A39678:309
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 4 › Section 5 › Excuse 6 › Question.
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.
Question.
The only Question I would here state, and leave your own Reason to determine, is this, Whether you think the expense of the redundancy and over-plus of your Estates in Excess and Drunkenness, be the very end and design God aimed at in bestowing those things with such a bountiful hand upon you? and whether the expense of it in this way, will please him as well, as if you clothed the Naked, and fed the Hungry with it, and ⟨p. 79⟩brought the Blessings of them that are ready to perish, upon you and your Families? Ah, Gentlemen, you must come to a day of reckoning. Your Reasons and Consciences can never tell you, you can make up as comfortable an account with God by setting down so many Hundred Pound in Wine and Strong Drink more than was necessary or beneficial: Item so many Thousand Pounds lost in Play: So much upon Whores; as if yo• set down so much to feed and clothe the Naked and Hungry. So that all your Excuses for this Sin, are baffled by your own Reason; and it was easy to conclude, that such a Traitor to Reason as Drunkenness is, which hath so often dethroned it, could not possibly receive a more favourable Judgment and Sentence than this now given upon it.
The only Question I would here state, and leave your own Reason to determine, is this, Whether you think the expence of the redundancy and over-plus of your Estates in Excess and Drunke•ness, be the very end and design God aimed at in bestowing those things with such a bountiful hand upon you? and whether the expence of it in this way, will please him as well, as if you clothed the Naked, and fed the Hungry with it, and ⟨p. 79⟩