A39678:50
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 1 › Section 5
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. V.
The Scriptures therefore do in many cases appeal to the Reason of Sinners, and design their reformation by such Appeals. For it being a most shameful thing for a man to be convicted at the bar of his own Reason, of acting like a beast rather than a man, every man is presumed to be afraid and ashamed of such an Indictment. Such Miscreants are the shame and reproach of Humanity it self. They are branded for brutes throughout the sober world. Their company declined and shunned by all wise and good men. He that hath no reason to justify his actions, may yet be ⟨p. 6⟩supposed to be owner of some stock of natural shame, which cannot but afford a blush upon su•• a plain conviction. This therefore was the count which the Prophet Isaiah took by divine direction to reform the idolatrous Israelites, Isa. 46. 8. •••states the case at the bar of their own Reason, an• calls for a verdict upon it. The case was this; Wh••ther Idols having not power enough to show themself Gods, those that worship them must not want wisdom enough to show themselves men? Remember this, a•• show your selves men, and bring it again to mind, […] transgressors! q. d. for shame let not men act li•• brutes, which have no animadversion.
The Scriptures therefore do in many cases appeal to the Reason of Sinners, and design their reformation by such Appeals. For it being a most shameful thing for a man to be convicted at the bar of his own Reason, of acting like a beast rather than a man, every man is presumed to be afraid and ashamed of such an Indictment. Such Miscreants are the shame and reproach of Humanity it self. They are branded for bruits throughout the sober world. Their company declined and shun'd by all wise and good men. He that hath no reason to justifie his actions, may yet be