A39678:488
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.
Thus you see whatever your guilt be, it does not exceed the abilities of the Causes of Remission. On what an Encouragement is this!
II. And there is yet further Encouragement in this, that if you will open your Bibles, you may find your selves within th• Calls and Invitations of the Gospel. And no man can say that man is without hope, that is within a Gospel-invitation. ⟨p. 128⟩Consider Isa. 55. 7, 8. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon: for my thoughts are not your thoughts, &c. Here you have the nature of Conversion described Negatively and Positively, by forsaking your ways and thoughts, and turning to the Lord, The way notes the external course of the Conversation; the thoughts denote the internal frame and temper of the Mind; both these must be forsaken. And turning to the Lord, denotes the sincere dedication of the whole man to God; all which is possible and easy for the Spirit of God to do; and this being once done, abundant Pardon is assured. If you say you cannot think it; God tells you in the very next words, That his thoughts are not your thoughts, but as far above them as the Heavens are higher than the Earth. Read to the same purpose, Isaiah 1. 18, Rev. 3. 20. John 7. 37.