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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 7
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.
SECT. VII.
Call therefore to the Bar of Reason, the second Plea or Apology for profane Swearing.
Call therefore to the Bar of Reason, the second Plea or Apology for prophane Swearing.
You say, you swear not, unless provoked by injuries men have done you.
This is so weak a Plea for so great a Sin, that I wonder men are not ashamed to bring it into the Court of Reason. This is the true sense and strength of it. My enemy hath abused me, therefore I'll avenge the wrong my enemy hath done me, upon my best Friend and Benefactor. I challenge you to give but the colour or the shadow of a sound Reason, why upon any abuse you have received from men, you should fall so injuriously upon the Name of God, who never abused or injured you, since he gave you a Being, but hath always done you good. Tell me, Man, (if thou ⟨p. 44⟩have the Reason of a man in thee) what wrong hath God done thee? Wherein hath he injured thee, that thou thus wreakest thy revenge upon him? If an enemy have affronted you, Reason would tell you, you ought not to take revenge for it, upon your Friend and best Benefactor. Have you none but God to abuse, when men abuse and injure you? Can your Reason comprobate and allow such an Action as this? Satan instigates the corruptions of men to injur you, and you fly in the face of God for it, whose Laws severely prohibit such Actions, and will avenge the injuries done unto him. Speak no more therefore for ever in the way of excusing the horrid sinfulness of this fact against God, upon the account of injuries done thee by thy Fellow-Creature. The Case is plainly determined, and cast over the bar of Reason with contempt and abhorrence.