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…

I know there are other vain delusions that hinder you from Resolving: I will not call them Reasons; for they are unreasonable. I shall only say this to you, that if there be ever a man of you that heareth his words, that dare be such a Blasphemer, as to reproach the Laws and Image of his maker, and say that he hath made you too strict a Law, and laid too heavy a task upon you, and a Heavenly life is troublesome and unnecessary: If there be a man of you, that is so devilish, as that you dare plead the Devils cause, and justify his work before the Lord's, and say that it is better to please the flesh; let that man prepare himself to make good these words before the Lord, and his Holy Angels; and be sure that he shall be there put to it in another manner then he is here by me: And if you have such Reasons as you will stand to before the Bar of God, to prove the Devil the better Master, and an unholy ⟨p. 488⟩life to be better then a Heavenly; see then that you look them up, and there make your best of them; and expect to live with the Master that you served, and to reap as you sowed, and eat the fruit of your fleshly ways, which you took to be the best. But if you have no such Reasons, but your Consciences are convinced that God should be served, and sin should be speedily forsaken, and Heaven should be provided for above all; Resolve then to do it before you stir? Or else say plainly, I have no Reason to be wicked, but because I will be wicked: I will forsake God, and damn my own Soul without any Reason because I will do it. And if you are at this pass, you may take your course.

I know there are other vain delusions that hinder you from Resolving: I will not call them Reasons; for they are unreasonable. I shall only say this to you, that if there be ever a man of you that heareth his words, that dare be such a Blasphemer, as to reproach the Laws and Image of his maker, and say that he hath made you too strict a Law, and laid too heavy a task upon you, and a Heavenly life is troublesome and unnecessary: If there be a man of you, that is so devilish, as that you dare plead the Devils cause, and justifie his work before the Lord's, and say that it is better to please the flesh; let that man prepare himself to make good these words before the Lord, and his Holy Angels; and be sure that he shall be there put to it in another manner then he is here by me: And if you have such Reasons as you will stand to before the Barre of God, to prove the Devil the better Master, and an unholy ⟨p. 488⟩