A39678:168
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 3 › Section 5: SECT, V.
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.
If they have no reason at all to offer in justification, or excuse of what they do, they act the brutes, not the men, and are self-condemned already.
If they have no reason at all to offer in justification, or excuse of what they do, they act the bruits, not the men, and are self-condemned already.
'Tis a question with me, whether the Soul of man on this side Hell can sink so far into the nature of a Devil, as to sin because he will sin, or to engage himself in a Course of Sin, without any respect at all to some carnal interest, either of Profit, Pleasure or Honour.
The Thief hath a visible Temptation of Gain to allure him, or pinching Necessity to induce him. The Liar is drawn in to commit that second Sin, to cover the shame and turpitude of a former. The Adulterer promiseth himself Pleasure in the satisfaction of his Lusts. And though men generally stand amazed to think what that Temptation should be which prevails upon the Swearer, yet doubtless something there is he hath to plead in excuse and extenuation of his Fault. Whatsoever it be, let it be produced and weighed in the balance of right Reason; valeat quantum valer• potest, let it have its due value and consideration. And could I imagine any thing more likely to be their inducements, than what I shall here mention, I would not conceal them. There are only four things that can fall within the compass of my imagination pleadable by them, when seriously charged with the evil of the Fact.
The Thief hath a visible Temptation of Gain to allure him, or pinching Necessity to induce him. The Lyar is drawn in to commit that second Sin, to cover the shame and turpitude of a former. The Adulterer promiseth himself Pleasure in the satisfaction of his Lusts. And though men generally stand amazed to think what that Temptation should be which prevails upon the Swearer, yet doubtless something there is he hath to plead in excuse and extenuation of his Fault. Whatsoever it be, let it be produced and weighed in the ballance of right Reason; valeat quantum valer potest, let it have its due value and consideration. And could I imagine any thing more likely to be their inducements, than what I shall here mention, I would not conceal them. There are only four things that can fall within the compass of my imagination pleadable by them, when seriously charged with the evil of the Fact.