A39678:542
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.
I. Consideration.
And first, O that you would consider how the whole of your Life past hath been cast away in vain, as to the great end and business you came into the world for. You have breathed many Years, but not lived one Day to God. Your Consciences could never yet prevail with you to get out of the noise and hurry of the World, and go along with it into some private retiring-place to debate the state of your Souls, and think close (but for one hour) to such awful Subjects as God, Soul, Christ and Eternity, Heaven, Hell, Death and Judgment. Do you think, Gentlemen, that you came into this world to do nothing else but to eat and drink, sport and play, sleep and die? Ask your selves, I beseech you, whether the life you have hitherto lived, have looked to your own eyes like an earnest •light from Hell, and a serious pursuit of Heaven and Salvation? How much nearer are you got to Christ now, than you were when in your Cradles? The sweetest and •ittest part of your life is past away in Vanity, and there's no calling one day or hour of it back again.
And first, O that you would consider how the whole of your Life past hath been cast away in vain, as to the great end and business you came into the world for. You have breathed many Years, but not lived one Day to God. Your Consciences could never yet prevail with you to get out of the noise and hurry of the World, and go along with it into some private retiring-place to debate the state of your Souls, and think close (but for one hour) to such aw•ul Subjects as God, Soul, Christ and Eternity, Heaven, Hell, Death and Judgment. Do you think, Gentlemen, that you came into this world to do nothing else but to eat and drink, sport and play, sleep and die? Ask your selves, I beseech you, whether the life you have hitherto lived, have looked to your own eyes like an earnest light from Hell, and a serious pursuit of Heaven and Salvation? How much nearer are you got to Christ now, than you were when in your Cradles? The sweetest and ittest part of your life is past away in Vanity, and there's no calling one day or hour of it back again.