A39682:15
A Saint Indeed
A saint indeed: or The great work of a Christian, opened and pressed; from Prov. 4. 23 Being a seasonable and proper expedient for the recovery of the much decayed power of godliness, among the professors of these times. By John Flavell M. of the Gospel.
London: printed by W.R., 1668
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.
Alas! that ever they should shed the blood of others souls, for whom Christ shed his own blood! that ever they should be cruel to others, who have found Christ so kind to them! I know they dare not do it directly and intentionally, but so it proves occasionally and eventually: suffer me here to digress a little, and expostulate with these prejudiced and hardened Souls, I will presently return to you again. O why do you mischief your own Souls by other mens examples? because they stumble and break their shins, will you fall and break your necks? I desire all such as harden themselves by these things, and take up a good opinion of their own deplorable condition; would soberly consider and answer these three Queries.
Alas! that ever they should shed the blood of others souls, for whom Christ shed his own blood! that ever they should be cruel to others, who have found Christ so kind to them! I know they dare not doe it directly and intentionally, but so it proves occasionally and eventually: suffer me here to digress a little, and expostulate with these prejudiced and hardned Souls, I will presently return to you again. O why doe you mischief your own Souls by other mens examples? because they stumble and break their shins, will you fall and break your necks? I desire all such as harden themselves by these things, and take up a good opinion of their own deplorable condition; would soberly consider and answer these three Queries.
1. Qu. Doth religion any way countenance or patronize the sinful practises of its professors, or doth it not rather impartially and severely condemn them? it is the glory of the Christian Religion that it is pure and undefiled, Jam. 1. 27. no doctrine so holy Psal. 19. 8. nor doth any make more provision for an holy life, Titus 2. 11, 12. Indeed there is a case wherein we may charge the evil practices of men upon their principles, but that is when their practices naturally flow ⟨image 4⟩