A39678:554
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. Supposition.
Suppose your selves now upon your Death-beds, your heart and breath failing, your eye and heart-strings breaking, all Earthly Comforts failing and shrinking from you; These things, you know, are unavoidable, and must shortly befall you, Eccles. 8. 8. Suppose also in these your last Extremities, your Consciences should awake (as probably they will, there being now no more Charms of Pleasure, and sinful Companions to divert of stupefy them) what a case will you then find your selves in! What a cold sweat will then lie upon your panting bosoms! What a pale horror will appear in your countenances? Will you not then wish, Oh that the time I have spent in vanity, had been spent in the Duties of serious Piety! Oh that I had been as careful of my Soul as I was of my Body! What are the pains of Mortification, which I was so afraid of, to the pains of Damnation, which I begin to scent and apprehend! I thought it hard to pray, mourn, and deny my ⟨p. 149⟩self, but I shall find it harder to grapple with the Wrath of an incensed God to all Eternity.
Suppose your selves now upon your Death-beds, your heart and breath failing, your eye and heart-strings breaking, all Earthly Comforts failing and shrinking from you; These things, you know, are unavoidable, and must shortly befall you, Eccles. 8. 8. Suppose also in these your last Extremities, your Consciences should awake (as probably they will, there being now no more Charms of Pleasure, and sinful Companions to divert of stupifie them) what a case will you then find your selves in! What a cold sweat will then lie upon your panting bosoms! What a pale horror will appear in your countenances? Will you not then wish, Oh that the time I have spent in vanity, had been spent in the Duties of serious Piety! Oh that I had been as careful of my Soul as I was of my Body! What are the pains of Mortification, which I was so afraid of, to the pains of Damnation, which I begin to scent and apprehend! I thought it hard to pray, mourn, and deny my