A39678:119
The reasonableness of personal reformation, and the necessity of conversion
The reasonableness of personal reformation, and the necessity of conversion; the true methods of making all men happy in this world, and in the world to come Seasonably discoursed, and earnestly pressed upon this licentious age. By J.F. a sincere lover of his native country, and the souls of men.The reasonableness of personal reformation, and the necessity of conversion; the true methods of making all men happy in this world, and in the world to come Seasonably discoursed, and earnestly pressed upon this licentious age. By J.F. a sincere lover of his native countrey, and the souls of men.
London: printed for Thomas Cockerill, 1691
THE REASONABLENESS OF Personal Reformation, › Chapter 2 › Section 5
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.
For hereby God is acknowledged all the World over, Men every where showing by these things the work of the Law written in their hearts, Rom. 2. 15.
For hereby God is acknowledged all the World over, Men every where shewing by these things the work of the Law written in their hearts, Rom. 2. 15.
Hereby Kingdoms and Commonwealths are preserved, this being the common Bridle which restrains the outrageous Lusts of millions of Men, which else would turn the World into Confusion, tho here and there some have slipped Bridle, and run into all excess of Riot. We justly admire the Providence of God in butting, bounding, and restraining the boisterous Ocean by Mountains, Rocks and Sands; and as much is he to be admired in curbing the invariable Lusts of Men by these innate Principles of Reason and Conscience.
Hereby Kingdoms and Commonwealths are preserved, this being the common Bridle which restrains the outragious Lusts of millions of Men, which else would turn the World into Confusion, tho here and there some have slipt Bridle, and run into all excess of Riot. We justly admire the Providence of God in butting, bounding, and restraining the boisterous Ocean by Mountains, Rocks and Sands; and as much is he to be admired in curbing the in•ariable Lusts of Men by these innate Principles of Reason and Conscience.
Hereby the way to Sin is in some measure b•rr'd and shut up, and the further progress of Sinners, already entered into it, stopped and denied. For Actions done with regret, cannot be supposed to be done so frequently and furiously, as if they were done without any regret; or that the way o Sin were smoothed to them with a full Consent and Approbation of their whole self. For most Sinners find in themselves what Meda did, —Video melior proboque, […] squor— They both […] and approve that which is better, tho they follow that which is worse.