A39678:494
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.
AND because Satan labours to discourage them that are gone in sin so far as you are, by cutting off all hope• of mercy from them, and bringing them to this desperate Conclusion, Damned we know we shall and must be, and therefore as good be damned for more, as less. If we had lived sober and civil lives, we might have had some hope; but because we have no hope, 'tis as good for us to take our full swing in sin, as to think of returning by Repentance and Conversion, so late in the day as this is.
AND because Satan labours to discourage them that are gone in sin so far as you are, by cutting off all hope• of mercy from them, and bringing them to this desperate Conclusion, Damned we know we shall and must be, and therefore as good be damned for more, as less. If we had lived sober and civil lives, we might have had some hope; but because we have no hope, 'tis as good for us to take our full swinge in sin, as to think of returning by Repentance and Conversion, so late in the day as this is.
To obviate this deadly snare of Satan, I shall here further add, That there is not only a Possibility of your recovery, but in some respect a stronger Possibility, that such as you may be converted and saved, than there is for those that have •ed a smoother and more civil life in the world, and wholly trust to their own Civility for their salvation, ⟨p. 130⟩instead of the imputed righteousness of Christ.