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…

Abundance of such Reasonings God useth with thee in his Word, and by his Ministers; and dost thou think indeed that there is not weight enough in these to give thee cause immediately to Resolve? How little or nothing canst thou say against them? Canst thou bring any Reason, that is Reason indeed, against these or any of these Reasons of the Lord? Darest thou say that ever a one of them is false, or insufficient? And what are the Reasons which you have on the contrary to hinder you from Resolving? ⟨p. 485⟩Forsooth, because your sins are sweet, you would fain have the pleasure of them a little longer yet: O wretched Souls! that find more pleasure in the abusing of your Maker and Redeemer, then in loving, honouring, and pleasing him: That delight more in serving the flesh, and the Devil, then in serving God and seeking after his Favour and your own Salvation. You are a hundred times madder then a man that lieth tumbling himself in his dung, and will not rise out of it to receive a Kingdom, because it is so soft and so sweet that he is loth yet to leave it: You are foolisher then Nebuchadnezzar had been, if he had been loath to return again to his Kingdom, because he would fain stay longer among the beasts of the fields; among whom in his distraction he had betaken himself, Dan. 4. 31, 32, 33. And what other Reasons have you against Resolving? Forsooth you shall be mocked or jested at by others: By whom I pray you? Not a man but a miserable fool will do it? Yea but you are told you must forsake •ll, and be ready to die for Christ, if he •all you to it. Very true! and can you •eep that which he calleth you to forsake? ⟨p. 486⟩How long will you keep it? Silly Souls! do you not know that you forsake it by not for saking it, and lose all, by saving any thing? and that you have no way to save it but by losing and forsaking it. Suppose you were by enemies banished out of England, and upon pain of death you must be gone within a twelve-month: And a King that loveth you inviteth you to his Country, and tells you for the poor livings that you have lost, he will make you Lords and Princes, so you will bring with you the little goods you have, and leave nothing behind you. Hereupon one man takes the next wind, and ships over all his riches, that he may have it when he comes there: Another saith, I am loath to leave my goods;