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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 5 › Section 4
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. IV.
The case standing thus, 'tis matter of just Admiration how the Sin of Uncleanness should grow so Epidemical and Common, as it doth, seeing such as live in this filthy Course, must needs counteract and oppose their own Reason and Interest together. For they forsake God's way, which gives them as much liberty as can be reasonably desired, and cast themselves into a course of Life, clogged with all manner of temporal and eternal Miseries of Soul and Body, Honour and Estate.
The case standing thus, 'tis matter of just Admiration how the Sin of Uncleanness should grow so Epidemical and Common, as it doth, seeing such as live in this filthy Course, must needs counteract and oppose their own Reason and Interest together. For they forsake God's way, which gives them as much liberty as can be reasonably desired, and cast themselves into a course of Life, clog'd with all manner of temporal and eternal Miseries of Soul and Body, Honour and Estate.
The plain Rule and Dictate of common Reason, which I laid down before, being applied to this particular Case, manifestly condemns it. For seeing Honesty and Chastity comprises the true Pleasure, Profit, and Honour of the whole Man, is more congruous to humane Nature, and Preservative of it, it ought therefore to be preferred in the Estimation and Choice of all Men to unlawful adulterous Pleasures, which (for the Reasons above) are inferior in themselves to chaste, conjugal Enjoyments; and besides that, are attended and followed with such a Train of present and future Miseries, destructive to the whole Man.
The plain Rule and Dictate of common Reason, which I laid down before, being applied to this particular Case, manifestly condemns it. For seeing Honesty and Chastity comprizes the true Pleasure, Profit, and Honour of the whole Man, is more congruous to humane Nature, and Preservative of it, it ought therefore to be preferred in the Estimation and Choice of all Men to unlawful adulterous Pleasures, which (for the Reasons above) are inferior in themselves to chast, conjugal Enjoyments; and besides that, are attended and followed with such a Train of present and future Miseries, destructive to the whole Man.