A39678:422
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 6 › Section 6 › Plea 2: Plea II.
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.
Plea II.
You say, 'Tis not Godliness you hate, and would persecute; but they are a sort of Persons, who under a pretence of Zeal for Religion and Reformation, design nothing else but Sedition and Rebellion; that the Nation will never be quiet, whi•st such Vipers are suffered to live in it; and to fortify this Plea, you add, that both their Hypocrisy and Sedition have been ma•e sufficiently evident to the World in many Instances.
You say, 'Tis not Godliness you hate, and would persecute; but they are a sort of Persons, who under a pretence of Zeal for Religion and Reformation, design nothing else but Sedition and Rebellion; that the Nation will never be quiet, whi•st such Vip•rs are suffered to live in it; and to fortify this Plea, you add, that both their Hypocrisy and Sedition have been ma•e sufficiently •vident to the World in many Instances.
Zeal for the Laws, and Security of the Government, if rightly tempered and qualified, is highly commendable; and wherever Sincerity animates, and Prudence governs it, it ought by no means to be discouraged. But there are too many Grounds and Causes of Suspicion, that both these will be found wholly wanting, or extremely defective in many high Pretenders to it, when it comes to be sifted to its bottom Principles, and weighed in the just Balance of sound Reason.