A39678:63
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 8
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. VIII.
And there is yet more ground to hope, that reason may prevail with men living under the Gospel, to return to sobriety and temperance, when we consider their Reason is assisted by some illumination from the Christian Religion. They live in a Land of Bibles and Ministers, where they cannot avoid the light; an advantage far beyond whatever the Heathens enjoyed, who yet by their single unassisted Reason arrived to an eminency in Moral Virtues.
And there is yet more ground to hope, that reason may prevail with men living under the Gospel, to return to sobriety and temperance, when we consider their Reason is assisted by some illumination from the Christian Religion. They live in a Land of Bibles and Ministers, where they cannot avoid the light; an advantage far beyond whatever the Heathens enjoyed, who yet by their single unassisted Reason arrived to an eminency in Moral Vertues.
Our Reasons and Consciences do not only convince us (as theirs also did them) that there is a God, and a future life of retribution, wherein e•very man shall be judged according to his work• but also, that the Scriptures are the very Word o• God, and Rule of Faith and Manners. And i• there be any among the debauched Crew that question or deny it, we may be confident none of them are able by plain and sound reason to overthrow those mighty Arguments pleaded for the confirmation of that truth. At least they find in themselves a strong suspicion, and fear, that they ma• prove to be true; which jealousy and suspicion working together with their own Reason and Consciences, are no contemptible helps towards thei recovery.