A26915:75
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 3
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.
2o Another thing that I would have you oft Think of, is, what end you were made for, and what business it is, that you came for into the world. You may well think that God made you not in vain: and that he made you for no lower end, then for himself: And that he would never have made you, nor so long preserved you, if he had not cared what you do. He would never have endued you with a Reasonable and immortal Soul, but for some high, and noble, and immortal end. Surely it was that you might be happy in Knowing him, that he made you capable of Knowing him: for he made nothing in vain. It is useful to a horse to know his pasture, and provender, and work, and perhaps his master; but he needs not know whether there be a God: And accordingly he is qualified. But it is sure ⟨p. 62⟩mans chief concernment to know that there is a God, and what he is, and how to serve him, and what he is and will be to us: Or else we should never have been capable of such things. And he would never have made you capable of loving him, but that you should be exercised and made happy in that Love. The frame and faculties, and capacity of your Souls; and the scope of Scripture, do all declare, that you were sent into this world, to seek after God, and to Love him, and obey him, and rejoice in him in your measure; and to prepare for a life of nearer Communion, where you may Enjoy him and please him in the highest perfection. Consider with your selves, whether a life of sin be that which you were made for? Or whether God sent you hither to break his Laws, and follow your own lusts. And whether the satisfying of your flesh, and the gathering of a little worldly wealth, and the feathering of a nest which you must so quickly leave, be like to be the business that you were sent about into the world.
2o Another thing that I would have you oft Think of, is, what end you were made for, and what business it is, that you came for into the world. You may well think that God made you not in vaine: and that he made you for no lower end, then for himself: And that he would never have made you, nor so long preserved you, if he had not cared what you do. He would never have endued you with a Reasonable and immortal Soul, but for some high, and noble, and immortal end. Surely it was that you might be happy in Knowing him, that he made you capable of Knowing him: for he made nothing in vaine. It is usefull to a horse to know his pasture, and provender, and work, and perhaps his master; but he needs not know whether there be a God: And accordingly he is qualified. But it is sure