A39678:471
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
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 thou be that very man, who in the past course of thy Life, hast been a profane Swearer, a beastly Drunkard, a lascivious person, an hater and persecutor of good men; and after all this, the Lord hath brought an offer of mercy to thy Soul, and shall convince thee it is not come too late, but that the Door of Hope stands yet open to thee; my advice to thee is, That thou cast thy self down at the feet of mercy, and after this manner pour forth thy laments and desires before the Lord.
If thou be that very man, who in the past course of thy Life, hast been a prophane Swearer, a beastly Drunkard, a lascivious person, an hater and persecutor of good men; and after all this, the Lord hath brought an offer of mercy to thy Soul, and shall convince thee it is not come too late, but that the Door of Hope stands yet open to thee; my advice to thee is, That thou cast thy self down at the feet of mercy, and after this manner pour forth thy laments and desires before the Lord.
And is there yet a possibility of mercy, O Lord God, for such a vile wretch as I have been! Can the arms of Free-grace yet open themselves to embrace such a Monster of wickedness as I am! Who then is a God like unto thee! and what patience, mercy and goodness is like thine! I have far exceeded others in sin; I have lived the Life of a Beast, yea, of a Devil. I have darted thy dreadful and glorious Name with thousands of horrid Blasphemies, trampled all thy glorious Attributes under my feet; challenged thee to thy very face to do thy worst, even to damn me to the pit of Hell; I have yielded up this Soul with all its noble Faculties and Powers, as instruments of sin unto the Devil; and made this Body which should have been the hallowed Temple of thy Spirit, to be the noisome Sink or Common-Shore for all unclean and abominable Lusts to run and settle in. I have ⟨p. 124⟩hated, reviled and persecuted those that were more strictly sober and godly than my self, because their convincing-examples disquieted, checked and convicted my Conscience in the eager pursuit of my Lusts and Pleasures.