A26915:517
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 12
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.
5. Your Resolution must be accompanied with a sense of your own insufficiency, to stand to it immutably, and execute it faithfully by your own strength; as knowing the corruption, and deceitfulness of our own heart: And it must be strengthened, and supported by a confidence, or dependence on the sufficiency of Christ. on whose Grace, and Spirit you must rely, both for the continuing, and the performing of your Resolutions; as knowing that without him you can do nothing, but that you can do all things (necessary) through Christ strengthening you.
5. Your Resolution must be accompanied with a sense of your own insufficiency, to stand to it immutably, and execute it faithfully by your own strength; as knowing the corruption, and deceitfullness of our own heart: And it must be strengthned, and supported by a confidence, or dependance on the sufficiency of Christ. on whose Grace, and Spirit you must rely, both for the continuing, and the performing of your Resolutions; as knowing that without him you can do nothing, but that you can do all things (necessary) through Christ strengthning you.
6. Lastly, Your Resolution is not Savingly sincere, unless it be habitually. It ⟨p. 460⟩is a very hard question, how far some moving exhortation, or the approach of death in sickness, may prevail with the unsanctified for an Actual Resolution: Undoubtedly very far: But that's a mans mind and will which is Habitually his mind and will: When the very Inclination, and bent of your will is Right, then only is your heart right. A bowl may by a rub, or bank, be turned contrary to the bias: but when it is over the rub it will follow the bias again in its ordinary course. The flame may be hindered from ascending a little while, but when it is got over the stop, it will be mounting upward. A stone will move upwards against its Nature, while it is followed by the strength of the hand that cast it; but when the strength is spent, it will quickly fall again. It is not an extraordinary act, that you can try your selves by, but such a free course and tenor of your lives, as will prove that you have a new Nature, or a heart Inclined and Habituated to God. The main business therefore is to prove that you are Habitually Resolved. Set all these together now, and you may see what Resolution it is, that must prove you to be