and stones from moving: But fire and winds that are purer things, and the Sun, and such nobler sublimer creatures, you are not able to keep idle for an hour. Who can cause the Sun to delay its Course? or who can stay the ascending flames? And therefore to your more excellent immortal Souls, and that in a work that must needs be done, how exceeding unsuitable are Delays?
And besides, your Souls are Spirits, of an excellent active nature; that will not be kept idle: and therefore Delay is unsuitable to their excellencie. The best and noblest creatures are most active: The basest are most dull, and unfit for action: The earth will stand still: You may easily keep clods and stones from moving: But fire and winds that are purer things, and the Sunne, and such nobler sublimer creatures, you are not able to keep idle for an hour. Who can cause the Sunne to delay its Course? or who can stay the ascending flames? And therefore to your more excellent immortall Souls, and that in a work that must needs be done, how exceeding unsuitable are Delaies?
50. If all this will not serve turn, let me tell you, that while you are Delaying, your Judgment doth not delay; and that ⟨p. 437⟩when it comes, these Delays will multiply your misery, and the remembrance of them, will be your Everlasting torment. What ever you are thinking of, or what ever you are doing, your dreadful doom is drawing on apace; and misery will overtake you, before you are aware. When you are in the Ale-house little thinking of damnation, even then is your damnation coming in hast: when you are drowned in the pleasures, or cares of the world, your judgment is still hastening. You may delay, but it will not delay. It is the saying of the Holy Ghost, 2 Pet. 2. 3