A39678:504
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.
1. There is a notion spread among men, and almost every where obtaining, That the Scriptures mean nothing else by Conversion, but to be baptized in our infancy into the visible Church; and that this Ordinance having past upon them long ago, they are sufficiently converted already; and that men make but a needless stir and bustle in the world about any other or further Conversion.
1. There is a notion spread among men, and almost every where obtaining, That the Scriptures mean nothing else by Conversion, but to be baptized in our infancy into the visible Church; and that this Ordinance having past upon them long ago, they are sufficiently converted already; and that men make but a needless stir and bussle in the world about any other or further Conversion.
But, Sirs, I beseech you consider how dangerous a thing it is to take your own Shadow for a Bridge, and venturing upon it drown your selves. If Baptism be Conversion enough, why doth Christ say, Mark 16. 16. H• that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not, shall be damned? Baptism without Faith signifies nothing to Salvation; but Faith without Baptism ⟨p. 133⟩(where it cannot be had) secures Salvation. And why doth the Apostle say, Gal. 6. 15. Neither Circumcision nor Uncircumcision availeth any thing, but a new Creature? Or what needed Christ to have pressed and inculcated the indispensable necessity of Regeneration upon Nicodemus, as he doth, Joh. 3. 3, 5, 7. who had been many years a circumcised Jew? This your dangerous dependence upon your Baptismal Regeneration, is what hath given such deep offence and prejudice to many (though without just cause) against that Ordinance. I lament it as much as they, that men should turn it into such a deadly snare to their own Souls, yet will still honour Christ's abused Ordinance.