A44696:65
A sermon preached Febr. 14, 1698, and now published, at the request of the…A sermon preach'd Febr. 14, 1698, and now publish'd, at the request of the…
A sermon preached Febr. 14, 1698, and now published, at the request of the Societies for reformation of manners in London and Westminster by John Howe ...A sermon preach'd Febr. 14, 1698, and now publish'd, at the request of the Societies for reformation of manners in London and Westminster by John Howe ...
London: printed by S. Bridge for Tho. Parkhurst, 1698
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.
Therefore a Man's Way lies open to that Consideration which is most immediately to influence his Practice, to correct a lewd, and begin a regular good Course. He needs not be detained with ⟨p. 24⟩any subtle Disputes, or be put to solve perplexed Doubts, or answer specious Arguments and Objections. It is obvious to him to bethink himself, What a strange sort of anomalous Creature am I become; whom the Law of mine own Nature remonstrates against? How degenerate a thing! that have forsaken my own Noble Order of intelligent Creatures, to herd with Brutes! That have made my self unfit for humane Society, otherwise than as one that must bear a Mark, wear a disgraceful Scar from the wound of a Sword, not that of a Public Enemy, or my own, but a Sword drawn in defence of the Sacred Rights of God, and to vindicate the Honour of Mankind!
Therefore a Man's Way lies open to that Consideration which is most immediately to influence his Practice, to correct a lewd, and begin a regular good Course. He needs not be detain'd with ⟨p. 24⟩any subtle Disputes, or be put to solve perplext Doubts, or answer specious Arguments and Objections. It is obvious to him to bethink himself, What a strange sort of anomalous Creature am I become; whom the Law of mine own Nature remonstrates against? How degenerate a thing! that have forsaken my own Noble Order of intelligent Creatures, to herd with Brutes! That have made my self unfit for humane Society, otherwise than as one that must bear a Mark, wear a disgraceful Scar from the wound of a Sword, not that of a Publick Enemy, or my own, but a Sword drawn in defence of the Sacred Rights of God, and to vindicate the Honour of Mankind!
AND hereupon, if the Crime be not Capital, with the concurrent use of other appointed Means, and the Blessing of God upon all (from whence only the good Issue can be hoped for) may a vicious Person be so reclaimed, as to become of great Use in the World. Yea, and if the Crime be Capital, such as that the Criminal survives not the Punishment, but the Sword of Justice must cut