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…

Oh what a strange and horrible thing is it, that a man that hath the wit to manage his affairs as plausibly as any of his neighbours, that can overwit others in the matters of the world; that can govern Towns and Countries; that is learned in his Profession, in Law, in Physic, in Merchandise, in Navigation, or any the like; I say, that a man of so deep a reach, so plodding and active a wit as this, should yet be unresolved, yea at 30 or 40 years old be unresolved, whether to be Sanctified or unsanctified; whether to be Holy and be Saved, or to be unholy, though God hath professed expressly that such shall not see the face of God, Heb. 12. 14. These are our ⟨p. 473⟩wise men, these are too many (besides the ignorant country men) of our Gentlemen, our Worshipful, and Honourable men, our great Scholars, and men of noble or reverend esteem; that yet are unresolved, whether to be saved or to be damned. Though God hath written a Bible to Resolve them, and a thousand books are written to Resolve them; and Preachers are studying, and preaching to Resolve them; and a thousand mercies are cast into the scales, that one would think should help to turn them; and some sharp afflictions are helping to Resolve them; and twenty, or forty years certain experience, of the vanity of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and honour, and pleasure, and the unprofitableness of sin, one would think should Resolve them; yet after all this they are unresolved, whether they should presently let go their sin, and whether God, or the flesh should be pleased or displeased? If this be the wisdom of these men, the Lord bless me, and all his chosen, from such wisdom!

Oh what a strange and horrible thing is it, that a man that hath the wit to mannage his affaires as plausibly as any of his neighbours, that can overwit others in the matters of the world; that can govern Towns and Countries; that is learned in his Profession, in Law, in Physick, in Merchandize, in Navigation, or any the like; I say, that a man of so deep a reach, so plodding and active a wit as this, should yet be unresolved, yea at 30 or 40 years old be unresolved, whether to be Sanctified or unsanctified; whether to be Holy and be Saved, or to be unholy, though God hath professed expresly that such shall not see the face of God, Heb. 12. 14. These are our